LGBT rights in Mississippi
| LGBT rights in Mississippi | |
|---|---|
 Mississippi (USA) |
|
| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal since 2003 |
| Discrimination protections | None |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
None |
|
Restrictions:
|
Constitution limits marriage to one man/one woman |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Mississippi face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Mississippi. Same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for all the protections available to different-sex married couples.
Contents |
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity [edit]
Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Mississippi since 2003, when the United States Supreme Court struck down all state sodomy laws with Lawrence v. Texas.[1]
Recognition of same-sex relationships [edit]
Mississippi does not permit the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The state forbids, both by statute and in its constitution, the recognition of same-sex marriages and other form of same-sex partnership solemnized in other jurisdictions.[2] The constitutional amendment defining marriage was approved in a voter referendum in November 2004.[3]
Adoption and parenting [edit]
Mississippi permits adoption by an unmarried adult without regard to sexual orientation. Couples of the same gender may not adopt jointly.[4]
Discrimination protection [edit]
Mississippi law does not address discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.[5]
Hate crime laws [edit]
State law does not address hate crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.[6]
Public opinion [edit]
A November 2011 Public Policy Polling survey found that only 13% of Mississippi voters supported the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 78% were opposed and 9% were not sure. A separate question on the same survey found that 38% of respondents supported legal recognition of same-sex couples, with 10% supporting same-sex marriage and 28% supporting civil unions, 60% opposed all legal recognition, and 2% were not sure, making Mississippi one of the most dissenting states in the country on the issue.[7]
References [edit]
- ^ Mississippi Sodomy Law
- ^ Mississippi Marriage/Relationship Recognition Law
- ^ CNN: Ballot Measures, accessed May 15, 2011
- ^ Human Rights Campaign: Mississippi Adoption Law, accessed May 15, 2011
- ^ Human Rights Campaign: Mississippi Non-Discrimination Law, accessed May 15, 2011
- ^ Human Rights Campaign: Mississippi Hate Crimes Law, accessed May 15, 2011
- ^ Mississippi Voters on a Variety of Topics
External links [edit]
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