Gay Peru

No — same-sex marriage is not currently recognised in Peru. Peru decriminalised same-sex relations in 1924 and set an equal age of consent in 2012. A 2017 presidential decree added sexual orientation and gender identity to the hate crime and anti-discrimination provisions of the penal code and survived a congressional attempt to repeal it. Relationships are unrecognised: the Constitutional Court refused to recognise foreign same-sex marriages in 2022 after a decade of contradictory lower-court rulings, and there is no civil union, partnership or adoption. Judicial gender change without surgery has been possible since 2016 but is slow and inconsistent. In May 2024 a health ministry decree listed 'transsexualism' as a mental health condition so that care could be insured, prompting protests, and it was rewritten within a month; the ministry also confirmed conversion therapy is banned. In May 2025 Congress passed a law barring trans people from public restrooms matching their gender identity. Attitudes are conservative and Catholic-influenced, with about a quarter supporting same-sex marriage, but Lima Pride draws large crowds every June and Miraflores and Barranco have a visible scene. Cusco and Arequipa are relaxed with visitors.

The cities listed on this page have the most active LGBTQ+ scenes in Peru — typically the capital and the largest tourist cities. Each city page lists verified LGBTQ+ venues.

Many hotels in tourist areas of Peru welcome LGBTQ+ guests without explicit marketing. International chains in central districts are the safest choice; smaller boutique hotels vary. See each city page for verified LGBTQ+-friendly options.

Pride events do take place in Peru — see the events calendar for the current schedule and each city page for local specifics. Attendance sizes and dates vary year to year.