LGBTQ rights in Mississippi

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the State of Mississippi face legal challenges and social stigma not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2003, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas, though Mississippi’s sodomy law remains in the state code and individuals convicted prior to the ruling are still required to register as sex offenders. Same-sex marriage has been recognized since June 2015 in accordance with the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. Mississippi was the last state to allow same-sex couples to adopt, after a federal court struck down the state’s adoption ban in 2016.

State law does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, or public accommodations. However, the U.S. Supreme Court's 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County held that employment discrimination against LGBTQ people is prohibited under federal law. Several cities, including Jackson, Clarksdale, Holly Springs and Magnolia have enacted local nondiscrimination ordinances, and others extend protections to municipal employees. The state has passed several religious exemption laws, most notably the 2016 Religious Liberty Accommodations Act (HB 1523), which has drawn national and international criticism.

Mississippi law does not address hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity, though such crimes can be prosecuted federally under the 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Transgender rights are limited: the state bans gender-affirming healthcare for minors, restricts name changes for transgender youth until age 21, and bars transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. In 2024, the governor signed a law requiring public school students to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex assigned at birth.

Public opinion on LGBTQ rights in Mississippi has shifted over time. Once among the states most opposed to same-sex marriage, recent polling indicates majority support for a statewide anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity. Activism has continued at the local level; in 2018, Starkville hosted its first pride parade after initial permit denial, drawing an estimated 3,000 participants and becoming the largest parade in the city’s history.