Venezuela

Venezuela decriminalized same-sex relations in 1997 after the country's top court found the prior statute unconstitutional. The 1999 Constitution explicitly protects marriage and de facto unions between 'one man and one woman'. Organic Labour Law has banned SO workplace discrimination since 2012. Trans people have a theoretical right (article 146 LOREC) but no administrative procedure implementing it; in practice they cannot change documents. 2023 poll: 55% of Venezuelans support same-sex marriage (32% oppose), one of Latin America's highest support levels. Caracas with visible LGBTQI+ scene (Las Mercedes, Altamira) · political and economic crisis affects all travel planning · documented police harassment and workplace homophobia · general FCDO/State Dept travel advisory for the country.

Population 31,8M Capital Caracas Language Spanish · 26 recognized indigenous languages Currency Bolívar (VED)

LGBTQI+ legal framework · Venezuela

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LGBT identity

Never criminalized · 1997 Vagrants Law struck down

Never criminalized since independence · 1997 Supreme Court Full Chamber struck down the 'Ley sobre Vagos y Maleantes' used to persecute LGBTI people

Partnership recognition

1999 Constitution limits to man-woman

Constitution explicitly protects marriage and de facto union between 'one man and one woman' · no marriage equality or civil unions

Legal protection

Work anti-discrim (LOTTT 2012)

Organic Labour Law (2012) bans SO discrimination at work · no broad protection in other areas · no explicit GI · 2010 Organic Law of the People's Power mentions SO and gender identity/expression

Trans rights

No procedure (art. 146 inactive)

Civil-registry Art. 146 lacks any implementing procedure · trans people cannot update ID card in practice

Conversion therapies

No ban

No national law banning conversion therapy for minors or adults

Social context · Venezuela

Social acceptance

Mixed

Mixed · 55% support marriage (2023)

2023 poll: 55% of Venezuelans support same-sex marriage, 32% oppose. One of Latin America's highest support levels.

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Anti-LGBT violence

Documented

Documented · police harassment · workplace homophobia

Police harassment and workplace homophobia remain serious problems. General political and economic crisis context increases LGBTQ+ vulnerability.

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Indicative data as of 2026-05-18. Check the destination country's official sources before travelling.