Status of Marriage Law

Same-sex couples in the Dominican Republic cannot marry or pursue any other way to see their relationships recognized.

History of Pro-Marriage Efforts

In 2010 lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment inserting language restricting marriage to different-sex couples.

There has been limited discussion about civil marriage for same-sex couples since the Inter-American Court ruling.

Status of Other LGBTQ-Related Laws

• Homosexuality is decriminalized in the Dominican Republic and has been since 1822. Police officers and members of the military have been prohibited from engaging in same-sex sexual activity since the 1950s.
• LGBTQ people in the Dominican Republic are somewhat protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but explicit protections from discrimination in employment, housing, etc. do not exist.
• Transgender people in the Dominican Republic do not have the ability to change their name or gender on their birth certificates and in general the society is not inclusive to transgender people.

Pending Marriage Litigation

It appears that there are no active legal challenges to the constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying in the Dominican Republic.