LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algeria | Illegal (Penalty: Fine - up to 2 years prison)[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Egypt | Not specifically outlawed, other laws may apply[11] | Unknown | |||||
Libya | Illegal (Penalty: up to 5 years prison).[11] | Unknown | |||||
Morocco (incl. Western Sahara) | Illegal (Penalty: up to 3 years) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Sudan | Illegal (Penalty: 5 years up to death penalty.) | ||||||
Tunisia | Illegal (Penalty: Fine - 3 years) | Unknown | Unknown |
Western Africa
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benin | Legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Burkina Faso | Legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Cape Verde | Legal since 2004[11] + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Côte d'Ivoire | Legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Gambia | Illegal (Penalty: up to 14 years[12]) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Ghana | Male illegal Female legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Guinea | Illegal (Penalty: 6 months to 3 years prison)[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Guinea-Bissau | Legal[11] + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Liberia | Illegal (Penalty: Fine) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Mali | Legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Mauritania | Illegal (Penalty: Death penalty) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Niger | Legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Nigeria | Male illegal Female illegal in areas under Sharia Female legal in areas not under Sharia. | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Senegal | Illegal (Penalty: 1 month to 5 years prison) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Sierra Leone | Male illegal Female legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Togo | Illegal | Unknown | Unknown |
Middle Africa
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angola | Not specifically outlawed, other laws may apply (Penalty: Labour camps for habitual offenders).[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Ascension Island | Legal[11] | Unknown | Yes (as part of the Military of the United Kingdom) | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Cameroon | Illegal (Penalty: Fine to 5 years prison) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Central African Republic | Legal[11] + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Chad | Legal since 1967 | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) | Legal[11] | Constitutional ban since 2005 | Unknown | Unknown | |||
Equatorial Guinea | Legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Gabon | Legal[11] + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Republic of the Congo | Legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Saint Helena | Legal[11] | Unknown | Yes (as part of the Military of the United Kingdom) | Unknown | Unknown | ||
São Tomé and Príncipe | Illegal[11] + UN decl. sign. (proposed to be legalised by 1 July 2011 under a new Criminal Code)[1] | Unknown | Unknown |
Eastern Africa
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Burundi | Illegal since 2009[13] | Constitutional ban since 2005 | Unknown | Unknown | |||
Comoros | Illegal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Djibouti | Unclear[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Eritrea | Illegal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Ethiopia | Illegal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Kenya | Male illegal (Penalty: up to 14 years) Female currently legal, but the Prime Minister has recently called for the arrest of lesbians as well as gay men[14] | Constitutional ban in Article 45 since 2010[15] | Unknown | Unknown | |||
Madagascar | Legal | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Malawi | Male illegal Female legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Mauritius | Male illegal Female legal (national debate over repeal of the law).[11][16] + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[17] | Unknown | |||
Mozambique | Legal[18] | Unknown | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[17] | Unknown | |||
Réunion (Overseas department of France) | Legal since 1791 | Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Unknown | ||
Rwanda | Legal[11] | Constitutional ban in Article 26 since 2003 | Unknown | Unknown | |||
Seychelles | Male illegal Female legal | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Somalia | Illegal[11] | Unknown | |||||
Uganda | Illegal | Constitutional ban since 2005 | |||||
Tanzania | Illegal (Penalty: up to life imprisonment)[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Zambia | Male illegal (Penalty: up to 14 years) Female legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Zimbabwe | Male illegal Female legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown |
Southern Africa
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Botswana | Illegal (Penalty: Fine - 7 years) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Lesotho | Male illegal Female legal[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Namibia | Illegal (not enforced)[11][19] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
South Africa | Legal since 1994 | Unregistered partnerships recognized for various specific purposes by laws and judgments since 1994; same-sex marriage legal since 2006 | Legal since 2006 | Legal since 2002 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination, by constitution and statute; specific laws also ban discrimination in employment and housing | Since 2003, legal sex can be changed after surgical or medical treatment; "sex" and "gender" are distinct protected classes | |
Swaziland | Male illegal Female legal. Pending law includes outlawing lesbian sex conduct.[11] | Unknown | Unknown |
Partially recognised states
Main article: List of states with limited recognition
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Sahara (80% controlled by Morocco) | Illegal (Penalty: up to 3 years prison) | ||||||
Somaliland | Illegal (Penalty: expulsion from country, prison - up to life, in various regions and districts; death penalty) |
The Americas
Main article: LGBT rights in the Americas
Tables:
Northern America
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination Laws (sexual orientation) | Anti-discrimination Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bermuda (Overseas territory of the United Kingdom) | Legal since 1994 (Age of consent discrepancy) | Unknown | (due to policy of conscription) | ||||
Canada | Legal since 1969 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2003, nationwide since 2005 | [20][21] | Since 1992[22] | Bans all anti-gay discrimination, including hate speech | Sex changes legally recognised; Explicit anti-discrimination protections only in NWT, implicit elsewhere;[23] | |
Mexico | Legal since 1872[11] + UN decl. sign. | / PACS in Coahuila since 2007. All states are obliged to recognize but not to perform same-sex marriages.[24] | / Legal in Mexico City since 2010.[25] All states are obliged to recognize but not to perform same-sex marriages.[24] | / Joint adoption legal in Mexico City since 2010.[25] Nationwide, single gay persons may adopt.[26] | / No explicit ban. However, LGB persons have been reportedly discharged on the grounds of "immorality."[27] | Nationwide since 2003.[28] | / Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name in Mexico City since 2008.[29] |
Saint Pierre et Miquelon (overseas collectivity of France) | Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign. | Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||
United States | Legal nationwide since 2003. + UN decl. sign. See Lawrence v. Texas | / Varies by state, but not recognized by federal gov't. | / Varies by state, but not recognized by federal gov't | / Single gay persons may adopt, laws on couples vary by state | An Act of Congress providing a mechanism to repeal Don't ask, don't tell was signed into law by President Obama on 22 December 2010. As of February 2011, the Pentagon is starting to dismantle DADT.[30] | / No federal protections. Banned in 20 states. Included in the federal hate crimes law since 2009. See Matthew Shepard Act | / No federal protections. Banned in 13 states. Included in the federal hate crimes law since 2009. See Matthew Shepard Act |
Central America
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination Laws (sexual orientation) | Anti- discrimination Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belize | Male: Illegal since 2003 (Penalty: 10 year prison sentence) Female: Legal | ||||||
Costa Rica | Legal since 1971 | Doesn't apply. There are no military forces in Costa Rica, nonetheless they may serve in the police | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
El Salvador | Legal | Yes | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Guatemala | Legal | Unknown | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Honduras | Legal since 1899[11] | Constitutional ban | Constitutional ban | ||||
Nicaragua | Legal since 2008 + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[11] | ||||
Panama | Legal since 2008 |
Caribbean islands
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination Laws (sexual orientation) | Anti-discrimination Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anguilla (Overseas territory of the United Kingdom) | Legal since 2000 | ||||||
Antigua and Barbuda | Illegal (Penalty: 15 year prison sentence) | ||||||
Aruba (Autonomous country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands) | Legal | Only unions made in The Netherlands recognised | Only same-sex marriages made in The Netherlands recognised | ||||
Bahamas | Legal since 1991 (Age of consent discrepancy) | ||||||
Barbados | Illegal (Penalty: life sentence) | ||||||
British Virgin Islands | Legal since 2000 | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||||
Cayman Islands | Legal since 2000 | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Cuba | Legal since 1979 + UN decl. sign. | (but proposed) | |||||
Dominica | Illegal (Penalty: 10 year prison sentence) | ||||||
Dominican Republic | |||||||
Grenada | Male illegal (Penalty: 10 year prison sentence) Female legal | ||||||
Guadeloupe (Overseas department of France) | Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign. | Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||
Haiti | Legal since 1986 | ||||||
Jamaica | Illegal (Penalty: 10 years hard labor) Female legal. | ||||||
Martinique (Overseas department of France) | Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign. | Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||
Montserrat | Legal since 2000 | ||||||
Puerto Rico (Commonwealth of the United States) | Legal since 2003 | / Legal since 2010 (not fully implemented) | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | |||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Male illegal (Penalty: 10 years) Female legal | ||||||
Saint Lucia | Male illegal (Penalty: fine and/or 10 year prison sentence) Female legal | ||||||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Illegal (Penalty: fine and/or 10 year prison sentence) | ||||||
Trinidad and Tobago | Illegal (Penalty: 25 year prison sentence) | ||||||
Turks and Caicos Islands | Legal since 2000 | ||||||
United States Virgin Islands (Insular area of the United States) | Legal since 1984 | / Legal since 2010 (not fully implemented) | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well |
South America
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination Laws (sexual orientation) | Anti- discrimination Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Legal since 1887[11] + UN decl. sign. | Unregistered cohabitation throughout the country. | Legal since 2010.[31] | Legal since 2010. | Since 2009.[32] | Legal protection on sexual orientation nationwide proposed, still awaiting Senate approval. | Legal protection on gender identity nationwide proposed, still awaiting Senate approval. |
Bolivia | Legal + UN decl. sign. | (Proposed) | Constitutional ban | Constitutional ban | Unknown | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Bans all discrimination based on gender identity[33] |
Brazil | Legal since 1830[11] + UN decl. sign. | Unregistered cohabitation since 2004 and civil union since 2011 | But on June 27, 2011 a Brazilian judge in Sao Paulo converted a civil union into a same-sex marriage, a first in the nation. On June 28, 2011, another stable union between same-sex couples has been converted into a marriage. It is not clear whether the ruling presents a precedent for additional same-sex marriages.[2][3] | Legal since 2010 | Gays and lesbians to serve openly in military.[34] | Legal protection on sexual orientation nationwide proposed, still awaiting Senate approval.[35] | The jurisprudence of the Superior Court of Justice has been in favor of Gender-motivated identity change.[36][37] |
Chile | Legal since 1999[11] (Age of consent discrepancy) + UN decl. sign. | (pending) | No laws related to the sexual orientation of members of the armed forces.[38] | is possible to change any name( male /female) and is possible to reconize change of sex if have done a surgery first to change sex | |||
Colombia | Legal since 1981 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2007 | Civil Code currently sued because of discrimination of homosexual, bisexual, transexual and transgender individuals due to conception of marriage as the union of a woman and a man. | single person, no matter her/his sexual orientation may adopt. First case of step-child adoption, Court ordered.[39] | since 1999. Since 2009: the military special social security system can be used by same sex couples in the army | The Constitution of 1991 penalizes any sort of discrimination based on several characteristics, including gender and sexual orientation. | [40] Since 1993. The name's gender can be changed easily in the National ID Card, to change the sex field a surgery is required. |
Ecuador | Legal since 1997 + UN decl. sign. | [41] Civil unions recognized since 2009 | Constitutional ban | Constitutional ban | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Bans all discrimination based on gender identity | |
Falkland Islands (overseas territory of the UK) | Legal | Legal since 2005 | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Unknown | |||
French Guiana | Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign. | Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Unknown | ||
Guyana | Male illegal (Penalty: life imprisonment) Female legal. | Unknown | Added to constitution in 2004, but withdrawn afterwards by the government. | Unknown | |||
Paraguay | Legal since 1880[11] + UN decl. sign. | Constitutional ban since 1992[42] | Constitutional ban since 1992[42] | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Peru | Legal since 1836-37[11] | since 2009[43] | Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Penalized with 2-4 years in jail. | Possible via Civil Code and Legal Process, but no specific law. | |||
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Legal | Legal since 2005 | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Unknown | |||
Suriname | Legal since 1869[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Uruguay | Legal since 1934 + UN decl. sign. | Civil unions since 2008.[44] | But proposed.[45] | Since 2009.[46] | Since 2009.[47] | Legal protection since 2004.[48] | Legal protection since 2004.[48] Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name since 2009.[49] |
Venezuela | Legal + UN decl. sign. | Civil union bill passed first reading, becomes law if passes second | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[11] | Under consideration (passed first reading) |
Asia
Main article: LGBT rights in Asia
Central Asia
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kazakhstan | Legal since 1998[11] | Unknown | |||||
Kyrgyzstan | Legal since 1998[11] | Unknown | |||||
Tajikistan | Legal since 1998[11] | Unknown | |||||
Turkmenistan | Male illegal (Penalty: up to 2 year prison sentence) Female legal[11] | Unknown | |||||
Uzbekistan | Male illegal (Penalty: up to 3 year prison sentence) Female legal[11] | Unknown |
Western Asia
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bahrain | ? Unclear[11] | ||||||
Iraq | Legal since 2003 | ||||||
Israel | Legal since 1963 de facto 1988 de jure[50] + UN decl. sign. | Unregistered cohabition Legal | Cannot be performed in the country, but foreign same-sex marriages are recognised | [51][52] | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||
Jordan | Legal since 1951 | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Kuwait | Illegal (Penalty: fines, men under 21 face prison sentences up to 10 years, men over 21 face prison sentences up to 7 years) | ||||||
Lebanon | Illegal (Penalty: minimal, unknown). very lax enforcement.[11] | ||||||
Oman | Illegal (Penalty: fines, prison sentence up to 3 years; however, only enforced when dealing with "public scandal") | ||||||
Palestinian territories (Gaza) | Male illegal (Penalty: up to 10 year prison sentence) Female legal | Unknown | |||||
Palestinian territories (West Bank) | Legal since 1951[11] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Qatar | Illegal (Penalty: fines, prison sentence up to 5 years) | ||||||
Saudi Arabia | Illegal (Penalty: death or prison/fines/whipping) | ||||||
Syria | Illegal (Penalty: prison sentence up to 3 years; law de facto suspended) | ||||||
United Arab Emirates | Illegal (Penalty: deportation, fines, prison time or death sentence) | ||||||
Yemen | Illegal (Penalty: flogging or death) |
South Asia
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Illegal | ||||||
Bangladesh | Illegal | ||||||
Bhutan | Illegal (Penalty: prison sentence up to 1 year; no cases of penalty actually enforced) | ||||||
India | Legal since 2009 Delhi High Court ruling | No explicit recognition, but not outlawed explicitly, same-sex unions reported.[53] | No explicit recognition, but not outlawed explicitly, same-sex marriages reported.[53] | Under consideration | [54] | Under consideration | Transgender people allowed to tick O (Other) in passport and voter identification forms |
Iran | Illegal (Penalty: Death) | Transsexuality in Iran is legal if accompanied by a sex change operation; however, transsexuals still report societal intolerance.[55] | |||||
Maldives | ? Criminal code does not criminalize same-sex sexual relations; sharia law may apply, but no applications have been reported | [citation needed] | |||||
Nepal | Legal since 2007[11] + UN decl. sign. | Under consideration | Under consideration | Supreme Court ruled discrimination laws apply to homosexuals | "Third gender" cards have been issued since September 2007, legally protected class[56] | ||
Pakistan | Illegal (Penalty: 2 years to life sentence) | 'Third gender' officially protected from discrimination by Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2010 | |||||
Sri Lanka | ? Status unclear - British-enacted sodomy law may apply, never implemented | [citation needed] |
East Asia
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
People's Republic of China | Legal since 1997 | Unknown | Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender | ||||
Republic of China | Legal | Pending law allows civil unions or same-sex marriage. | Due to military draft | Bans some anti-gay discrimination (in work and education) | Unknown | ||
Hong Kong | Legal since 1991 (equal age of consent of 16 for both heterosexual and homosexual sex since 2006) | Unknown (China responsible for defence) | |||||
Japan | Legal since 1880 (was illegal from 1873-1880;before that there were no laws forbidding sodomy) + UN decl. sign. | Foreign same-sex marriages recognized.[57] | [58] | / No nationwide protections, but some cities bans some anti-gay discriminations[11] | Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery and in case that the transsexual has no child under 20 years old | ||
Macau | Legal since 1996 | Unknown (China responsible for defence) | Unknown | ||||
Mongolia | Legal since 2002 | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
North Korea | (showing public affection is frowned upon even on heterosexual couples) | Unknown although there are heavily obeyed gender roles for both male and female. See Let's trim our hair in accordance with the socialist lifestyle | |||||
South Korea | Legal | Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender |
Southeast Asia
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (Sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brunei | Illegal (Penalty: fine or prison sentence up to 10 years) | ||||||
Burma | Illegal (Penalty: up to life sentence) | ||||||
Cambodia | Legal | Technically prohibited, though there has been at least one recorded case of a legally registered and recognized same-sex marriage | Unknown | Unknown | |||
East Timor | Legal + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Indonesia | Legal[59] except for Muslims in Aceh Province[60] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Laos | Legal | Unknown | Unknown | ||||
Malaysia | Illegal (Penalty: fines, prison sentence (2-20 years), or whippings) | ||||||
Philippines | Legal.[61][62] except for Muslims in Marawi City | [62] | [62] | [63] | Since 2009 | No national protections, but Quezon City and Albay have anti-discrimination ordinances[64] National bill pending but still not made into law | Unknown |
Singapore | Male illegal (Penalty: up to 2 years prison sentence; no plan to repeal 377A and not enforced since 1999) Female legal | Due to conscription, but gays are not allowed to go to command school or serve in sensitive units. | |||||
Thailand | Legal since 1956 | Since 2005 | Unknown | ||||
Vietnam | Legal (no laws against homosexuality have ever existed) | Unknown | Unknown |
Europe
Main article: LGBT rights in Europe
Membership in the European Union not only requires repeal of anti-homosexuality legislation, the Treaty of Amsterdam also requires anti-discrimination legislation to be enacted by its member states.[65]
Northern Europe
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression | MSMs allowed to donate blood |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denmark | Legal since 1933 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 1989 | Only in registered partnerships since 2010 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[11][66] | ||||
Estonia | Legal since 1992 + UN decl. sign. | Only married couples can adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[66] | |||||
Faroe Islands (constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark) | Legal since 1933 | (Denmark responsible for defence) | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[66] | |||||
Finland | Legal since 1971 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2002 | (under consideration)[67] | / Step-child adoption only (full joint adoption under consideration) | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[66] | |||
Greenland (constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark) | Legal since 1933 +UN decl. sign via Denmark. | Legal since 1996 | / Step-child adoption only | (Denmark responsible for defence) | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||
Iceland | Legal since 1940 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 1996 | Legal since 2010 | Legal since 2006 | N/A | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender. | |
Ireland | Legal since 1993 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2011 | Supreme Court decision pending | Single gay persons may adopt. Step Child adoption under consideration. | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | Legislation to recognise gender identity pending after High Court ruling in favour. | ||
Isle of Man | Legal since 1991 | Legal since 2011 | UK responsible for defence | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Gender Recognition Act 2009[4] | |||
Latvia | Legal since 1992 + UN decl. sign. | Constitutional ban since 2006 | Only married couples can adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Lithuania | Legal since 1993 + UN decl. sign. | Constitutional ban since 1992 | Only married couples can adopt | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | ||||
Norway | Legal since 1972 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 1993 | Legal since 2009 | Legal since 2009 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination.[66] | Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender. | ||
Sweden | Legal since 1944 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 1995 | Legal since 2009 | Legal since 2003 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[11] | Sterilization and divorce necessary for legal gender change. | ||
United Kingdom | Legal since 1967 in England and Wales, 1981 in Scotland and 1982 in Northern Ireland + UN decl. sign. | Civil partnership since 2005 | (under consideration) | Legal since 2002 in England and Wales, 2009 in Scotland and unclear in Northern Ireland | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[68][11] | Gender Recognition Act 2004 |
Western Europe
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belgium | Legal since 1795 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2000 | Legal since 2003 | Legal since 2006 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | ||
France | Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign. | Pacte civil de solidarité since 1999 | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[11][66] | |||
Guernsey (incl. Alderney, Herm and Sark) | legal since 1983 | UK responsible for defence | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[69] | [69] | |||
Jersey | legal since 1990 | civil partnership bill now awaiting assent | UK responsible for defence | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Gender Recognition (Jersey) Law 2010[5] | ||
Luxembourg | Legal since 1795 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2004 | (proposed) | Single gay persons may adopt (step-child only proposed) | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||
Monaco | Legal since 1793 | France responsible for defence | |||||
Netherlands | Legal since 1811 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 1998 | Legal since 2001. First country to legalise same-sex marriage. | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] |
Central Europe
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression | MSMs allowed to donate blood |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | Legal since 1971 + UN decl. sign. | Registered partnership since 2010 | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||||
Croatia | Legal since 1977 + UN decl. sign. | Unregistered cohabitation since 2003 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[70][66] | Act on the elimination of discrimination, The Law on volunteering, Electronic media Law (all including both gender identity and gender expression) | ||||
Czech Republic | Legal since 1962 + UN decl. sign. | Registered partnership since 2006. | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Germany | Legal since 1994 (since 1968 in East Germany) + UN decl. sign. | Registered partnership since 2001 | / Step-child adoption only (full joint adoption proposed) | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Hungary | Legal since 1962 + UN decl. sign. | Registered partnership since 2009 | Constitutional ban beginning 1 January 2012[71] | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Liechtenstein | Legal since 1989 + UN decl. sign. | Registered partnership since 2011 | N/A | |||||
Poland | Never punished. Legal until 18th century, criminalized in 19th by laws of Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary, legal again since 1932 + UN decl. sign. | (proposed) | Constitution defines marriage as "a union of a man and a woman"[72] | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Sex change legal; birth certificate is amended after the reassignment surgery | ||
Slovakia | Legal since 1962 + UN decl. sign. | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||||
Slovenia | Legal since 1977 + UN decl. sign. | Registered partnership since 2006 | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Sex change can be recorded in a central register, and new documents can be issued based on person's new gender identity.[73] | ||||
Switzerland | Geneva, Vaud, Valais and Ticino: legal since 1798. Nationwide since 1942 + UN decl. sign. | Registered partnership since 2007 | Single gay persons may adopt. | Bans some anti-gay discrimination |
Eastern Europe
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Legal since 1995 + UN decl. sign. | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[74] | Forbids discrimination based on gender identity. | ||||
Armenia | Legal since 2002 + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | |||||
Azerbaijan | Legal since 2000 | Unknown | |||||
Belarus | Legal since 1994 | Constitutional ban since 1994. | Banned from military service | ||||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Legal since 1998 + UN decl. sign. | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||||
Bulgaria | Legal since 1968 + UN decl. sign. | Constitutional ban since 1991. | Single gay persons may adopt. | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||
Georgia | Legal since 2000 + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Macedonia | Legal since 1996 + UN decl. sign. | Bans some anti-gay discrimination[66] | |||||
Moldova | Legal since 1995 | Constitutional ban since 1994. | |||||
Montenegro | Legal since 1977 + UN decl. sign. | Constitutional ban since 2007. | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[75] | Forbids discrimination based on gender identity. | |||
Romania | Legal since 1996 + UN decl. sign. | (proposed) | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | ||||
Russia (incl. all constituent regions) | Legal since 1993. Previously legal from 1917 to 1930. | ||||||
Serbia | Legal since 1994 + UN decl. sign. | Constitution defines marriage as "a union of a man and a woman" | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Act on the elimination of discrimination | |||
Ukraine | Legal since 1991 | Constitution defines marriage as "a union of a man and a woman" |
Southern Europe
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andorra | Legal since 1790 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2005 | Legal since 2005 | N/A | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | ||
Cyprus | Legal since 1998 + UN decl. sign. | (proposed) | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Gibraltar (overseas territory of the UK) | Legal since 1993 | UK responsible for defence | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Greece | Legal since 1951 (Age of consent discrepancy) + UN decl. sign. | (proposed) | (proposed)[76] | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | |||
Italy | Legal since 1890 + UN decl. sign. | Only married couples can adopt | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender.[77] | |||
Malta | Legal since 1973 + UN decl. sign. | (proposed) | Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender | |||
Portugal | Legal since 1983 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2001 | Legal since 2010 | Single gay persons may adopt | Bans all anti-gay discrimination, according to Constitution[66] | Sex changes are legal and documents can be amended to the recognised gender since 2011 | |
San Marino | Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign. | Unknown | |||||
Spain | Legal since 1979 + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 1998 | Legal since 2005 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | La Ley de Identidad de Género (Gender Identity Law), enacted in 2007. | ||
Turkey | Legal since 1858 | Committee formed in March 2010 to draft a discrimination clause including sexual orientation.[78] | |||||
Vatican City | Legal since 1929 | Unknown |
Partially recognised states
LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kosovo (only partially recognised, claimed by Serbia) | Legal since 1994 (as part of Serbia), 2008 (as partially recognised sovereign territory) | Bans all anti-gay discrimination[66] | |||||
Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus (recognised only by the Republic of Turkey) | Male illegal (Penalty: up to 5 years imprisonment) Female legal[11] |
Oceania
Main article: LGBT rights in Oceania
Australasia
LGBT rights in: | Homosexual acts legal? | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia (including territories of Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island) | Legal nationwide since 1994. + UN decl. sign. | Unregistered cohabitation in all states and under federal laws. Civil Union schemes in ACT, Tasmania, Victoria & New South Wales | / Joint adoption in ACT, New South Wales and Western Australia. Stepchild adoption in Tasmania. | since 1992 | Bans all anti-gay discrimination | Covered by all state and territory laws only. | |
New Zealand | Legal since 1986. + UN decl. sign. | Legal since 2005. | Single gay persons may adopt. | Bans all anti-gay discrimination | Covered under the "sex discrimination" provision of the Human Rights Act 1993 since 2006. |
Melanesia
LGBT rights in: | Homosexual acts legal? | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Timor (terminology "Oceania" varies on border defintions) | Legal since 1975[11] + UN decl. sign | Unknown | |||||
Fiji | Legal since 2010[11] | Unknown | 1997 constitution that banned all anti-gay discrimination has been repealed. | Unknown | |||
New Caledonia (overseas collectivity of France) | Legal | PACS since 2009 | French responsibility | Unknown | |||
Papua New Guinea | Illegal[11] | ||||||
Solomon Islands | Illegal[11] | ||||||
Vanuatu | Legal since 2007[11] | Unknown |
Micronesia
LGBT rights in: | Homosexual acts legal? | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guam (unincorporated territory of the United States) | Legal since 1979 | (proposed) | Legal since 2002 | / Legal since 2010 (not fully implemented) | Bans all anti-gay discrimination, also US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | |
Federated States of Micronesia | Legal[11] | / Legal since 2010 (not fully implemented) | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | |||
Kiribati | Male illegal Female legal[11] | ||||||
Marshall Islands | Legal since 2005[11] | / Legal since 2010 (not fully implemented) | |||||
Nauru | Male illegal Female legal[11] (legalisation proposed) | ||||||
Northern Mariana Islands | Legal since 1983 | / Legal since 2010 (not fully implemented) | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | |||
Palau | Male illegal Female legal[11] |
Polynesia
LGBT rights in: | Homosexual acts legal? | Recognition of same-sex relationships | Same-sex marriage | Same-sex adoption | Allows gays to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination (sexual orientation) | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa (unincorporated territory of the United States)[79] | Legal since 1899 | / Legal since 2010 (not fully implemented) | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | The US hate crime laws also apply to all US external territories as well | |||
Easter Island (overseas territory of Chile) | Legal since 1998 | ||||||
Cook Islands (part of the realm of New Zealand) | Male illegal Female legal[11] | New Zealand's responsibility | |||||
French Polynesia (overseas collectivity of France) | Legal | French responsibility | Unknown | ||||
Niue (part of the realm of New Zealand) | Legal since 2007[11] | Has no military forces | Unknown | ||||
Pitcairn Islands (overseas territory of the United Kingdom) | Legal since 1967 | Civil partnerships since 2005 | Bans most anti-gay discrimination | ||||
Samoa | (legalisation proposed) | Has no military forces | |||||
Tokelau (part of the realm of New Zealand) | Legal 2007[11] | Has no military forces | |||||
Tonga | Male illegal Female legal[11] | ||||||
Tuvalu | Male illegal Female legal[11] | Has no military forces | Unknown | ||||
Wallis and Futuna (overseas collectivity of France) | Legal | PACS since 2009 | French responsibility | Unknown |
No comments:
Post a Comment