LGBTQ rights in Acre

LGBTQ rights in Acre
Location of Acre in Brazil.
Legal statusLegal since 1830, age of consent equalised[1]
Gender identityGender change allowed, official standard for altering legal sex doesn't require surgery since 2018[2]
MilitaryAllowed to serve openly[3]
Discrimination protectionsSince 2019[4]
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsSame-sex marriage since 2013[5]
AdoptionLegal since 2015[6]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights in the Brazilian state of Acre have had significant legal advances in recent decades.[7]

Legality

Same-sex sexual activity

In 1830, Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro I sanctioned the Imperial Penal Code, removing all references to sodomy from Brazilian law.[1][8]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Acre since 2013 via a decision by the National Council of Justice, in compliance with a previous decision of the Supreme Federal Court in 2011.[5] In December 4, 2017, the Brazilian Institute of Family Law (IBDFAM) organized a collective same-sex marriage event, with 13 couples getting married in the state capital, Rio Branco.[9]

Adoption and parenting

On May 30, 2008, Judge Luana Cláudia de Albuquerque Campos of the Civil Court of the District of Senador Guiomard rendered a favorable decision involving a gay couple adopting a child. The child had already been adopted by one member of the couple at the age of one year. The couple had been living in a stable relationship for eight years.[10]

Since 2015, same-sex adoption has been legal nationwide through a decision by the Supreme Federal Court.[6]

Discrimination protections

On August 3, 2017, the Governor of Acre, Tião Viana, signed Decree No. 7,311, which establishes the State Council for Combating Discrimination and Promoting the Rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Travestis, and Transsexuals.[11] The council aims to propose public policies for the LGBTQ community in the state.[11]

In 2019, through a decision by the Supreme Federal Court, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity became explicitly illegal, being equated to the crime of racism.[4]

On December 30, 2020, the mayor of Rio Branco, Socorro Neri, enacted Law No. 2389, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the city.[12]

On January 29, 2025, the government of Acre, through the State Secretariat for Social Assistance and Human Rights (SEASDH) and the Public Prosecutor's Office of Acre (MPAC), signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting LGBTQ rights.[13] The event also included the launch of the booklet "What you need to know about the rights of the LGBTQIAPN+ population: Name and gender change for Trans and Travesti people" (Brazilian Portuguese: O que você precisa saber sobre os direitos da população LGBTQIAPN+: Mudança de nome e gênero de pessoas Trans e Travestis), which aims to guide transgender people in the state on the process of rectifying their documents.[13][14]

Gender identity and expression

On December 19, 2017, the governor of Acre, Tião Viana, signed Law No. 3,355, which guarantees the use of social name by transgender people.[15]

The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil ruled on 1 March 2018, that a transgender person has the right to change their official name and sex without the need of surgery or professional evaluation, just by self-declaration of their psychosocial identity.[2]

On October 15, 2024, the Court of Justice of Acre published Order No. 15/2024, establishing that the legal change of name and gender on documents must be free of charge for individuals lacking the financial means to pay.[16]

In 2025, Ariel Sebastos became the first person in the state to obtain a document marked with the gender "X".[17] Despite the law allows non-binary people to change their documents,[14] it still requires judicial actions.[18]

Censorship

On November 13, 2024, the Rio Branco City Council approved a bill, Bill No. 14/2024, which aimed to prohibit the participation of children and adolescents in LGBTQ pride parades in the city. The bill was proposed by Councilman João Marcos Luz, of the Liberal Party, and was approved with 10 votes in favor and 1 vote against.[19][20] The bill was criticized by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, which accused it of perpetuating stereotypes about homosexual people.[20]

The bill was vetoed by the then mayor of Rio Branco, Tião Bocalom, claiming that the bill was unconstitutional.[21][22]

Life conditions

Pride parade

Singer Preta Gil during the Acre LGBT+ Pride Parade in 2009.

Every year[a] in Rio Branco, the Acre LGBT+ Pride Parade takes place, organized by the Associação de Homossexuais do Acre.[24][25] Singer Preta Gil participated in the 5th edition of the event, on September 20, 2009.[24] The 17th edition of the event took place on December 1st, World AIDS Day.[25]

Statistics

A 2019 survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics showed that 1.3% of people in the state identified as homosexual or bisexual, and 2.8% either did not want to or did not know how to answer what their sexual orientation was.[26][27] The survey was criticized by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Acre for being based on the National Health Survey (PNS), instead of the 2022 Brazilian Census, and for not collecting information on gender identity.[26][28]

Discrimination

Despite laws protecting against discrimination, LGBTQ people may face discrimination in the state.[29][30][31] A survey conducted by the Associação de Homossexuais do Acre showed that between 2007 and 2018, 18 murders of homosexual people were recorded in the state, with 14 of them occurring in the state's capital, Rio Branco.[29] On December 22, 2025, the LGBTQ activist and public prosecutor of Acre Moisés Alencastro was found dead in his apartment in Rio Branco.[32][33][34]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (Since 1830)
Equal age of consent Yes (Since 1830)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment only Yes (Since 2019)[4]
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services Yes (Since 2019)[4]
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (Incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) Yes (Since 2019)[4]
Same-sex marriages Yes (Since 2013)[5]
Recognition of same-sex couples Yes (Since 2011)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Since 2010)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Since 2010)
LGBTQ people allowed to serve openly in the military Yes
Right to change legal gender Yes (Since 2008; gender self-identification since 2018)[2]
Third gender option Yes (Since 2025)[17][14]
Conversion therapy by medical professionals banned Yes (Since 1999 for homosexuals and since 2018 for transgender people)[35][36]
Access to IVF for lesbians Yes (Since 2013)[37]
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples No (Banned for any couple regardless of sexual orientation)
MSMs allowed to donate blood Yes (Since 2020)[38]

Notes

  1. ↑ With the exception of 2025, which was postponed to 2026 due to administrative and financial issues.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 "LEI DE 16 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1830" [LAW OF DECEMBER 16, 1830]. Palácio do Planalto. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dia da Visibilidade Trans: decisões do STF garantem direitos de travestis e transexuais" [Trans Visibility Day: Supreme Court decisions guarantee the rights of travesti and transsexuals]. Supreme Federal Court (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 29, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ do Amaral Jorge, Marcos (June 25, 2025). "Presença de grupos LGBT no exército brasileiro ainda enfrenta resistências, sugere pesquisa" [The presence of LGBT groups in the Brazilian army still faces resistance, research suggests]. Jornal da Unesp (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 8, 2026. Ele ressalta que a proibição a qualquer tipo de discriminação, tal como assegurada pela Constituição Federal, implica que, de um ponto de vista prático e normativo, não haja qualquer veto à presença de pessoas gays, lésbicas ou bissexuais nas forças armadas. [He emphasizes that the prohibition of any type of discrimination, as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, implies that, from a practical and normative point of view, there is no veto on the presence of gay, lesbian, or bisexual people in the armed forces.]
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Press, Associated (May 23, 2019). "Brazil's Supreme Court Votes to Make Homophobia a Crime". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 D'Agostino, Rosanne (May 14, 2013). "Entenda o casamento gay em cartório" [Understand gay marriage in the registry office]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). São Paulo. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Casal homoafetivo pode adotar?" [Can a same-sex couple adopt?]. Jusbrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  7. ↑ "LGBT Rights in Acre, Brazil". Equaldex. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Gays in the early 1900s in Brazil - Homosexualism in Brazil - March 2000". www.brazzil.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ Cesar, Luan (November 28, 2017). "Primeiro casamento coletivo gay no Acre vai oficializar a união de 14 casais na segunda-feira (4)" [First gay collective wedding in Acre will formalize the union of 14 couples on Monday (4)]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Justiça do Acre dá a a dois homossexuais a adoção de um garoto de seis anos" [A court in Acre grants two homosexuals the right to adopt a six-year-old boy]. Jusbrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Viana, Tião (August 3, 2017). "DECRETO Nº 7.311, DE 03 DE AGOSTO DE 2017, DO ACRE" [Decree No. 7,311, of August 3, 2017, of Acre]. Jusbrasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  12. ↑ Neri, Socorro (December 30, 2020). "Lei Nº 2389 DE 30/12/2020" [Law No. 2389 of December 30, 2020]. Legisweb. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  13. 1 2 França, Miguel (January 29, 2025). "Acre fortalece políticas para a população LGBT+ com lançamento de cartilha e acordo de cooperação" [Acre strengthens policies for the LGBT+ population with the launch of a guide and a cooperation agreement]. Agência de Notícias do Acre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 31, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 Agazeta.Net (January 30, 2025). "MPAC realiza entrega de certidão de gênero não binário e lança cartilha sobre direitos LGBTQIAPN+" [MPAC delivers non-binary gender certificates and launches a booklet on LGBTQIAPN+ rights]. Agazeta.net (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  15. ↑ Viana, Tião (December 18, 2017). "Lei Ordinária Nº 3355, de 18 de dezembro 2017" [Ordinary Law No. 3355, of December 18, 2017]. Legislative Assembly of Acre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  16. ↑ da Silva, Nataly Furtado (October 15, 2024). "13/2024-Provimentos-COGER" [13/2024-Orders-COGER]. Poder Judiciário do Estado do Acre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  17. 1 2 "Conheça Ariel Sebastos, protagonista da primeira retificação para o sexo não binário registrada no Acre" [Meet Ariel Sebastos, the protagonist of the first document rectification for non-binary gender registered in Acre]. Portal Acre (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 26, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Cartilha: O que você precisa saber sobre os direitos da população LGBTQIAPN+ – Mudança de nome e gênero de pessoas trans e travestis" [Booklet: What you need to know about the rights of the LGBTQIAPN+ population – Name and gender change for trans and travesti people] (PDF). Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Acre (in Brazilian Portuguese). p. 16.
  19. ↑ Menezes, Renato (November 13, 2024). "Projeto que quer proibir menores de idade na parada LGBT+ é aprovado na Câmara de Rio Branco; veja quem votou a favor" [A bill that seeks to prohibit minors from attending the LGBT+ parade has been approved by the Rio Branco City Council; see who voted in favor]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  20. 1 2 Lebre, Victor (November 10, 2024). "Câmara de Rio Branco aprova audiência pública sobre PL que proíbe crianças e adolescentes em paradas LGBTQ+" [The Rio Branco City Council approves a public hearing on a bill that prohibits children and teenagers from participating in LGBTQ+ parades]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  21. ↑ Matos, Salomão (December 5, 2024). "Prefeito de Rio Branco veta Projeto de Lei que proibiria presença de crianças e adolescente em paradas LGBTQIA+" [The mayor of Rio Branco vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the presence of children and teenagers at LGBTQIA+ parades]. Prefeitura de Rio Branco (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  22. ↑ Lebre, Victor (December 5, 2024). "Após polêmica, prefeitura veta PL que proibia participação de menores na Parada LGBT+ em Rio Branco" [After controversy, city hall vetoes bill that prohibited minors from participating in the LGBT+ Parade in Rio Branco]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Orgulho LGBT+: parada é adiada para maio de 2026 no Acre" [LGBT+ Pride Parade in Acre postponed to May 2026]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). December 21, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  24. 1 2 Menezes, Renato (July 21, 2025). "Preta Gil já fez show para 50 mil pessoas em parada LGBT no Acre" [Preta Gil has already performed for 50,000 people at an LGBT pride parade in Acre]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Lebre, Victor (November 30, 2024). "Mais de 10 mil pessoas são esperadas na Parada do Orgulho LGBT+ em Rio Branco neste domingo (1)" [More than 10,000 people are expected at the LGBT+ Pride Parade in Rio Branco this Sunday (1)]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  26. 1 2 Rodrigues, Iryá (May 26, 2022). "Acre é o 4º estado com menor percentual de adultos que se autodeclararam homossexuais ou bissexuais, aponta IBGE" [Acre is the 4th state with the lowest percentage of adults who self-identified as homosexual or bisexual, according to IBGE]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  27. ↑ Ascom (May 25, 2022). "No Acre, 8 mil adultos se identificam como homossexuais e bissexuais" [In Acre, 8,000 adults identify as homosexual or bisexual]. Agazeta.net (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  28. ↑ "MPF-AC critica Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde e diz que só Censo pode dar visibilidade à população LGBTQIA+" [The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office of Acre criticizes the National Health Survey and says that only a Census can give visibility to the LGBTQIA+ population]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 25, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  29. 1 2 "Quase 20 homossexuais foram mortos no Acre por descriminação em um ano, diz pesquisa" [Nearly 20 homosexuals were killed in Acre due to discrimination in one year, according to research]. Acre Notícias (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 1, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  30. ↑ "No Acre, homossexual diz que foi agredido pela própria família" [In Acre, a homosexual man says he was assaulted by his own family]. Acre Notícias (in Brazilian Portuguese). April 12, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  31. ↑ Saab, Resley (March 17, 2016). "Conferência LGBT pede o fim da discriminação e da violência" [LGBT conference calls for an end to discrimination and violence]. Agência de Notícias do Acre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  32. ↑ de Souza, Jhenyfer (December 31, 2025). "O que se sabe sobre a morte de Moisés Alencastro em Rio Branco" [What is known about the death of Moisés Alencastro in Rio Branco?]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  33. ↑ Nascimento, Aline (January 2, 2026). "Caso Moisés Alencastro: Suspeitos são indiciados por homicídio e furto" [Moisés Alencastro Case: Suspects indicted for homicide and theft]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  34. ↑ Torres, Marcelo (December 24, 2025). "Polícia Civil identifica suspeito e representa por prisão preventiva no caso Moisés Alencastro" [Civil Police identify suspect and request preventive detention in the Moisés Alencastro case]. Agência de Notícias do Acre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 24, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  35. ↑ "RESOLUÇÃO CFP N° 001/99 DE 22 DE MARÇO DE 1999" (PDF). site.cfp.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  36. ↑ "RESOLUÇÃO Nº 1, DE 29 DE JANEIRO DE 2018" (PDF). site.cfp.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  37. ↑ "Casais gays ganham direito ao uso de fertilização in vitro". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 8, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Após decisão do Supremo, Hemocentro de Brasília muda protocolos e aceita doação de sangue de homens LGBT". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 19, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
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