LGBTQ rights in the Northern Mariana Islands
LGBTQ rights in Northern Mariana Islands | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Legal for both men and women since 1983 |
| Gender identity | Yes |
| Discrimination protections | Yes |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage since 2015 |
| Adoption | Since 2015 |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Northern Mariana Islands face legal challenges and discrimination not faced by other people. The territory has no hate crimes statute, but same-sex marriage became legal with the Supreme Court's ruling on Obergefell v. Hodges.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the Northern Marianas since 1983.[1]
Recognition of same-sex relationships
Same-sex marriage became legal in the Commonwealth on June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that no state or territory may ban same-sex marriages. Prior to this, there was no prohibition on same-sex marriage in the law of the territory, nor do the statutes specify the sex of the parties to a marriage between citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands.[2] Other provisions assume the parties to a marriage are not of the same sex. With respect to a marriage involving one or more non-citizens, the statutes say: "The male at the time of contracting the marriage be at least 18 years of age and the female at least 16 years of age..."[3] Statutes concerning divorce assume that the partners to a marriage are man and wife.[4][5]
The first marriage between a same-sex couple occurred in Saipan on July 22, 2015.
Summary table
| Same-sex sexual activity legal | 
|
| Equal age of consent |
|
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment only |
|
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services |
|
| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (Incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) |
|
| Same-sex marriages |
|
| Recognition of same-sex couples |
|
| Step-child adoption by same-sex couples |
|
| Joint adoption by same-sex couples |
|
| Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military |
|
| Right to change legal gender | [6]
|
| Access to IVF for lesbians |
|
| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples |
|
| MSMs allowed to donate blood |
|
See also
References
- ^ "Gay rights map: Notes on the data". BBC News. February 5, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
- ^ "Commonwealth Code". Northern Mariana Islands Law Revision Commission. Title 8 Section 1205. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- ^ "Commonwealth Code". Northern Mariana Islands Law Revision Commission. Title 8 Section 1201. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- ^ "Commonwealth Code". Northern Mariana Islands Law Revision Commission. Title 8 Section 1331. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
A divorce from marriage may be granted ... for the following causes ... Willful neglect by the husband to provide suitable support for his wife when able to do so
- ^ "Commonwealth Code". Northern Mariana Islands Law Revision Commission. Title 8 Section 1332. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
In actions for dissolution of marriage, neither the domicile nor residence of the husband shall be deemed to be the domicile or residence of the wife....
- ^ Vital Statistics Act of 2006 (PDF) (Public Law 15-50). 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
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