# LGBTQ rights by country or territory

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Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality.
Notably, as of January 2025, 38 countries recognize same-sex marriage. By contrast, not counting non-state actors and extrajudicial killings, only two countries are believed to impose the death penalty on consensual same-sex sexual acts: Iran and Afghanistan. The death penalty is officially law, but generally not practiced, in Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (in the autonomous state of Jubaland) and the United Arab Emirates. LGBT people also face extrajudicial killings in the Russian region of Chechnya. Sudan rescinded its unenforced death penalty for anal sex (hetero- or homosexual) in 2020. Fifteen countries have stoning on the books as a penalty for adultery, which (in light of the illegality of gay marriage in those countries) would by default include gay sex, but this is enforced by the legal authorities in Iran and Nigeria (in the northern third of the country).
In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights, following which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report documenting violations of the rights of LGBT people, including hate crimes, criminalization of homosexual activity, and discrimination. Following the issuance of the report, the United Nations urged all countries which had not yet done so to enact laws protecting basic LGBT rights. A 2022 study found that LGBT rights (as measured by ILGA-Europe's Rainbow Index) were correlated with less HIV/AIDS incidence among gay and bisexual men independently of risky sexual behavior.
The 2023 Equaldex Equality Index ranks the Nordic countries, Chile, Uruguay, Canada, the Benelux countries, Spain, Andorra, and Malta among the best for LGBT rights. The index ranks Nigeria, Yemen, Brunei, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mauritania, Palestine, and Iran among the worst. Asher & Lyric ranked Canada, Sweden, and the Netherlands as the three safest nations for LGBT people in its 2023 index.

## Scope of laws

Laws that affect LGBT people include, but are not limited to, the following:
* laws concerning the recognition of same-sex relationships, including same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships
* laws concerning same-sex parenting, including same-sex adoption
* anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, education, public accommodations
* anti-bullying legislation to protect LGBT children at school
* hate crime laws imposing enhanced criminal penalties for prejudice-motivated violence against LGBT people
* bathroom bills affecting access to sex-segregated facilities by transgender people
* laws related to sexual orientation and military service
* laws concerning access to assisted reproductive technology
* sodomy laws that penalize consensual same-sex sexual activity. These may or may not target homosexuals, males or males and females, or leave some homosexual acts legal.
* adultery laws that same-sex couples are subject to
* age of consent laws that may impose higher ages for same-sex sexual activity
* laws regarding donation of blood, corneas, and other tissues by men who have sex with men
* laws concerning access to gender-affirming surgery and gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy
* legal recognition and accommodation of the affirmed gender.

## History of LGBT-related laws
### Ancient India

Ayoni or non-vaginal sex of all types is punishable in the Arthashastra. Homosexual acts are, however, treated as a smaller offence punishable by a fine, while unlawful heterosexual sex carries much harsher punishment. The Dharmsastras, especially the later ones, prescribe against non-vaginal sex like the Vashistha Dharmasutra. The Yājñavalkya Smṛti prescribes fines for such acts including those with other men. Manusmriti prescribes light punishments for such acts. Vanita states that the verses about punishment for a sex between female and a maiden is due to its strong emphasis on a maiden's sexual purity.

### Ancient Israel

The ancient Law of Moses (the Torah) forbids people from lying with people of the same sex (i.e., from having intercourse) in Leviticus 18 and gives a story of attempted homosexual rape in Genesis 19, in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, after which the cities were soon destroyed with "brimstone and fire, from the Lord" and the death penalty was prescribed to its inhabitants – and to Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt because she turned back to watch the cities' destruction. In Deuteronomy 22:5, cross-dressing is condemned as "abominable".

### Assyria

In Assyrian society, sex crimes were punished identically whether they were homosexual or heterosexual. An individual faced no punishment for penetrating someone of equal social class, a cult prostitute, or with someone whose gender roles were not considered solidly masculine. Such sexual relations were even seen as good fortune, with an Akkadian tablet, the Šumma ālu, reading, "If a man copulates with his equal from the rear, he becomes the leader among his peers and brothers". However, homosexual relationships with fellow soldiers, slaves, royal attendants, or those where a social better was submissive or penetrated, were treated as bad omens.
Middle Assyrian Law Codes dating 1075 BC has a particularly harsh law for homosexuality in the military, which reads: "If a man have intercourse with his brother-in-arms, they shall turn him into a eunuch." A similar law code reads, "If a seignior lay with his neighbor, when they have prosecuted him (and) convicted him, they shall lie with him (and) turn him into a eunuch". This law code condemns a situation that involves homosexual rape. Any Assyrian male could visit a prostitute or lie with another male, just as long as false rumors or forced sex were not involved with another male.

### Ancient Rome

In ancient Rome, the bodies of citizen youths were strictly off-limits, and the Lex Scantinia imposed penalties on those who committed a sex crime (stuprum) against a freeborn male minor. Acceptable same-sex partners were males excluded from legal protections as citizens: slaves, male prostitutes, and the infames, entertainers or others who might be technically free but whose lifestyles set them outside the law.
A male citizen who willingly performed oral sex or received anal sex was disparaged, but there is only limited evidence of legal penalties against these men. In courtroom and political rhetoric, charges of effeminacy and passive sexual behaviors were directed particularly at "democratic" politicians (populares) such as Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
Roman law addressed the rape of a male citizen as early as the 2nd century BC when it was ruled that even a man who was "disreputable and questionable" had the same right as other citizens not to have his body subjected to forced sex. A law probably dating to the dictatorship of Julius Caesar defined rape as forced sex against "boy, woman, or anyone"; the rapist was subject to execution, a rare penalty in Roman law. A male classified as infamis, such as a prostitute or actor, could not as a matter of law be raped, nor could a slave, who was legally classified as property; the slave's owner, however, could prosecute the rapist for property damage.
In the Roman army of the Republic, sex among fellow soldiers violated the decorum against intercourse with citizens and was subject to harsh penalties, including death, as a violation of military discipline. The Greek historian Polybius (2nd century BC) lists deserters, thieves, perjurers, and "...on young men who have abused their persons" as subject to the fustuarium, clubbing to death. Ancient sources are most concerned with the effects of sexual harassment by officers, but the young soldier who brought an accusation against his superior needed to show that he had not willingly taken the passive role or prostituted himself. Soldiers were free to have relations with their male slaves; the use of a fellow citizen-soldier's body was prohibited, not homosexual behaviors per se. By the late Republic and throughout the Imperial period, there is increasing evidence that men whose lifestyle marked them as "homosexual" in the modern sense served openly.
Although Roman law did not recognize marriage between men, and in general Romans regarded marriage as a heterosexual union with the primary purpose of producing children, in the early Imperial period some male couples were celebrating traditional marriage rites. Juvenal remarks with disapproval that his friends often attended such ceremonies. The emperor Nero had two marriages to men, once as the bride (with a freedman Pythagoras) and once as the groom. His consort Sporus appeared in public as Nero's wife wearing the regalia that was customary for the Roman empress.
Apart from measures to protect the prerogatives of citizens, the prosecution of homosexuality as a general crime began in the 3rd century of the Christian era when male prostitution was banned by Philip the Arab. By the end of the 4th century, after the Roman Empire had come under Christian rule, passive homosexuality was punishable by burning. "Death by sword" was the punishment for a "man coupling like a woman" under the Theodosian Code. Under Justinian, all same-sex acts, passive or active, no matter who the partners are, were declared contrary to nature and punishable by death.

### British Empire

The United Kingdom introduced anti-homosexuality laws throughout its colonies, particularly in the 19th century when the British Empire was at its peak. As of 2018, more than half of the 71 countries that criminalised homosexuality were former British colonies or protectorates.

### Netherlands

In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

## Global LGBT rights maps

Note that for simplicity the table below does not distinguish between 'legal' and 'lawful'. An action can only be legal or illegal where a specific law has been passed.
Laws regarding same-sex sexuality by country or territory :
vte
Worldwide laws regarding same-sex intercourse, unions and expression
Same-sex intercourse illegal. Penalties:
  Death
  Prison; death not enforced
  Death under militias
  Prison, with arrests or detention
  Prison, not enforced$^1$
Same-sex intercourse legal. Recognition of unions:
  Marriage
  Extraterritorial marriage$^2$
  Civil unions
  Limited domestic
  Limited foreign
  Optional certification
  None
  Restrictions of expression, not enforced
  Restrictions of association with arrests or detention
$^1$No imprisonment in the past three years or moratorium on law. $^2$Marriage not available locally. Some jurisdictions may perform other types of partnerships. :

## Timeline

Decriminalization of homosexuality timeline :
| | Countries/Territories/States |
| Never been illegal/Never criminalized | List Aruba, Netherlands Benin Burkina Faso Cambodia Central African Republic Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia Congo DR Congo Christmas Island, Australia Curaçao, Netherlands Djibouti Equatorial Guinea French Polynesia, France Indonesia Ivory Coast Laos Madagascar Mayotte, France Micronesia New Caledonia, France Niger North Korea Rwanda Sint Maarten, Netherlands South Korea Philippines Vietnam Wallis and Futuna, France |
| 18th century | List 1791: Andorra Kingdom of France (includes Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, San Barthélemy, Saint Martin, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon) Saint-Domingue (Haiti)1793: Monaco1794: Luxembourg1795: Belgium1798: Geneva, Switzerland Ticino, Switzerland Vaud, Switzerland Valais, Switzerland |
| 19th century | List 1811: Netherlands1822: Dominican Republic El Salvador1830: Empire of Brazil1832: Bolivia1853: Argentina1858: Ottoman Empire (Turkey)1864: San Marino1869: Dutch Guiana (Suriname)1871: Guatemala Mexico1882: Empire of Japan1890: Kingdom of Italy Vatican City1899: Honduras |
| 20th century | List 1912: Taiwan1924: Peru1933: Denmark (includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands)1932: Poland1934: Uruguay1940: Kingdom of Iceland1942: Switzerland (nationwide)1944: Sweden1951: Greece Jordan West Bank, Palestine1956: Thailand1961: Hungary1962: Czechoslovakia Illinois, United States1967: England and Wales, United Kingdom1968: Bulgaria East Germany1969: Canada West Germany1971: Austria Connecticut, United States Costa Rica Finland1972: Colorado, United States Oregon, United States Norway1973: Delaware, United States Hawaii, United States Malta North Dakota, United States1974: Massachusetts, United States Ohio, United States1975: East Timor New Hampshire, United States New Mexico, United States South Australia, Australia1976: Australian Capital Territory, Australia Bahrain California, United States Indiana, United States Maine, United States Washington, United States West Virginia, United States1977: Socialist Republic of Croatia Socialist Republic of Montengro Socialist Republic of Slovenia South Dakota, United States Vermont, United States Wyoming, United States1978: Guam, United States Iowa, United States Nebraska, United States New Jersey, United States1979: Cuba Spain1980: American Samoa, United States New York, United States Pennsylvania, United States1981: Colombia Scotland, United Kingdom Victoria, Australia1982: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom1983: Guernsey, United Kingdom Northern Mariana Islands, United States Northern Territory, Australia Portugal Wisconsin, United States1984: New South Wales, Australia1985: United States Virgin Islands, United States1986: New Zealand1988: Israel1989: Falkland Islands, United Kingdom Liechtenstein1990: Jersey, United Kingdom Paraguay Western Australia, Australia1991: Bahamas Abkhazia British Hong Kong Queensland, Australia South Ossetia Ukraine1992: Estonia Isle of Man, United Kingdom Kentucky, United States Latvia1993: District of Columbia, United States Gibraltar, United Kingdom Guinea Bissau Ireland Lithuania Mongolia Nevada, United States Norfolk Island, Australia Russia1994: Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija Belarus Bermuda, United Kingdom Republic of Serbia1995: Albania Moldova1996: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina Portuguese Macau North Macedonia Romania Tennessee, United States1997: China Ecuador Montana, United States Tasmania, Australia Venezuela1998: Cyprus Georgia, United States Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Rhode Island, United States South Africa Tajikistan1999: Chile Maryland, United States2000: Akrotiri and Dhekelia, United Kingdom Azerbaijan Georgia |
| 21st century | List 2001: Anguilla, United Kingdom Arizona, United States Brčko District, Bosnia and Herzegovina British Virgin Islands, United Kingdom Cayman Islands, United Kingdom Minnesota, United States Montserrat, United Kingdom Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, United Kingdom Pitcairn Islands, United Kingdom Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom2002: Arkansas, United States Transnistria2003: Armenia Tokelau, New Zealand United States (nationwide)2004: Cape Verde2005: Marshall Islands2007: Nepal Vanuatu2008: Nicaragua Panama2010: Fiji2012: Lesotho São Tomé and Príncipe2014: Northern Cyprus Palau2015: Mozambique2016: Belize Nauru Seychelles2018: India Trinidad and Tobago2019: Botswana2020: Gabon2021: Angola Bhutan2022: Antigua and Barbuda Barbados Singapore Saint Kitts and Nevis2023: Cook Islands, New Zealand Mauritius2024: Dominica Namibia |
| | Notes Note that while this template lists several historical countries, such as the Kingdom of France, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, etc., for the sake of clarity, the flags shown are contemporary flags. When a country has decriminalized, re-criminalized, and decriminalized again (e.g. Albania, Bulgaria, Spain, republics of the Soviet Union) only the later decriminalization date is included. Countries which have decriminalized and since re-criminalized (e.g. Iraq) are excluded. |

## LGBT-related laws by country or territory

Note: A country in this list is to be presumed to have equalized the age of consent at the same time as it decriminalized homosexual acts, unless otherwise noted.

### Africa

List of countries or territories by LGBT rights in Africa :
This table: viewtalkedit
Northern Africa
LGBTQ rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Algeria
Illegal since 1966 Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment with fines up to 10,000 dinars. Torture, beatings, or vigilante executions are also common.
Canary Islands (Autonomous community of Spain)
Legal since 1979 + UN decl. sign.
De facto unions legal since 2003
Legal since 2005
Legal since 2005
Spain responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2007, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender
Ceuta (Autonomous city of Spain)
Legal since 1979 + UN decl. sign.
De facto union since 1998
Legal since 2005
Legal since 2005
Spain responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2007, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender
Egypt
/ Ambiguous. Male de jure legal, but de facto illegal since 2000 Penalty: Up to 17 years imprisonment with or without hard labour and with or without fines under broadly-written morality laws.
Libya
Illegal since 1953 (as Kingdom of Libya) Penalty: Up to 5 years in jail or vigilante execution.
Madeira (Autonomous region of Portugal)
Legal since 1983 + UN decl. sign.
De facto union since 2001
Legal since 2010
Legal since 2016
Portugal responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination.
Since 2011, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender
Melilla (Autonomous city of Spain)
Legal since 1979 + UN decl. sign.
De facto union since 2008
Legal since 2005
Legal since 2005
Spain responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2007, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender
Morocco (including Southern Provinces)
Illegal since 1962 Penalty: Up to 3 to 6 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Disputed territory; excluding Southern Provinces)
Illegal Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment.
Sudan
Illegal since 1899 (as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) Penalty: Life imprisonment for a third offense of anal sex.
Tunisia
Illegal since 1913 (as the French protectorate of Tunisia) Penalty: 3 years imprisonment.
Western Africa
LGBTQ rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Benin
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country); Equal age of consent since 2018.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Burkina Faso
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country, Criminalization pending)
Constitutional ban since 1991
Cape Verde
Legal since 2004 + UN decl. sign.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Gambia
Illegal since 1888 (as the Gambia Colony and Protectorate) Penalty: Up to Iife imprisonment.
Forms of gender expression criminalized since 2013
Ghana
Male illegal since 1892 (as the Gold Coast)Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment (repeal disputed) Female legal, Criminalization pending 2024
Only cyber protection present.
Guinea
Illegal since 1988 Penalty: 6 months to 10 years imprisonment.
Guinea-Bissau
Legal since 1993 + UN decl. sign.
Ivory Coast
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country); Age of consent discrepancy
Liberia
Illegal since 1976 Penalty: 1 year imprisonment. (repeal proposed)
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Mali
Illegal since 2024 Penalty: 7 years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 francs.
Constitutional ban since 2023
Mauritania
Illegal since 1983 Penalty: Capital punishment for men, (not enforced); prison and a fine for women.
Niger
Legal (Criminalization pending); Age of consent discrepancy
Nigeria
Illegal since 1904 (Northern Region only) Illegal since 1916 (Region-wide) Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment. Death in the states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. (not enforced)
Statutory ban since 2013
Forms of gender expression criminalized in Sharia provinces.
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
Legal since 2017
Legal since 2017
Legal since 2017
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Senegal
Illegal since 1966 Penalty: 1 to 5 years imprisonment.
Sierra Leone
Male illegal since 1861 (as the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate) Penalty: Up to life imprisonment (Not enforced, repeal disputed). Female always legal + UN decl. sign.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination.
Togo
Illegal since 1980 Penalty: Fine and 3 years imprisonment (repeal proposed)
Central Africa
LGBTQ rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Cameroon
Illegal since 1972 Penalty: Fines to 5 years imprisonment. or vigilante execution and torture, (repeal proposed)
Central African Republic
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country) + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2016
Chad
Illegal since 2017 Penalty: Between 3 months and 2 years in prison, with fines of 50,000 to 500,000 FCFA. (Penal Code, Chapter 2, Article 354)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)
Constitutional ban since 2006
Only cyber protection present.
Republic of the Congo
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country); Age of consent discrepancy
Equatorial Guinea
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)
Gabon
Legal since 2020; Age of consent discrepancy, + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2024
Only cyber protection present.
São Tomé and Príncipe
Legal since 2012 + UN decl. sign.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Eastern Africa
LGBTQ rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Burundi
Illegal since 2009 Penalty: fine, and 3 months to 2 years imprisonment. (repeal disputed)
Constitutional ban since 2005
Djibouti
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)
(Only certain privacy protection laws are present)
Eritrea
Illegal Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment. or vigilate execution Beatings and torture are also tolerated.
Ethiopia
Illegal Penalty: Up to 15 years. (repeal disputed)
Statutory ban since 2009
Kenya
Illegal since 1897 (as the East Africa Protectorate) Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment. (repeal proposed)
Constitutional ban since 2010
/ Limited protection following legal process by the authorities.
Rwanda
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country) + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2003
Somalia
Illegal Penalty: Up to 3 years prison. Jubaland Illegal. Penalty: Up to death in Jubaland.
Somaliland (Disputed territory)
Illegal Penalty: Up to 3 years prison, sometimes death sentences.
South Sudan
Illegal since 1899 (as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment. (not enforced)
Constitutional ban since 2011
Forms of gender expression are criminalized.
Tanzania
Illegal since 1864 (only Zanzibar) Illegal since 1899 Penalty: Up to life imprisonment. Vigilante executions, beatings and torture are also tolerated.
Uganda
Male illegal since 1902 (as Protectorate) Female illegal since 2000 Penalty: Life imprisonment, Death penalty in some cases, Beatings, torture, or vigilante execution.
Constitutional ban since 2005
Indian Ocean states
LGBTQ rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Comoros
Illegal since 1982 Penalty: 5 years imprisonment and fines. (not enforced)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Overseas territory of France)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the territory)
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Madagascar
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country); Age of consent discrepancy
Bans some anti-gay discrimination.
Mauritius
Legal since 2023 + UN decl. sign.
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Mayotte (Overseas region of France)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the region)
Civil solidarity pact since 2007
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Réunion (Overseas region of France)
Legal since 1791
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Seychelles
Legal since 2016 + UN decl. sign.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Southern Africa
LGBTQ rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Angola
Legal since 2021
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
May possibly change gender under the Código do Registro Civil 2015
Botswana
Legal since 2019
(Only LGB)
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal gender change recognized as a constitutional right since 2017
Eswatini
Male illegal since the 1880s (not enforced, repeal proposed) Penalty: Unknown Female always legal
Lesotho
Male legal since 2012 Female always legal
Bans some anti-gay discrimination.
May possibly change gender under the National Identity Cards Act 9 of 2011
Malawi
Illegal since 1891 (as British Central Africa Protectorate) Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment, with or without corporal punishment for men up to 5 years imprisonment for women (repeal proposed)
Mozambique
Legal since 2015
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Namibia
Legal since 2024
/ Foreign same-sex marriages recognised.
/ Foreign same-sex marriages recognised.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination.
Under the Births, Marriages and Deaths Registration Act 81 of 1963
South Africa
Male legal since 1998 Female always legal; equal age of consent since 2007 + UN decl. sign.
Limited recognition of unregistered partnerships since 1998; same-sex marriage since 2006
Legal since 2006
Legal since 2002
Since 1998
Constitution bans all anti-gay discrimination
Anti-discrimination laws are interpreted to include gender identity; legal gender may be changed after surgical or medical treatment
Zambia
Illegal since 1911 (as part of the British South Africa Company rule of Rhodesia) Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment. (repeal proposed)
Zimbabwe
Male illegal since 1891 (as part of the British South Africa Company rule of Rhodesia) Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment. (repeal proposed) Female always legal
Constitutional ban since 2013
Only cyber protection present. :

### Americas

List of countries or territories by LGBT rights in the Americas :
Tables: viewtalkedit
North America
LGBTQ rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Bermuda (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 1994; equal age of consent since 2019 + UN decl. sign.
Domestic partnerships since 2018
Was legal between November 2018 and March 2022 and between May 2017 and June 2018
Legal since 2015
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Canada
Legal since 1969; equal age of consent since 1987 + UN decl. sign.
Domestic partnerships in Nova Scotia (2001); Civil unions in Quebec (2002); Adult interdependent relationships in Alberta (2003); Common-law relationships in Manitoba (2004)
Legal in some provinces and territories since 2003, nationwide since 2005
Legal in some provinces and territories since 1996, nationwide since 2011
Since 1992; Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Ban on conversion therapy since 2022 nationwide
Transgender people can change their gender and name without completion of medical intervention and human rights protections explicitly include gender identity or expression within all of Canada since 2017
Greenland (Autonomous Territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)
Legal since 1933; equal age of consent since 1977 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships between 1996 and 2016 (Existing partnerships are still recognised.)
Legal since 2016
Stepchild adoption since 2009; joint adoption since 2016
The Kingdom of Denmark responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal gender change and recognition possible without surgery or hormone therapy
Mexico
Legal since 1871 + UN decl. sign.
/ Civil unions in Mexico City (2007), Coahuila (2007), Colima (between 2013 and 2016), Campeche (2013), Jalisco (between 2014 and 2018), Michoacán (2015), Tlaxcala (2017), and Veracruz (2020)
Starting in 2010; nationwide since 2022
/ Legal in Mexico City (2010), Coahuila (2014), Chihuahua (2015), Jalisco (2016), Michoacán (2016), Colima (2016), Morelos (2016), Campeche (2016), Veracruz (2016), Baja California (2017), Querétaro (2017), Chiapas (2017), Puebla (2017), Aguascalientes (2018), San Luis Potosi (2019), Hidalgo (2019), Yucatán (2021), Nayarit (2022), Quintana Roo (2022), Baja California Sur (2022), Zacatecas (2023), Tabasco (2024), Durango, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo León (the latter three never had adoption bans)
(ambiguous)
Bans all anti-gay discrimination Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal in Mexico City (2020), México (2020), Baja California Sur (2020), Colima (2021), Tlaxcala (2021), Oaxaca (2021), Yucatán (2021), Zacatecas (2021), Baja California (2022), Hidalgo (2022), Jalisco (2022), Puebla (2022), Sonora (2022), Nuevo León (2022), Querétaro (2023), Sinaloa (2023), Quintana Roo (2023), Morelos (2023), Guerrero (2024), Michoacán (2024), and nationwide (2024).
/ Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name in Mexico City (2008), Michoacán (2017), Nayarit (2017), Coahuila (2018), Hidalgo (2019), San Luis Potosí (2019), Colima (2019), Baja California (2019), Oaxaca (2019), Tlaxcala (2019), Chihuahua (2019), Sonora (2020), Jalisco (2020), Quintana Roo (2020), Puebla (2021), Baja California Sur (2021), México (2021), Morelos (2021), Sinaloa (2022), Zacatecas (2022), Durango (2023), Yucatán (2024), and Campeche (2024).
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Overseas collectivity of France)
Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
United States
Legal in some states since 1962, nationwide since 2003 + UN decl. sign.
Domestic partnerships in California (1999), the District of Columbia (2002), Maine (2004), Washington (2007), Maryland (2008), Oregon (2008), Nevada (2009) and Wisconsin (2009). Civil unions in Vermont (2000), Connecticut (2005), New Jersey (2007), New Hampshire (2008), Illinois (2011), Rhode Island (2011), Delaware (2012), Hawaii (2012) and Colorado (2013).
Legal in some states since 2004, nationwide since 2015
Legal in some states since 1993, nationwide since 2016
/ Lesbians, gays, and bisexuals have been allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military since 2011, following the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Transgender people previously allowed to serve openly, but restrictions have been placed on those with a history of gender dysphoria. "Transvestites" are currently banned from the military since 2012. Most openly Intersex people may be banned from the military under the Armed Forces ban of "hermaphrodites".
/ Employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited nationwide since 2020. More extensive protections exist in 23 states, DC, and some municipalities. Conversion therapy for minors is banned in 22 states, DC, and some municipalities. Sexual orientation is covered by the federal hate crime law since 2009.
/ Gender X became available and recognized formally on US passports in April 2022. This was rescinded in 2025 at the beginning of president Trump's second term. Gender change is legal on birth certificates (under varying conditions by state), in 48 states + DC. Nonbinary gender markers are available, under varying circumstances, in 25 states + DC. Employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity is prohibited nationwide since 2020. More extensive protections exist in 22 states, DC, and some municipalities.
Central America
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Belize
Legal since 2016
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Costa Rica
Legal since 1971 + UN decl. sign.
Unregistered cohabitation since 2014
Legal since 2020
Legal since 2020
Has no military
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
/ Transgender persons can change their legal name without surgeries or judicial permission since 2018. Legal gender cannot be changed. Sex indicator removed from all ID cards issued since May 2018 One-time sex change allowed for passports.
El Salvador
Legal since 1822 + UN decl. sign.
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Bans discrimination based on gender identity.
Guatemala
Legal since 1871 + UN decl. sign.
Pending
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Honduras
Legal since 1899 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban on de facto unions since 2005
Constitutional ban since 2005; court decision pending
Constitutional ban since 2005
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Nicaragua
Legal since 2008 + UN decl. sign.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Panama
Legal since 2008 + UN decl. sign.
Court decision pending
Court decision pending
Court decision pending
Has no military
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name after completion of medical intervention since 2006
Caribbean
Main article: LGBTQ rights in the Caribbean
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Anguilla (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001 Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.
UK responsible for defence
Antigua and Barbuda
Legal since 2022
Aruba (Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country) + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2021
The Netherlands responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Bahamas
Legal since 1991; Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.
Barbados
Legal since 2022.
/ Foreign Domestic Partnerships recognized for immigration purposes "Welcome Stamp"
Civil Unions proposed.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Bonaire (a special municipality of the Netherlands)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the municipalities) + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2012
Legal since 2012
The Netherlands responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
British Virgin Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Cayman Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001; Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships since 2020
Legal since 2020
UK responsible for defence
Cuba
Legal since 1979 + UN decl. sign.
Legal since 2022
Legal since 2022
Legal since 2022
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Transgender people allowed to change gender after sex change operations
Curaçao (Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country) + UN decl. sign.
The Netherlands responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Dominica
Legal since 2024 + UN decl. sign.
Has no military
Dominican Republic
Legal since 1822 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2010
Grenada
Male illegal Penalty: 10-year prison sentence (not enforced). Legalization proposed Female always legal
Has no military
Guadeloupe (Overseas department of France)
Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Haiti
Legal since 1791 (as Saint-Domingue)
Has no military
Jamaica
Male illegal Penalty: 10 years and/or hard labor (Not enforced). Legalization proposed Female always legal.
Constitutional ban since 1962
Martinique (Overseas department of France)
Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Montserrat (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Puerto Rico (Commonwealth of the United States)
Legal since 2003
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2015
United States responsible for defense
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Gender change legal since 2018; does not require surgery
Saba (a special municipality of the Netherlands)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the municipalities) + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2012
Legal since 2012
The Netherlands responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Saint Barthélemy (Overseas collectivity of France)
Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Legal since 2022
Saint Lucia
Male illegal Penalty: Fine and/or 10-year prison sentence (Not enforced). Legalization proposed Female always legal
Has no military
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Saint Martin (Overseas collectivity of France)
Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Illegal Penalty: Fine and/or 10-year prison sentence (Not enforced). Legalization proposed
Has no military
Sint Eustatius (a special municipality of the Netherlands)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the municipalities) + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2012
Legal since 2012
The Netherlands responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Sint Maarten (Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country) + UN decl. sign.
/ Same-sex marriages performed in the Netherlands recognized
The Netherlands responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Trinidad and Tobago
Legal since 2018
Turks and Caicos Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001 Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
United States Virgin Islands (Territory of the United States)
Legal since 1985
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2015
United States responsible for defense
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legislation enacted in 2022, also explicitly includes gender identity.
South America
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Argentina
Legal since 1887 + UN decl. sign.
Civil unions in Buenos Aires (2003), Río Negro Province (2003), Villa Carlos Paz (2007) and Río Cuarto (2009) Cohabitation unions nationwide since 2015
Legal since 2010
Legal since 2010
Since 2009
/ Legal protection in some cities; pending nationwide. Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2010
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name without surgeries or judicial order since 2012
Transgender persons have a law reserving 1% of Argentina's public sector jobs. Economic incentives included in the new law aim to help trans people find work in all sectors.
Bolivia
Legal since 1832 + UN decl. sign.
Free unions officially recognised starting in 2020; nationwide since 2023.
Constitutional ban since 2009
Same-sex couples in a free union are permitted to adopt
Since 2015; Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name without surgeries or judicial order since 2016
Brazil
Legal since 1830 + UN decl. sign.
"Stable unions" legal and all rights as recognized family entities available nationwide since 2011
Starting in 2011; nationwide since 2013
Legal since 2010
Since 1969
Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 1999
Transgender people can change their legal gender and name before a notary without the need of surgeries or judicial order since 2018. The sex reassignment surgery, hormonal and psychological treatment are offered free of charge by the Brazilian Unified Health System (UHS)
Chile
Legal since 1999; equal age of consent since 2022 + UN decl. sign.
Civil unions since 2015
Legal since 2022
Legal since 2022
Since 2012; Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2021
Transsexual persons can change their registral sex and name since 1974. Transgender persons can change their registral sex and name, no surgeries or judicial order for adults above 18 years old since 2019.
Colombia
Legal since 1981 + UN decl. sign.
De facto marital union since 2007
Legal since 2016
Stepchild adoption since 2014; joint adoption since 2015
Since 1999
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2015, transgender persons can change their legal gender and name manifesting their solemn will before a notary, no surgeries or judicial order required
Ecuador
Legal since 1997 + UN decl. sign.
De facto unions since 2009
Legal since 2019
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2014
Since 2016, transgender persons are allowed to change their birth name and gender identity; no surgeries or judicial order required
Falkland Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 1989; equal age of consent since 2006 + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships since 2017
Legal since 2017
Legal since 2017
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
French Guiana (Overseas department of France)
Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Guyana
Illegal Penalty: Up to life imprisonment (Not enforced). Legalization proposed
Paraguay
Legal since 1880; Age of consent discrepancy + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban on de facto unions since 1992
Constitutional ban since 1992
Bans some anti-gay discrimination. Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2022
Peru
Legal since 1924; equal age of consent since 2012 + UN decl. sign.
/ Limited recognition for same-sex partners of health-care workers since 2020.
Since 2009
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name without the need for the completion of medical intervention since 2016. Judicial order required.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
Legal since 2014
Legal since 2014
UK responsible for defence
Suriname
Legal since 1869 (as Dutch Guiana)
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Transgender persons can change their legal gender since 2022. Court order required.
Uruguay
Legal since 1934 + UN decl. sign.
Concubinage union since 2008
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2009
Since 2009
Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2017
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name without surgeries or judicial order required since 2009. Self-determination since 2018.
Venezuela
Legal since 1997 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban on de facto stable unions since 1999
Constitutional ban since 1999
Since 2023
Bans some anti-gay discrimination :

### Asia

List of countries or territories by LGBT rights in Asia :
This table: viewtalkedit
North Asia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Russia
Yes Fully legal nationwide since 1993 (de-facto illegal in Chechnya)
No
No Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples since 2020
No
Yes
No
No Gender change has not been legal since 2023
Central Asia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Kazakhstan
Yes Legal since 1998
No
No
No
Yes Since 2022
No
Yes
Kyrgyzstan
Yes Legal since 1998
No
No Constitutional ban since 2016
No
Un­known
No
Yes Requires sex reassignment surgery
Tajikistan
Yes Legal since 1998
No
No
No
Un­known
No
Yes Requires sex reassignment surgery
Turkmenistan
No Male illegal since 1927 Penalty: up to 2 years imprisonment. Yes Female always legal
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uzbekistan
No Male illegal since 1926 Penalty: up to 3 years imprisonment. Yes Female always legal
No
No
No
No
No
No
West Asia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Abkhazia (Disputed territory)
Yes Legal
No
No
No
Un­known
No
Un­known
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Yes Legal since 2000 + UN decl. sign.
Yes Civil partnerships since 2005
Yes Legal since 2014
Un­known
Yes UK responsible for defence
Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Un­known
Armenia
Yes Legal since 2003 + UN decl. sign.
No
No Constitutional ban since 2015
No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples.
No
No
No
Azerbaijan
Yes Legal since 2000
No
No
No
No
No
No
Bahrain
Yes Legal since 1976
No
No
No
No
No
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery.
Cyprus
Yes Legal since 1998 + UN decl. sign.
Yes Civil cohabitation since 2015
No
No
Yes
Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Yes Forbids some discrimination based on gender identity. No Gender change is not legal.
Egypt
Yes/ No Ambiguous. Male de jure legal, but de facto illegal since 2000 Penalty: Up to 17 years imprisonment with or without hard labour and with or without fines under broadly-written morality laws.
No
No
No
No
No
No
Georgia
Yes Legal since 2000 + UN decl. sign.
No
No Constitutional ban since 2018
No
Un­known
Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Yes Requires sterilization and sex reassignment surgery for change
Iran
No Illegal Penalty: 74 lashes for immature men and death penalty for mature men (although there are documented cases of minors executed because of their sexual orientation). For women, 100 lashes for women of mature sound mind and if consenting. Death penalty offense after fourth conviction.
No
No
No
No
No
Yes Legal gender recognition legal if accompanied by a medical intervention
Iraq
No Re-criminalized in 2024. Penalty: Prison sentence between 10 and 15 years.
No
No
No
No
No
No
Israel
Yes Legal since 1963 (de facto), 1988 (de jure) + UN decl. sign.
Yes Unregistered cohabitation since 1994.
No/ Yes Foreign same-sex marriages are recognized and recorded in the population registry
No Permitted by law since 2008, but in practice not possible in nearly every case
Yes Since 1993; Includes transgender people
Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination
No Almost full recognition of gender's ID without a surgery or medical intervention (Excluding changing gender and name in birth certificate) ; equal employment opportunity law bars discrimination based on gender identity
Jordan
Yes Legal
No
No
No
Un­known
No
Yes Allowed since 2014
Kuwait
No Male illegalPenalty: Fines or up to 6-year prison sentence. Yes Female always legal
No
No
No
No
No
No
Lebanon
Yes / No Ambiguous. Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law, however, this has not been settled by the Supreme Court and thus homosexuality is still illegal. However, a 2017 court ruling claims that it is legal, but the law against it is still in place. Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment (unenforced).
No
No
No
No
No
Yes Legal gender change allowed, but sex reassignment surgery required
Northern Cyprus (Disputed territory)
Yes Legal since 2014
No
No
No
No
Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Yes Legal, requires surgery for change
Oman
No Illegal Penalty: Fines and prison sentence up to 3 years (only enforced when dealing with "public scandal").
No
No
No
No
No
No Laws against forms of gender expression.
Palestine
West Bank: Yes LegalGaza: No consensus on legal applicability of British 1936 Sexual offences provisions to homosexual conduct
West Bank: No Gaza: No
No
No
Un­known
No
No
Qatar
No Illegal Penalty: Fines, up to 7 years imprisonment Death penalty for Muslims.
No
No
No
No
No
No
Saudi Arabia
No IllegalPenalty: Capital punishment, prison terms (indeterminate length, max. term unknown), flogging, fines, deportation
No
No
No
No
No
No Laws against forms of gender expression.
South Ossetia (Disputed territory)
Yes Legal
No
No
No
Un­known
No
Un­known
Syria
No
No
No official military
Turkey
Yes Legal since 1858
No
No
No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples.
No
No
Yes Requires sterilisation and sex reassignment surgery for change
United Arab Emirates
No Illegal (unenforced): Prosecution only on complaint of husband or (male) legal guardianPenalty: Max – no upper limit, sentence at courts' discretionMin. – 6 months' imprisonment
No
No
No
No
No
No Sex reassignment surgery severely restricted to limited circumstances (mainly physical intersex traits), highly regulated by the state. Laws used against forms of gender expression.
Yemen
No Illegal (codified in 1994) Penalty: Unmarried men punished with 100 lashes of the whip or a maximum of one year of imprisonment, stoning for adultery is not enforced. Women punished up to three years of imprisonment.
No
No
No
No
No
No
South Asia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Afghanistan
No Illegal Penalty: Death penalty
No
No
No
No
No
No
Bangladesh
No Illegal since 1862 Penalty: 10 years to life imprisonment (Occasionally enforced).
No
No
No
No
No
A third gender option (hijra) besides male and female is available for a certain sect of third genders
Bhutan
Yes Legal since 2021
No
No
No
No
No
No
British Indian Ocean Territory (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Yes Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
Yes Civil partnerships since 2005
Yes Legal since 2014
Un­known
Yes UK responsible for defense
Un­known
Un­known
India
Yes Legal since 2018
Yes/ No symbolic live-In relationships exist On August 28, 2024, India's Ministry of Finance issued an advisory declaring that persons from the LGBTQ community face no restrictions in opening joint bank accounts or nominating their partners as beneficiaries
No
No
No
Yes/ No Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity prohibited by court decision. No nationwide law.
In 2022, National Medical Commission banned conversion therapy
Yes A third gender option (hijra) besides male and female is available; transgender people have a constitutional right to change gender, only after medical/surgical intervention
Maldives
No Illegal (codified in 2014) Penalty: Up to 8 years imprisonment, house arrest, lashings and fines. (unenforced) LGBTQ welcomed in tourist islands
No
No
No
No
No
No
Nepal
Yes Legal since 2007 + UN decl. sign.
No
No
No
Yes Since 2007
Yes/ No Limited protection since 2015
No Change to third gender "O" legal since 2007, unable to change to male or female
Pakistan
No Illegal since 1862 Penalty: 2 years to life sentence (Occasionally enforced).
No
No
No
No
Yes Transphobia illegal
No Homophobia/biphobia is not illegal
Yes Right to change gender; transgender and intersex citizens have legal protections from all discrimination and harassment
Sri Lanka
No Illegal since 1885 Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment with fines. (Ruled unenforcable by the Supreme Court) Legalization proposed
No
No
No
No
No
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender without surgery
East Asia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of relationships
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
China
Yes Legal since 1997
No/ Yes "Legal guardianship" since 2017
No
No
Yes can openly serve No open displays of affection
Yes Court has in some cases protected LGBT workers from employment discrimination.
No protection codified in law
Yes
legal gender change possible since 2002.
Since 2022, legal gender change allowed with only partial sex reassignment surgery. Difficulty remains to change gender information on diplomas and degrees.
Hong Kong
Yes Legal since 1991
No/ Yes Same-sex marriages registered overseas for government benefits and taxation, and limited recognition of local cohabiting partners
No
No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
The central government of China is responsible for the defense of Hong Kong.
Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination (government discrimination only)
Yes Following a legal decision, may change gender marker after partial sex reassignment surgery.
Japan
Yes Legal since 1882 + UN decl. sign.
No * Symbolic recognition in some jurisdictions.
No Proposed in 2023
No
Yes The Japan Self-Defense Forces allow gay people to enlist.
No nationwide protections Yes some cities ban some anti-gay discrimination
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery
Macau
Yes Legal since 1996
No
No
No
The central government of China is responsible for the defence of Macau.
Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Un­known
Mongolia
Yes Legal since 1993 + UN decl. sign.
No
No Constitutional ban since 1992
No
Un­known
Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender but only after sex reassignment surgery
North Korea
Yes / No Ambiguous, punishable through Articles 193 and 262 regarding obscenity and decency laws. Penalty: Unknown
No
No
No
Yes can serve with 10-year celibacy required for all soldiers. No open displays of LGBT attitudes.
No
No
South Korea
Yes Legal + UN decl. sign.
No
No Proposed in 2023
No
No
Yes/ No Protection from discrimination varies by jurisdiction in some areas, including Seoul
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender but usually requires sex reassignment surgery
Taiwan
Yes Legal
Legal since 2019
Yes Stepchild adoption since 2019 Yes Joint adoption legal since 2023
Yes
Yes Constitutionally bans all anti-gay discrimination from government; several laws banning anti-gay discrimination regarding education and employment.
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery.
Southeast Asia
LGBT rights in
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of relationships
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Aceh (autonomous territory of Indonesia)
No Illegal Penalty: 100 strokes of the cane or 8 years in prison
No
No
No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
No The central government of Indonesia is responsible for the defense of Aceh.
Yes Follows the law of the central Indonesian government.
Yes Follows the law of the central Indonesian government.
Brunei
No Illegal since 1908 Penalty: Death by stoning (in abeyance), 1 year imprisonment and 100 lashes for men. Caning and 10 years prison for women.
No
No
No
No
No
Laws prohibit forms of gender expression.
Cambodia
Yes Legal
No/ Yes Partnerships recognized in certain cities
No Constitutional ban since 1993
No
Un­known
No
No
Indonesia
Never criminalized (except in Aceh)
No
No
No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
No Not explicitly prohibited by Law (de jure), Illegal (de facto)
Yes Limited protection following legal process by the authorities.
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery.
Laos
Yes Legal
No
No
No
Un­known
No
Un­known
Malaysia
No Illegal since 1871 Penalty: fines, prison sentence (2–20 years), or whippings.
No
No
No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
No
No
No Generally impossible to change gender. However, a 2016 court ruling recognizes gender changes as fundamental constitutional rights Forms of gender expression are criminalized.
Myanmar
No Illegal since 1886 Penalty: Up to 20 years in prison (unenforced).
No
No
No
No
No
No
Philippines
Yes Legal + UN decl. sign.
No (Pending)
No (Pending)
No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Yes Since 2009
Yes/ No Bans some anti-gay discrimination in certain cities and provinces, including the City of Manila,Cebu City, Quezon City, and Davao City; Nationwide anti-bullying law for basic education students.
No Generally impossible to change legal gender. However in Cagandahan vs Philippines, allowed an intersex man to change his legal gender from female to male.
Singapore
Yes Legal since 2007 (de facto), 2022 (de jure)
No
No
Ambiguous, a gay Singaporean man with a male partner in 2018 won an appeal in court to adopt a child that he fathered through a surrogate.
Yes
Yes Protections against anti-gay discrimination, harassment and violence
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery
Thailand
Yes Legal since 1956 + UN decl. sign.
Yes Since 2025
Yes Since 2025
Yes Since 2025
Yes Since 2005
Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination
No
Yes Anti-discrimination protections for gender expression.
Timor-Leste
Yes Legal since 1975 + UN decl. sign.
No
No
Yes LGBT individuals may adoptbut same-sex couples can not adopt
Un­known
Yes Bans some anti gay discrimination, Hate crime protections since 2009.
Un­known
Vietnam
Yes Legal + UN decl. sign.
No
No
No LGBT individuals may adopt, not same-sex couples
Yes Irrespective of one's sexual orientation
Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Yes Gender changes recognized and officially practised since 2017 :

### Europe

List of countries or territories by LGBT rights in Europe :
Tables: viewtalkedit
European Union
Main article: LGBTQ rights in the European Union
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
European Union
Legal in all 27 member states
/ Recognized in 25/27 member states
/ Legal in 16/27 member states
/ Stepchild adoption legal in 19/27 member states; joint adoption legal in 17/27 member states
Legal in all member states
Membership requires a state to ban discrimination based on person's sexual orientation in employment. 4/27 states ban some anti-gay discrimination. 23/27 states ban all anti-gay discrimination
/ Legal in 25/27 member states
Central Europe
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Austria
Legal since 1971; equal age of consent since 2002 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2010
Legal since 2019
Stepchild adoption since 2013; joint adoption since 2016
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Transgender people allowed to change gender without undergoing surgery
Czech Republic
Legal since 1962 (As part of Czechoslovakia); equal age of consent since 1990 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2006
/ Stepchild adoption legal since 2025
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal recognition after sex reassignment surgery (with mandatory sterilisation)
Germany
Legal in East Germany since 1968 Legal in West Germany since 1969; equal age of consent since 1988 in East Germany and since 1994 in unified Germany + UN decl. sign.
Registered life partnerships from 2001 to 2017 (existing partnerships and new foreign partnerships still recognised)
Legal since 2017
Stepchild adoption since 2005; successive adoption since 2013; joint adoption legal since 2017
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Gender self-determination enacted and implemented on a birth certificate since 2024.
Hungary
Legal since 1962; equal age of consent since 2002 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2009
Constitutional ban since 2012
Constitutional ban since 2020
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Forbids discrimination based on gender identity
Transgender people are not allowed to change gender since 2020.
Liechtenstein
Legal since 1989; equal age of consent since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2011
Legal since 2025
Stepchild adoption since 2022; joint adoption since 2023
Has no military
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Gender change is not legal
Poland
Legal since 1932 + UN decl. sign.
/ Unregistered cohabitation since 2012; registered partnership proposed 2019
Constitutional ban since 1997 (Article 18 of the Constitution is generally interpreted as limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples)
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Transgender people allowed to change gender. No provisions for nonbinary people.
Slovakia
Legal since 1962 (As part of Czechoslovakia); equal age of consent since 1990 + UN decl. sign.
/ some limited rights for unregistered cohabiting same-sex couples since 2018; Limited residency rights for married same-sex couples since 2018 (Proposed)
Constitutional ban since 2014
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
/ Allowed to change legal gender in theory. However because of lack of care and refusal by the state, de facto almost impossible since 2022. See LGBT rights in Slovakia § Gender identity and expression
Slovenia
Legal since 1977 (As part of Yugoslavia); equal age of consent since 1990 + UN decl. sign.
Registered cohabitation since 2006; Registered partnerships since 2017
Legal since 2022
Stepchild adoption since 2011; joint adoption since 2022
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Gender change is legal
Switzerland
Legal nationwide since 1942 Legal in the cantons of Geneva (as part of France), Ticino, Valais, and Vaud since 1798; equal age of consent since 1990 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships in Geneva (2001), Zürich (2003), Neuchâtel (2004) and Fribourg (2005) Nationwide since 2007
Legal since 2022
Stepchild adoption since 2018; joint adoption since 2022
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Gender change is legal on simple declaration (self-determination +16 yo); surgery/sterilisation not required.
Eastern Europe
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Abkhazia (Disputed territory)
Legal after 1991
Armenia
Legal since 2003 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2015
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples.
Azerbaijan
Legal since 2000
Belarus
Legal since 1994
Constitutional ban since 1994
/ Banned from military service during peacetime, but during wartime homosexuals are permitted to enlist as partially able
/ (Highly bureaucratic, lengthy two-stage process: deciding body meets only twice a year; permission for medical or surgical interventions only at the second stage. Flaw in passport conversion whereby passport number may reveal former designation of sex to agencies.)
Georgia
Legal since 2000 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2018
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Requires sterilisation and surgery for change
Kazakhstan
Legal since 1998
Requires sex reassignment surgery, sterilization, hormone therapy and medical examinations
Moldova
Legal since 1995 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 1994
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
No longer requires sterilisation or surgery for change since 2017
Russia
Male legal nationwide since 1993 Female always legal (de-facto illegal in Chechnya)
Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples since 2020
Gender change has not been legal since 2023
South Ossetia (Disputed territory)
Legal after 1991
Transnistria (Disputed territory)
Legal since 2002
Ukraine
Legal since 1991 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 1996
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
No longer requires sterilisation or surgery for change since 2016
Northern Europe
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Denmark
Legal since 1933; equal age of consent since 1973 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships from 1989 to 2012 (existing partnerships are still recognised)
Legal since 2012
Stepchild adoption since 1999; joint adoption since 2010
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal gender change and recognition possible without surgery or hormone therapy
Estonia
Legal since 1992 + UN decl. sign.
Cohabitation agreement since 2016
Legal since 2024
Stepchild adoption since 2016; joint adoption since 2024
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Gender reassignment legal; surgery not required
Faroe Islands (Autonomous Territory within the Kingdom of Denmark)
Legal since 1933; equal age of consent since 1977 + UN decl. sign.
Legal since 2017
Legal since 2017
The Kingdom of Denmark responsible for defence
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Finland (includes Åland)
Legal since 1971; equal age of consent since 1999 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships from 2002 to 2017 (existing partnerships are still recognised)
Legal since 2017
Stepchild adoption since 2009; joint adoption since 2017
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2023, by way of self-determination.
Iceland
Legal since 1940; equal age of consent since 1992 (As part of Denmark) + UN decl. sign.
Registered cohabitation since 2006; Registered partnerships from 1996 to 2010 (existing partnerships are still recognised)
Legal since 2010
Legal since 2006
No standing army
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Documents can be amended to the recognised gender, sterilisation not required
Latvia
Legal since 1992 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2024
Constitutional ban since 2006
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples, incl. stepchild adoption
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Legal change allowed but requires "full" transition and doctor's or court's approval. Sterilization required.
Lithuania
Legal since 1993 + UN decl. sign.
/ Limited residency rights for married same-sex couples since 2018; Cohabitation agreement pending Civil unions proposed.
Constitutional ban since 1992
/ Stepchild adoption admitted by the judiciary since 2024
Since 2015
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Effective from 2/2/2022, gender change on legal documents permitted without surgery and no non-binary option available.
Norway
Legal since 1972 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships from 1993 to 2009 (existing partnerships are still recognised)
Legal since 2009
Stepchild adoption since 2002; joint adoption since 2009
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
All documents can be amended to the recognised gender
Sweden
Legal since 1944; equal age of consent since 1972 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships from 1995 to 2009 (existing partnerships are still recognised)
Legal since 2009
Legal since 2003
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
/ First country within the world in 1972 to allow gender reassignment procedures for individuals. Effective from July 1, 2025 by self-determination for individuals to change gender.
Southern Europe
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2000; equal age of consent since 2003 + UN decl. sign.
Since 2005, for members of the British Armed Forces
Since 2014, for members of the British Armed Forces
UK responsible for defence
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Albania
Legal since 1995 + UN decl. sign.
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
No legal recognition
Andorra
Legal since 1791 + UN decl. sign.
Stable unions since 2005; Civil unions from 2014–2023, replaced by civil marriage
Legal since 2023
Legal since 2014
Has no military
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2023, without SRS and sterilization - but with a mandatory 2-year waiting period.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Legal since 1996 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Republika Srpska since 1998, and in Brčko District since 2003 + UN decl. sign.
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Requires surgery for change
Bulgaria
Legal since 1968; equal age of consent since 2002 + UN decl. sign.
/ Limited residency rights for married same-sex couples since 2018
Constitutional ban since 1991
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Forbids discrimination based on gender identity.
Transgender people are not allowed to change gender since 2017.
Croatia
Legal since 1977 (As part of Yugoslavia); equal age of consent since 1998 + UN decl. sign.
Unregistered cohabitation since 2003 Life partnerships since 2014
Constitutional ban since 2013
Legal since 2022
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Act on the elimination of discrimination bans all discrimination based on both gender identity and gender expression. Gender change is regulated by special policy issued by Ministry of Health.
Cyprus
Legal since 1998; equal age of consent since 2002 + UN decl. sign.
Civil cohabitation since 2015
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Forbids some discrimination based on gender identity. Gender change not legal.
Gibraltar (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 1993; equal age of consent since 2012 + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships since 2014
Legal since 2016
Legal since 2014
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Forbids discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment
Gender change is not legal
Greece
Legal since 1951; equal age of consent since 2015 + UN decl. sign.
Cohabitation agreements since 2015
Legal since 2024
Legal since 2024
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under the Legal Gender Recognition Act 2017
Italy
Legal since 1890 + UN decl. sign.
Civil unions since 2016
In 2018 the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages performed abroad must be registered as civil unions. (Proposed)
/ Stepchild adoption admitted by the Court of Cassation since 2016
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Legal recognition and documents can be amended to the recognised gender, sterilisation not required
Kosovo (Disputed territory)
Legal since 1994 (as part of Yugoslavia); equal age of consent since 2004
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Forbids discrimination based on gender identity.
No legal recognition
Malta
Legal since 1973 + UN decl. sign.
Civil unions since 2014
Legal since 2017
Legal since 2014
Bans all anti-gay discrimination Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2016
Transgender people allowed to change gender; surgery not required since 2015
Montenegro
Legal since 1977 (As part of Yugoslavia) + UN decl. sign.
Life partnership from July 2021
Constitutional ban since 2007 (Court decision pending)
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Requires sterilisation and surgery for change
North Macedonia
Legal since 1996 + UN decl. sign.
(Proposed)
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Forbids discrimination based on gender identity.
Gender change is legally recognized since 2021
Northern Cyprus (Disputed territory)
Legal since 2014
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal, requires surgery for change
Portugal
Legal since 1983; equal age of consent since 2007 + UN decl. sign.
De facto unions since 2001
Legal since 2010
Legal since 2016
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
All documents can be amended to the recognised gender since 2011
Romania
Legal since 1996; equal age of consent since 2002 + UN decl. sign.
/ Limited residency rights for married same-sex couples since 2018;
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal recognition after sex reassignment surgery (sterilisation mandatory)
San Marino
Legal since 1865 + UN decl. sign.
Civil unions since 2019
/ Stepchild adoption legal since 2019
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
No legal recognition
Serbia
Legal from 1858, when nominally a vassal of the Ottoman Empire to 1860, and again since 1994 (As part of Yugoslavia); equal age of consent since 2006 + UN decl. sign.
(Proposed)
Constitutional ban since 2006
LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal after 1 year of hormone therapy, surgery no longer required since 2019
Spain
Legal since 1979 + UN decl. sign.
De facto unions in Catalonia (1998), Aragon (1999), Navarre (2000), Castilla–La Mancha (2000), Valencia (2001), the Balearic Islands (2001), Madrid (2001), Asturias (2002), Castile and León (2002), Andalusia (2002), the Canary Islands (2003), Extremadura (2003), Basque Country (2003), Cantabria (2005), Galicia (2008) La Rioja (2010), and Murcia (2018), and in both autonomous cities; Ceuta (1998) and Melilla (2008).
Legal since 2005
Legal since 2005
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal nationwide since 2023.
Since 2023, by way of self-determination
Turkey
Legal since 1858
Legal since 1988, requires sterilisation and surgery for change
Vatican City
Legal since 1890 (As part of Italy)
Has no military
Western Europe
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGB people allowed to serve openly in military
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Belgium
Legal nationwide since 1795; equal age of consent since 1985 + UN decl. sign.
Legal cohabitation since 2000
Legal since 2003
Legal since 2006
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2018, sex changes do not require sterilisation and surgery
France
Legal nationwide since 1791 Legal in Savoy since 1792; equal age of consent since 1982 + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 1999
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2017, sex changes no longer requires sterilisation and surgery
Guernsey (Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 1983; equal age of consent since 2012 + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships performed in the UK abroad recognised for succession purposes in inheritance and other matters respecting interests in property since 2012 Legal cohabitation since 2017
Legal since 2017 in Guernsey, since 2018 in Alderney, and since 2020 in Sark
Legal since 2017
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Legal gender changes since 2007
Ireland
Male legal since 1993 Female always legal + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships from 2011 to 2015 (existing partnerships are still recognised)
Legal since 2015 after a constitutional referendum
Legal since 2017
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under the Gender Recognition Act 2015, by self-declaration.
Isle of Man; equal age of consent since 2006 (Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 1992 + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships since 2011
Legal since 2016
Legal since 2011
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Transgender people are allowed to change their legal gender and to have their new gender recognised as a result of the Gender Recognition Act 2009 (c.11)
Jersey; equal age of consent since 2006 (Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 1990 + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships since 2012
Legal since 2018
Legal since 2012
UK responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under the Gender Recognition (Jersey) Law 2010
Luxembourg
Legal since 1795; equal age of consent since 1992 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnerships since 2004
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2015
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
No divorce, sterilization and/or surgery legally required since September 2018 for change of gender
Monaco
Legal since 1793 + UN decl. sign.
Cohabitation agreements since 2020
(Proposed)
France responsible for defence
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Netherlands
Legal since 1811; equal age of consent since 1971 + UN decl. sign.
Registered partnership since 1998
Legal since 2001
Legal since 2001
Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Since 2014, sex changes do not require sterilisation and surgery
United Kingdom
Female always legal. Male legal in England and Wales since 1967, in Scotland since 1981, and in Northern Ireland since 1982; equal age of consent since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
Civil partnerships since 2005
Legal in England, Wales, and Scotland since 2014, and Northern Ireland since 2020
Legal in England and Wales since 2005, in Scotland since 2009 and Northern Ireland since 2013
Since 2000; Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 :

### Oceania

List of countries or territories by LGBT rights in Oceania :
Tables: viewtalkedit
Australasia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Australia (including territories of  Christmas Island, the  Cocos (Keeling) Islands and  Norfolk Island)
Always legal for women. Male legal in some states and territories since 1975, nationwide since 1997. Tasmania was the last state to legalise male homosexuality; Equal age of consent in some states and territories since 1975, nationwide since 2016. + UN decl. sign.
Unregistered cohabitation nationally since 2009; Domestic partnerships in Tasmania (2004), South Australia (2007), Victoria (2008), New South Wales (2010), and Queensland (2012); Civil unions in the Australian Capital Territory (2012)
Legal since 2017
Legal nationwide since 2018
Gay men and lesbians since 1992; Transgender and intersex people since 2010
Bans all anti-gay discrimination.
Different regulations within each jurisdiction regarding change of sex on a birth certificate. Effective from July 1, 2025 NSW will formally repeal the “surgical requirement” to change sex.
New Zealand
Legal since 1986 + UN decl. sign.
Unregistered cohabitation since 2002; Civil unions since 2005
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
Since 1993; Includes transgender people
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Covered under the "sex discrimination" provision of the Human Rights Act 1993; Since July 2023, gender self-determination implemented by legislation on a birth certificate.
Melanesia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Fiji
Legal since 2010 + UN decl. sign.
Bans all anti-gay discrimination Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2010
Indonesia
Legal (except in Aceh)
Limited protection following legal process by the authorities.
Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery.
New Caledonia (Special collectivity of France)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the collectivity) + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 2009
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Papua New Guinea
Male illegal Penalty: 3 to 14 years imprisonment (Rarely enforced, legalization proposed). Female always legal
Solomon Islands
Illegal Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment (Not enforced, Legalization proposed).
Has no military
Vanuatu
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed since independence) + UN decl. sign.
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Micronesia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Lack of a Presence of Anti-LGBT laws
Guam (Unincorporated territory of the United States)
Legal since 1978
Since 2015
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2002
United States responsible for defense
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Allowed to legally change gender, but requires sex reassignment surgery
Micronesia
Legal + UN decl. sign.
Has no military
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Kiribati
Male illegal Penalty: 5-14 years imprisonment (Not enforced, Legalization proposed). Female legal
Has no military
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Marshall Islands
Legal since 2005 + UN decl. sign.
Has no military
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Nauru
Legal since 2016 + UN decl. sign.
Has no military
Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2016
Northern Mariana Islands (Unincorporated territory of the United States)
Legal since 1983
Since 2015
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2015
United States responsible for defense
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Under the Vital Statistics Act of 2006
Palau
Legal since 2014 + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2008
Has no military
United States Minor Outlying Islands (Unincorporated territories of the United States)
Legal
Legal
Legal
United States responsible for defense
Polynesia
LGBT rights in:
Same-sex sexual activity
Recognition of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriage
Adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military?
Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation
Laws concerning gender identity/expression
American Samoa (Unincorporated territory of the United States)
Legal since 1980
/ Same-sex marriages recognized but not performed under Respect for Marriage Act since 2022.
/ Same-sex marriages recognized but not performed under Respect for Marriage Act since 2022.
United States responsible for defense
Cook Islands (Part of the Realm of New Zealand)
Legal since 2023 + UN decl. sign.
New Zealand responsible for defence
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Easter Island (Special territory of Chile)
Legal since 1999 + UN decl. sign.
Civil unions since 2015
Since 2022
Since 2022
Chile responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2021
Transgender persons can change their legal gender and name since 1974. No surgeries or judicial order since 2019.
French Polynesia (Overseas collectivity of France)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the collectivity) + UN decl. sign.
Since 2013
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law
Hawaii (Constituent state of the United States)
Since 1972
Since 1997
Since 2013
Since 2012
United States responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Niue (Part of the Realm of New Zealand)
Male illegal Penalty: 5-10 years imprisonment. (Not enforced, Legalization proposed). Female legal + UN decl. sign.
New Zealand responsible for defence
Pitcairn Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign.
Since 2015
Legal since 2015
Legal since 2015
UK responsible for defence
Constitutional ban on all anti-gay discrimination
Samoa
Male illegal Penalty: 5-7 years imprisonment (Not enforced). Legalization proposed Female always legal + UN decl. sign.
Has no military
Bans some anti-gay discrimination Pathologization or attempted treatment of sexual orientation by mental health professionals illegal since 2007
Samoa has a large transgender or "third-gender" community called the fa'afafine. They are a recognized part of traditional Samoan customs.
Tokelau (Dependent territory of the Realm of New Zealand)
Legal since 2003 + UN decl. sign.
New Zealand responsible for defence
Tonga
Male illegal Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment (Not enforced, Legalization proposed). Female always legal
Tuvalu
Male illegal Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment (Not enforced). Legalization proposed Female legal + UN decl. sign.
Constitutional ban since 2023
Has no military
Bans some anti-gay discrimination
Wallis and Futuna (Overseas collectivity of France)
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the collectivity) + UN decl. sign.
Civil solidarity pact since 2009
Legal since 2013
Legal since 2013
France responsible for defence
Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Under French law :