Prior to 1983, same-sex sexual activity was illegal; after decriminalisation, the age of consent was set at 21. In 2000, the age of consent for male same-sex sexual acts was lowered to 18. In 2010, the States of Guernsey backed, in principle, a proposal to equalise the age of consent at 16. Legislation to this effect was approved in 2011 and took effect on 5 November 2012. However, Guernsey retains some specific male homosexual offences in its criminal law, including a ban on homosexual sexual acts not conducted in private.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
Guernsey has recognised civil partnerships performed in the United Kingdom and other relationships treated as such by UK law for succession purposes in inheritance and other matters respecting interests in property since 2 April 2012. A proposal to abolish state-sanctioned marriages in favour of a Union Civile was rejected by the States in favour of a same-sex marriage law in December 2015. In December 2015, the States of Guernsey approved a motion to legalise same-sex marriage by a vote of 37–7. A bill legalising same-sex marriage was drafted and formally approved by the States on 21 September 2016. It received royal assent later that year and went into effect on 2 May 2017. The law did not apply to Alderney and Sark. Alderney previously recognised same-sex marriages from abroad for certain purposes. On 18 October 2017, the States of Alderney voted 9-0 in favour of same-sex marriage. The law received royal assent 13 December 2017, and went into effect on 14 June 2018. In December 2019 the Chief Pleas of Sark passed a bill legalising same-sex marriage. Royal assent was granted in March 2020 and the law came into effect on 23 April 2020.
Discrimination protections
In 2004 a law was passed that would allow the States of Guernsey to pass Ordinances on the topic of discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity. In 2005 was used to ban discrimination based on gender identity, as part of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, 2005. As of 2020, however, no equivalent Ordinance has been passed to specifically outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Anti-discrimination protections that cover sexual orientation and gender identity have existed in child welfare proceedings in Guernsey and Alderney since 2008 and in Sark since 2016.
Adoption and parenting
Lesbian couples can access IVF and artificial insemination since 2009. In May 2015, Guernsey's Chief Minister announced that a review of the Adoption Law, 1960 which barred unmarried couples from jointly adopting was scheduled for 24 June 2015. The Chief Minister hoped to extend full adoption rights to couples in overseas civil partnerships and unmarried couples who have lived together for some time. On 24 June 2015, the States of Guernsey agreed by a vote of 38 to 2 to bring about changes to its adoption law. Since April 2017, same-sex couples can jointly adopt in Guernsey. The Population Management Law, 2016, which took effect on 3 April, contains provisions allowing same-sex couples who are married, in a civil partnership or in a "subsisting relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership" to adopt. The law only applies to the island of Guernsey. However, adoption applications from Alderney and Sark are dealt with in Guernsey courts, as such same-sex adoption is legal in the entire Bailiwick.
Gender identity and expression
Since 2007, transgender people can legally change their gender on their birth certificates. However, Guernsey law only allows a new birth certificate to be issued, it does not amend or remove records from existing birth certificates.
Blood donation
Gay and bisexual men have been allowed to donate blood, provided they haven't had sex in a year, since 2011.
Local LGBT charities and organisations
Liberate is the only organisation in the Channel Islands that represents the local LGBT community. It was established in February 2014 with the aim to "include, inform and support the local LGBTQ community", as well as to reform discriminatory laws in the Bailiwick.
