On 31 March 2016, Federal District Court struck down Mississippi's ban on same-sex couple adoptions. On June 26, 2017, the United States Supreme Court reversed an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling that allowed a law listing parents by gender on birth certificates to stand. The new SCOTUS ruling allowed both same-sex spouses to be listed on birth certificates. These court rulings made adoption by same-sex couples legal in all 50 states. 
 
States can however require couples to be legally married before adopting.

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

Although the age of consent varies depending on state and territory, it is still equal for heterosexual and homosexual sexual acts.

The difference between legal age of consent for homosexual sex and heterosexual sex.

The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.

The ability for MSMs (men who have sex with men) to donate blood or tissue for organ transplants. A deferral period refers to a waiting time before a man can donate after having sex.

The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months. The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.

After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.

Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.

Censorship became &#34;other punishment&#34; in the state of Texas, and in Florida Govt. DeSantis wants to ban LGBT topics from being discussed in schools. 
 
Generally, LGBT Topics are considered under the Free Speech Clause. Due to the nature of the current laws, and state decisions such as in Florida; &#34;Varies by region&#34; is the best indicator to use.

Censorship or prohibition of discussing, promoting, or teaching LGBTQ+ topics in media, schools, and in the general public.

Since 1987, there have been laws in the United States that have restricted the discussion of LGBTIQ+ issues in several states. While some laws enacted in the 80s and 90s were repealed, some were not and more laws would pass in the 2020s. 
 
Alabama Public Television banned an episode of “Arthur” (entitled “Mr Ratburn and the Special Someone”) because Mike McKenzie (director of programming for the station) deemed the episode “inappropriate” for young viewers. 
It is unknown about other American states’ censorship laws regarding LGBTQIA+ issues.

Until 1987, there were no known laws censoring LGBTIQ+ topics in United States education.

On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order to &#34;defend women&#34;, the order creates only male and female terms. Also stated in the terms, federal funding will not go towards 
(i) changes to agency documents, including regulations, guidance, forms, and communications, made to comply with this order; and 
 
(ii) agency-imposed requirements on federally funded entities, including contractors, to achieve the policy of this order. 
This order includes any federally funded agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, which would be under the Department of Transportation.

Legal recognition of a change in gender by permitting a change on an individual's legal documentation.

As of 2022, all passports are able to get a gender marker X on the US State website or in person. Social Security will be able to change the name as well, unknown of the date when allowed. Check any of the states for Drivers ID or Birth certificates. 

Many U.S. jurisdictions require gender-affirming surgery before a person&#39;s legal sex can be changed. However, a health professional&#39;s certification may be necessary. It is essential to consult the specific laws and guidelines of your state for accurate information on the legal requirements for changing gender markers and identity documents.

From a Federal standpoint, you can change your gender with proof that you have undergone treatment for a gender change (surgery no longer required in any agency as of June 2013). However, states also have their own laws on gender recognition.

Several states have fully banned conversion therapy, while several have not. Additionally, some cities have also banned the practice, though no ban exists at the federal level.

Legal status of conducting sexual orientation changing therapy ("ex-gay" therapy)

Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015 court case allows same-sex marriages. This also protects LGBTQ discrimination. Bostock v. Clayton County, GA protects LGBTQ employees. Tennessee has laws for LGBTQ discrimination, thus being varies by region even though its federally protected

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

In all Federal positions, discrimination based on sexual orientation is against the law in instances related to work and employment.  In non-federal government jobs, it is based on the state&#39;s laws as no federal protections currently exist for non-employees.  Additionally, even federal employees could face discrimination unrelated to work in areas of life such as housing, health care, etc.  In fact, many groups are advocating the repeal of protections or the introduction of laws to permit discrimination.

On June 15th, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, classified as sex discrimination.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment, including hiring, promotion, termination, harassment, etc.

President Trump&#39;s Department of Justice and the EEOC revoked protections for gender identity in employment discrimination.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that “[A]llegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex”, and are barred by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ruling applies at both the state and federal levels.

In a landmark decision, Democratic President Obama&#39;s EEOC ruled that gender identity was included under Title VII protections from the Civil Rights Act (originally written to protect people based on sex discrimination).

Before the 2012 EEOC decision, there were no federal discrimination protections for LGBT people in employment.

While Gender Affirming Care is unrestricted federally, it varies by region due to no federal laws in place. Several states have either banned or passed laws to protect gender affirming care. Office of Health and Human Services made an document stating that they are with gender affirming care in 2022. There have been no efforts made to make gender affirming care federally protected, President Biden has made no comments on the specific topic

Medical and psychological support designed to help individuals transition to the gender they identify with, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and surgeries.

Until 2021, there were no known legal restrictions on gender affirming care anywhere in the United States for adults or minors.

Homosexuality was decriminalized at the federal level in the United States through the landmark Supreme Court decision of Lawrence v. Texas in 2003. The court struck down a Texas statute that criminalized sexual acts between same-sex couples, declaring such laws unconstitutional. This judgment set a precedent that rendered similar anti-sodomy statutes across states unenforceable, thereby federally decriminalizing homosexuality in private, consensual settings.

Consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex.

Before Lawrence v. Texas, some states had already decriminalized sodomy. The first state was Illinois in 1962.

The Fair Housing Act (Title 8 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) protects people from housing discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation nationwide but state laws make this vary in practice.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity when applying for housing or discrimination by landlords / property owners.

In the United States, intersex infant surgeries are not federally banned. Only a few states have established laws to protect against such surgeries; many have proposed legislation, but none have been enacted. California passed a non-binding resolution condemning the practice, yet it did not achieve a ban.

Medical interventions performed on intersex infants to alter their genital appearance to conform to typical male or female standards, often without the informed consent of the child who is too young to participate in the decision-making process.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v Hodges, all 50 states and the District of Columbia are required to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples and recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Marriage and marriage recognition between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity.

From January 1973 to June 2015, the legality of gay marriage in the United States varied by state. Maryland passed the first law banning marriages in 1973 with others following suit but not all. On November 18th, 2003, Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, and their ruling came into effect on May 17th, 2004. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. 
 
Between May 17th, 2004, and June 26th, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, 37 states and the District of Columbia legalized same-sex marriage.

Until 1973, there were no explicit bans on same-sex marriage in the United States. However, there was also no recognition provided to same-sex couples.

On the evening of March 18th, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the implementation of Trump&#39;s executive order banning transgender people from the military. The judge said that not only was the order unconstitutional but “a solution in search of a problem.”.

The ability for homosexuals to serve in the military and be open about their sexuality.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo on February 10th, 2025 relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month. 
 
From now on, The U.S. military will prohibit transgender individuals from enlisting, and will cease providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.

President Joe Biden removed former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, and transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2025. 
 
In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.

The Trump administration enacted a new policy barring individuals with a &#34;condition&#34; known as &#34;gender dysphoria.&#34; from serving in the military.

In 2011, &#34;Don&#39;t Ask, Don&#39;t Tell&#34; was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.

Don&#39;t Ask, Don&#39;t Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn&#39;t disclose sexuality.  The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member&#39;s orientation.

In his first hours in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to only recognize two sexes: “Male” and “Female”. The order also directed federal agencies to eliminate the use of &#34;gender&#34; in federal documents and guidelines, including an instruction to the Secretary of State to discontinue the use and option of X gender markers in passports moving forward, but not retroactively invalidating passports. 
 
On January 23rd, 2025, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, ordered the U.S. state department to freeze all applications for passports that had requested an ‘X’ on their gender marker. 
 
Other IDs are still state dependent, and there are many states in the U.S. that recognize third gender identities.

Legal recognition of non-binary, genderqueer, or third gender identities.

Between April 11th, 2022, and January 22nd, 2025, the United States allowed people to have an X gender on their passports at a national level.

On June 15th, 2017, Oregon officials voted yes to allowing the legal representation of non-binary people. On July 3rd, 2017, this option became available to the public.

Before July 3rd, 2017, no US states legally recognized non-binary people. 

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FAQs for Indianapolis gay travelers - gay chat & forum

Indianapolis

Indiana

Indianapolis is a large city in a flyover state. It's full of charm and worth checking out though. It's also welcoming to gay people.

Gregs Our Place is an Indianapolis gay bar located in the Mass Ave neighbourhood. 
 
This local gay bar features regular drink specials, spacious dance floors, and a heated outdoor patio. 
 
Throughout the week Gregs Our Place hosts live entertainment, including country dancing and DJs.

Gregs Our Place Birmingham Alabama

Gregs Our Place

Gregs Our Place is an Indianapolis gay bar located...

Downtown Olly's is an Indianapolis gay bar in the city's bustling downtown area. 
 
The city's LGBT+ sports fans gather here to enjoy TVs displaying sports and games throughout. 
 
This long-standing gay sports bar features a bar, grill, and sidewalk seating area. 
 
Open 24 hours-a-day Downtown Olly's offers lively events including karaoke nights.

Downtown Olly's

Downtown Olly's is an Indianapolis gay bar in the...

Metro Nightclub and Restaurant is an Indianapolis gay club situated downtown amongst the bustling gay scene and Arts District. 
 
This bi-level LGBT club offers a variety of homemade dishes, as well as daily drinks deals. 
 
Throughout the week this laid-back gay venue hosts live events alongside karaoke and games nights.

Metro Nightclub and Restaurant

Metro Nightclub and Restaurant is an Indianapolis...

Zonie's Closet is a popular LGBT bar in Indianapolis. 
 
This lively bar and lounge features upscale yet intimate interiors and state-of-the-art lighting. 
 
Diverse crowds gather at Zonie's Closet for energetic drag shows and karaoke nights. 
 
Zonie's Closet operates Wednesday 15:00-02:00, Thursday 17:00-02:00, Friday and Saturday 15:00-03:00, and Sunday 17:00-02:00.

Zonie's Closet Bar Indianapolis Indiana

Zonie's Closet

Zonie's Closet is a popular LGBT bar in Indianapol...

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