LGBTQ rights in Missouri

LGBTQ rights in Missouri
Missouri (US)
Status	Legal in Western District counties only since 1999 (State of Missouri v. Cogshell) Legal statewide since 2003 (Lawrence v. Texas) Legislative repeal in 2006
Discrimination protections	Sexual orientation protection solely in public employment
Family rights
Recognition of relationships	Same-sex marriage since 2015
Adoption	Yes

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Missouri may experience some legal challenges that non-LGBTQ residents do not. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Missouri, in accordance with 2003's Lawrence v. Texas decision. In 2006, Missouri codified the legality of same-sex sexual activity into its statutory law.

Missouri recognizes same-sex marriages. A state court ruling striking down Missouri's same-sex marriage ban ordered the City of St. Louis to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. St. Louis County and Jackson County also issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. On June 26, 2015, the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges invalidated the denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples, including Missouri's.

Missouri is categorized "High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality," the lowest ranking category, in the Human Rights Campaign State Equality Index.^[1]