Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Paraguay may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT

LGBT

LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...

 residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Paraguay

Paraguay

Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...

, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual activity have been legal in Paraguay since 1880. The age of consent in Paraguay is 16 for homosexuals, 14 for heterosexuals.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples at all. Since 1992 the Constitution limits marriage and equivalent or similar unions to one man/woman.
In July 2010, organization "SOMOSGAY" announced intension to submit a same-sex marriage bill to parliament.

Discrimination protections

There is no sexual orientation

Sexual orientation

Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...

 or gender identity

Gender identity

A gender identity is the way in which an individual self-identifies with a gender category, for example, as being either a man or a woman, or in some cases being neither, which can be distinct from biological sex. Basic gender identity is usually formed by age three and is extremely difficult to...

provisions as a protected category in the Paraguay constitution.

Living conditions

Paraguay has a conservative culture, and homosexuality continues to be viewed negatively. Moreover, the Roman Catholic Church holds a lot of power and influence in politics.