Homosexuality laws of the world 924166 226038009 2008-07-16T15:32:44Z 87.154.0.103 /* History of homosexuality laws */ [[Image:World homosexuality laws.svg|thumb|350px|Map showing the status of homosexuality laws of the world. {{legend|#c0c0c0|No information}} '''Homosexuality legal''' {{legend|#57781f|Same sex marriages}} {{legend|#99b453|Same sex unions}} {{legend|#bed688|No same sex unions}} {{legend|#7fbcff|International marriage licenses recognized}} '''Homosexuality illegal''' {{legend|#f9dc36|Minimal penalty}} {{legend|#ec8028|Large penalty}} {{legend|#e73e21|Life in prison}} {{legend|#8c210f|Death penalty}} {{legend|#a9a9a9|No info on penalty}}]] {{gay rights}} The countries of the world have a wide variety of laws relating to sexual relations between people of the same sex - everything from full [[same-sex marriage]] to the [[death penalty]] as punishment for [[homosexual]] conduct. In addition to laws against the practice of homosexuality, many countries around the world consider calling a person homosexual sufficient grounds for a libel lawsuit. ==History of homosexuality laws== {{globalize}} The first recorded [[Abrahamic religions|Abrahamic]] laws supposedly ''against'' sexual intercourse between men are dated by scholars to circa [[550 BC]], during the [[Babylonian captivity]] of the [[Jews|Jewish people]]; they are recorded in [[Leviticus]] (though conservative scholars date Leviticus to be much older), and they prescribe the death penalty. At the time same-sex relations were incorporated into many pagan religions. Some people therefore believe that the ultimate origin of punitive laws targeting homosexual relations lies with Abrahamic religions. But also see similar patterns across [[Indo-European]] cultures in ''[[Lex Scantinia]]'' in Ancient Rome and ''[[nith]]'' in protohistoric Germanic culture, or the [[Assyrian_Empire#Middle_Assyrian_period|Middle Assyrian]] Law Codes dating 1075 BCE<ref>The Middle [[Assyrian law|Assyrian Law Codes]] (1075 BC) states: ''"If a man have intercourse with his brother-in-arms, they shall turn him into a eunuch"'', see [[Sodomy_law#History]]</ref>. This pattern continued throughout history with punitive laws arising from traditional interpretations of [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]. With the advent of [[colonialism]] this attitude spread along with political control by the [[imperialism|imperial powers]] of the nations with Abrahamic state religion; however, the fact that homosexuals were legally persecuted in communist China (a country which neither adopted an Abrahamic religion nor was colonized) and that homosexuality in the People's Republic was not decriminalized until 1997<ref>"[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/26/content_3970520.htm Quiet pink revolution in dark before dawn?]"</ref> calls the universal application of this theory into at least some question. Often an Abrahamic religion is the primary factor when accounting for a law against homosexuality and the major supporter. ==Homosexuality laws== {{Refimprove|section|date=April 2008}} ''This is a list of [[laws]] around the world concerning homosexuality, and is arranged alphabetically by region. It should be noted that the list should not be assumed to represent a standard for measuring a nation's views, per se. Nations which have retained negative laws may, in practice, be less oppressive than the laws suggest, as the laws are not enforced. Similarly, a country which lacks laws against homosexual behaviour may possess a culture which is openly hostile and thus persecutes individuals by other means. No country has criminalised solely female-female sex; nations either criminalise all forms of homosexual behaviour or just male homosexuality. Homosexual behaviour remains illegal in over 80 countries, including some which even ban heterosexual sodomy. (Note: the understanding of sodomy can include anal sex, oral sex, fornication (i.e. sex outside of marriage) or even any sexual behaviour that does not lead to procreation within marriage. In tables below the [[age of consent]] for same sex relationships is the same as for heterosexuals, unless it is otherwise noted.'' Country names marked "(☆)" feature special "LGBT rights" articles about the country in question. <br style="clear:both;"> {| class="wikitable" |colspan="7"| ===Africa=== |- !Country!!Laws against homosexuality!!Penalty!!Same-sex Unions!!Laws against discrimination!!Adoption!!Comments |- |☆[[Algeria]]||Yes||Fine - 3 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Algeria]]. |- |☆[[Angola]]||Yes||Labour camps||-||No||No||Page 6 of [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_-_November_2006.pdf] and [[LGBT rights in Angola]]. |- |[[Benin]]||Yes||3 years||-||No||No||&nbsp; |- |[[Botswana]]||Yes||Fine - years||-||No||No||&nbsp; |- |☆[[Burkina Faso]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Burkina Faso]]. |- |[[Burundi]]||No||-||-||No||No||&nbsp; |- |☆[[Cameroon]]||Yes||Fine - 5 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Cameroon]]. |- |☆[[Cape Verde]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Cape Verde]]. |- |☆[[Central African Republic]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in the Central African Republic]]. |- |☆[[Chad]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Chad]]. |- |☆[[Comoros]]||Yes||Fine - 5 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Comoros]]. |- |☆[[Republic of the Congo]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in the Republic of the Congo]]. |- |☆[[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]||No||-||No||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. |- |[[Côte d'Ivoire]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Djibouti]]||Yes||10 - 12 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Djibouti]]. |- |☆[[Egypt]]||No*||-||No||||||[http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf] and [[LGBT rights in Egypt]] |- |[[Equatorial Guinea]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |[[Eritrea]]||Yes||3 - 10 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Ethiopia]]||Yes||10 days - 3 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Ethiopia]]. |- |☆[[Gabon]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Gabon]]. |- |[[Gambia]]||Yes||Fine - 14 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Ghana]]||Yes||?||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Ghana]]. |- |[[Guinea]]||Yes||6 months - 3 years||-||No||No||- |- |[[Guinea Bissau]]||Yes||Labour camps||-||No||No||Page 17 of [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_-_November_2006.pdf] |- |☆[[Kenya]]||Male only||Fine - 14 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Kenya]]. |- |[[Lesotho]]||Male only||?||-||No||No||- |- |[[Liberia]]||Yes||Fine||-||No||No||- |- |[[Libya]]||Yes||Fine - 5 years||-||No||No||- |- |[[Madagascar]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |[[Malawi]]||Yes||? - 14 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Mali]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Mali]]. |- |[[Mauritania]]||Yes||Death||-||No||No||- |- |[[Mauritius]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Morocco]]||Yes||6 months - 3 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Morocco]]. |- |[[Mozambique]]||Yes||Labour camps||-||Yes* (since 2007)||No||*AD in new Labour Code 2007. Page 25 of [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_-_November_2006.pdf]. |- |[[Namibia]]||No||-||-||No||No||Constitutional protection for [[sexual orientation]] in Namibia since [[2005]]. Labour Code of 1992 which ban sexual orientation discrimination was replaced by The Unimplemented Labor Act 2004, which did not specifically enumerate homosexuals as a group protected from employment discrimination, and such discrimination occurred. |- |☆[[Niger]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Niger]]. |- |☆[[Nigeria]]||Yes*||5 - 14 years/Death||-||No||No||*Areas under [[Sharia]] have instituted death for men and women. Any content, avocating groups or associations, support, talking to, marriage, etc regarding [[LGBT]] persons can land you in jail for at least four years [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/032007nigeria.htm]. See [[LGBT rights in Nigeria]]. |- |[[Rwanda]]||No||-||-||No||No|| [http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=709], [http://www.minijust.gov.rw/speeches.html]. |- |[[São Tomé and Príncipe]]||Yes||Labour camps||-||No||No||Page 34 of [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_-_November_2006.pdf]. |- |[[Senegal]]||Yes||1 month - 5 years||-||No||No||- |- |[[Seychelles]]||Yes||Fine - 2 years||-||No||No||- |- |[[Sierra Leone]]||Yes||Life||-||Yes*||No||*The Anti-Corruption Commission stated in a press release that in a bid to attract competent and qualified staff, they operate a transparent recruitment policy, which even forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. |- |[[Somalia]]||Yes*||Death||-||No||No||*Areas under [[Sharia]] have instituted death for men and women. |- |☆[[South Africa]]||No||-||[[Same-sex marriage in South Africa|Same-sex marriage]]||Yes||Yes||Constitutional protection for [[sexual orientation]] in South Africa since [[1996]] and the first country in [[Africa]] to legalise [[Same-sex marriage in South Africa|same-sex marriage]]. See [[LGBT rights in South Africa]] |- |[[Sudan]]||Yes||5 years - Death||-||No||No||- |- |[[Swaziland]]||Male only*||Fine US$90 - Prison||-||No||No||*Pending law, page 9 (Number 12), includes outlawing [[lesbian]] sex conduct. [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/World_legal_wrap_up_survey_November2006.pdf] and page 37 [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf]. |- |☆[[Tanzania]]||Yes||30 years - Life||-||No||No||In [[Zanzibar]] male homosexual acts are punished with up to 25 years imprisonment or fine. Lesbian acts are punished with up 7 years imprisonment or fine. See [[LGBT rights in Tanzania]]. |- |[[Togo]]||Yes||Fine - 3 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Tunisia]]||Yes||Fine - 3 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Tunisia]]. |- |[[Uganda]]||Male only||Fine - Life||-||No||No||The first country in the world to have a [[constitutional]] ban on [[same-sex marriage]] (since [[2004]]).<ref>Integrity USA reports Dr Nsaba Buturo, the Ugandan minister of Ethics and Integrity as stating in the 2006 case of Victor Mukasa (a 31-year-old gay rights activist) and Yvonne Ooyo that the plaintiffs "suffered under the false notion that homosexuality can be a human rights issue" [http://walkingwithintegrity.blogspot.com/2007/07/persecution-in-uganda.html]</ref> |- |[[Zambia]]||Male only||Fine - 15 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Zimbabwe]]||Male only||Fine - 1 year||-||No||No||In July the Zimbabwe government passed the "sexual deviancy laws". [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/07/071706zimbabwe.htm], [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/12/120706zimbabwe.htm] and [[LGBT rights in Zimbabwe]]. |- |colspan="7"| ===Asia=== |- !Country!!Laws against homosexuality!!Penalty!!Same-sex Unions!!Laws against discrimination!!Adoption!!Comments |- |☆[[Afghanistan]]||?||?||No||No||?||? - Unsure if homosexuality is a crime or not since the country is undergoing a period of relative chaos due to the continuing battles between NATO forces and the resurgent Taliban, but the death penalty (imposed under the Taliban) is no longer enforced. The Penal Code from 1976 in force, stipulates long imprisonment for adultery and pederasty. [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_-_November_2006.pdf] and [[LGBT rights in Afghanistan]]. |- |☆[[Armenia]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Armenia]]. |- |☆[[Bahrain]]||Male only||Fine - 10 years||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Bahrain]]. |- |[[Bangladesh]]||Yes||Life prison - death||-||No||No||- [[LGBT rights in Bangladesh]]. |- |[[Bhutan]]||Yes*||1 month - 1 year||-||No||No||*In [[2004]], the [[penal code]] of Bhutan, page 9 of [http://www.ilga-europe.org/.../39685/file/With%20the%20government%20in%20our%20bedrooms%20-%20November%202006.pdf]. However, there are no known cases of anyone having ever been charged with this petty [[misdemeanor]]. Little is known about gay life in Bhutan, as Bhutanese culture does not share the typical [[Western world|western]] view of heterosexuality and homosexuality. Some people have even called it a bisexual [[society]], though this is disputed. [http://www.globalgayz.com/g-bhutan.html]. |- |[[Brunei]]||Yes||Fine - 10 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Cambodia]]||No||-||-||No||No||Former king [[Norodom Sihanouk]] has called for legalisation of gay marriage. See [[LGBT rights in Cambodia]]. |- |☆[[China (PRC)]]||No||-||-||No||No||Marriage laws under-review. See [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-3741.html] and [[Homosexuality in China|LGBT rights in China]] |- |☆[[Hong Kong]]||No||-||-||Considered*||No||*AD under consideration. See [[LGBT rights in China#Hong Kong]]. |- |☆[[India]]||Yes*||Fine -/10 years||-||No||No||*Law remains on books since [[1860]], but government does not prosecute, criminalizes "carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal". Section 377 is currently facing constitutional challenge at the Delhi High Court in a petition filed by Naz Foundation.<ref>[[Homosexuality in India]]</ref> Homosexual marriages are ''de facto'' banned. See [[Homosexuality in India|LGBT rights in India]]. |- |[[Indonesia]]||No*||-||-||No||No||*In [[2002]], the [[Aceh]] province was given the right to instate Islamic [[sharia]] by laws by the national parliament. Such law only applies to Muslims, and for example the city of Palembang in Southern Sumatra has introduced jail and hefty fines, for [[homosexual]] sex [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf] and in [[2003]], a proposal to nationally criminalize [[homosexuality]] failed. See [[LGBT rights in Indonesia]]. |- |☆[[Iran]]||Yes||For men:Prison||-||No||No||Sex change operations have been given official government support as means to cure a gender identity disease. Law in Iran, in general, is not formally in order and is often abused by government officials. There have not been official executions for homosexuality in many years, although some claim that teenagers [[Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni]] were executed for consensual homosexual sex and not for rape. See [[LGBT rights in Iran]]. |- |☆[[Iraq]]||No*||-||-||No||No||*No provisions of the current Iraqi criminal code deal with homosexuality. The U.S. occupation restored the criminal code back to its original 1969 edition. Before 2003, the criminal code was amended in 2001 to include the death penalty for homosexuality. However, currently, death squads are operating in the country killing gays. [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/World_legal_wrap_up_survey._November2006.pdf] and [[LGBT rights in Iraq]]. |- |☆[[Israel]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Israel|Unregistered cohabition]], Recognition of [[Same-sex marriage in Israel|same-sex marriage]]s performed abroad||Yes||Yes <ref>http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3505079,00.html "Attorney General rules same sex couples eligible to adopt" </ref>||Fairly strong support for giving legal recognition to same-sex couples. Only Middle Eastern nation to support gay rights legislation. The armed forces of Israel allow service without any distinction based on sexual orientation. See [[LGBT rights in Israel]]. |- |☆[[Japan]]||No, but a higher [[age of consent]] in some [[prefectures]]||-||-||Yes||No||Anti-discrimination law in Human Rights Act bill (2001) was failed in 2002. Similar proposal failed in 2005. See [[LGBT rights in Japan]]. |- |☆[[Jordan]]||No*||-||-||No||No||*While not a crime, reports have shown that [[LGBT]] people can be victims of [[vigilante]] "honour killings". See [[LGBT rights in Jordan]]. |- |☆[[Kazakhstan]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Kazakhstan]]. |- |[[Kuwait]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |[[Kyrgyzstan]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |[[Laos]]||No||-||-||No||No||The [[Penal Code]]: [http://www.apwld.org/pdf/lao_penalcode1989.pdf], [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/World_legal_wrap_up_survey._November2006.pdf]. |- |☆[[Lebanon]]||Yes||-||-||No||No||A small public growing campaign exists to legalize homosexual relations between consenting adults in private, though it is often viewed unfavorably. Honor killings are present among the population. See [[LGBT rights in Lebanon]]. |- |[[Macau]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in China]]. |- |[[Malaysia]]||Yes||Fine - 20 years||-||No||No||Former Deputy Prime Minister [[Anwar Ibrahim]], who was himself jailed for homosexuality, has called for their repeal. [[Marina Mahathir]], the daughter of former Prime Minister [[Mahathir Mohamad]], has called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/199468.stm] However, during Mahathir's term as Prime Minister, he warned gay ministers in foreign countries not to bring along their partners while visiting the nation. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1632012.stm]. See [[LGBT rights in Malaysia]]. |- |[[Maldives]]||Male only||Fine - 10 years||-||No||No||- |- |[[Mongolia]]||No*||-||-||No||No||*"Satisfaction of sexual desire in unnatural manner" in the Penal Code of [[2002]], and cannot be used for consensual homosexuality in private anymore. [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_-_November_2006.pdf]. |- |[[Myanmar]]/[[Burma]]||Yes*||10 years - Life||-||No||No||*One of the largest democracy activist organisations in exile has voted to decriminalise same-sex relations. See [http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=2&STORY_ID=1972&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=2]. |- |[[Nepal]]||No||-||-||No||No||The [[Penal Code]] of Nepal was struck down by Supreme Court on [[21 December]][[2007]] [http://news.google.com.au/news?hl=en&q=Nepal+homosexuality&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&scoring=n]. |- |☆[[North Korea]]||No||-||-||No||No||No public discussion or reference to homosexuality is allowed. Seen as a capitalist disease or vice. See [[LGBT rights in North Korea]]. |- |[[Oman]]||Yes||Fine - 3 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Pakistan]]||Yes*||2 years - Life||-||No||No||*The law applies to both men and women [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf] and [[LGBT rights in Pakistan]]. |- |☆[[Palestinian Authority]] ([[Gaza]])||Male only*||? - 10 years||-||No||No||*[[Male]] [[homosexuality]] is illegal in [[Gaza]], by the Criminal Code Ordinance [[1936]] still in force. Some are arrested or tortured and [[LGBT]] Palestinians often attempt to flee to [[Israel]] as they are targeted for death in PA-controlled areas. [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf], [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/World_legal_wrap_up_survey._November2006.pdf] and [[LGBT rights in Israel#Palestinian Issues|LGBT Palestinian issues]]. |- |☆[[Philippines]]||No||-||No|| Considered*||No||*AD in consideration and the [[New People's Army|Communist Party]] assist same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriages banned since 2003, yet there is a large support for repeal. See [[LGBT rights in the Philippines]] and [[Homosexuality in the Philippines]] |- |[[Qatar]]||Yes||Fine - 5 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Saudi Arabia]]||Yes||Death||-||No||No||Jail time, fines or whipping may be used in lieu of the death penalty. See [[LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia]] |- |☆[[Singapore]]||Yes*||2 years*||-||No||No||*Section 377A of the Penal Code, makes sex between males a punishment for up to 2 years jail - The law is rarely enforced, usually when it suspects risk of HIV infections during events such as sex parties [http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid17563.asp]. Government officials have made calls to embrace diversity and to legalize anal and oral sex or 'Gross indencency' between males [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21605015-1702,00.html?from=public_rss]. Former Prime Minister [[Goh Chok Tong]] stated that openly gay people can be employed in the civil workforce. See [[LGBT rights in Singapore]]. |- |☆[[South Korea]]||No||No||No||No*||No||No mention of homosexuality in Constitution or Civil Penal Code, although in practice widespread discrimination against gay people and censorship against gay websites is fairly common. Military Penal Code states up to a maximum of one year servitude or dishonorable discharge for homosexual acts performed while on active duty.*Repeal of discrimination-banning proviso in 2007 See [[LGBT rights in South Korea]]. |- |[[Sri Lanka]]||Yes||Fine - 10 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Syria]]||Yes||Fine, though it is rarely enforced||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Syria]]. |- |☆[[Republic of China|Taiwan (ROC)]]||No||-||Considered||Yes||No||Pending law allows [[civil union]]s or [[same-sex marriage]]. See [[LGBT rights in Taiwan]]. |- |[[Tajikistan]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Thailand]]||No||-||-||No||No||From [[2005]], Thailand allows [[LGBT]] people to serve in the military [http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/08/081005thaiArmy.htm] and [[LGBT rights in Thailand]]. |- |[[Timor-Leste]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |[[Turkmenistan]]||Male only||Fine - 2 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[United Arab Emirates]]||Yes||Unknown - Death||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in United Arab Emirates]]. |- |[[Uzbekistan]]||Male only*||Fine* - 3 years*||-||No||No||*"Besoqolbozlik" (Only applies to [[anal sex]]) [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?action=ShowCountry&CID=1000], page 43 of [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf]. |- |[[Vietnam]]||No||-||-||No||No||Same-sex marriages banned since [[1998]]. Reports suggest that this ban extends to a prohibition on [[domestic partnership]]s and [[civil union]]s and/or having any sort of public commitment celebration. |- |[[West Bank]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Israel]]. |- |[[Yemen]]||Yes||Flogging - Death||-||No||No||- |- |colspan="7"| ===Europe=== ''Note: membership of the [[European Union]] not only requires repeal of anti-homosexuality legislation, the [[Treaty of Amsterdam]] requires anti-discrimination legislation to be enacted by its member states.''<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/12002M/pdf/12002M_EN.pdf</ref> |- !Country!!Laws against homosexuality!!Penalty!!Same-sex Unions!!Laws against discrimination!!Adoption!!Comments |- |☆[[Albania]]||No||-||-||Considered||No||See [[LGBT rights in Albania]]. |- |☆[[Andorra]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Andorra|Stable unions]]||Yes*||Yes||*AD since [[2005]] [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/World_legal_wrap_up_survey_November2006.pdf] and [[LGBT rights in Andorra]]. |- |☆[[Austria]]||No||-||Unregistered cohabitation||Yes||No||Unregistered cohabitation since 2003; '''Registered partnership Bill 2008''' getting indroduced in March 2008. See [[LGBT rights in Austria]]. |- |☆[[Azerbaijan]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Azerbaijan]]. |- |☆[[Belgium]]||No||-||[[Same-sex marriage in Belgium|Same-sex marriage]]||Yes||Yes||See [[LGBT rights in Belgium]]. |- |☆[[Belarus]]||No||-||-||No||No||LGBT people can be subjected to discrimination by the people and the government. See [[LGBT rights in Belarus]]. |- |☆[[Bosnia-Herzegovina]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||AD in Gender Equality Act since 2003. See [[LGBT rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina]] |- |☆[[Bulgaria]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||[[LGBT rights in Bulgaria]]. |- |☆[[Croatia]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Croatia|Unregistered cohabitation]]||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Croatia]]. |- |☆[[Cyprus]]||No*, [[age of consent]] is 17 for all. [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?action=ShowCountry&CID=316]||-||-||Yes||No||*Illegal in [[Northern Cyprus]] until [[1 January]] [[2009]], by a new [[Criminal Code]] repealing the ban (See below). See [[LGBT rights in Cyprus]]. |- |☆[[Czech Republic]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in the Czech Republic|Registered partnership]]||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in the Czech Republic]]. |- |☆[[Denmark]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Denmark|Registered partnership]]||Yes||No||First country to legally recognise same-sex partnerships of any kind in [[1989]]. See [[LGBT rights in Denmark]]. |- |☆[[Estonia]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Estonia]]. |- |☆[[Faroe Islands]]||No||-||Considered||Yes*||No||*AD from [[2006]] [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/12/121506islands.htm] and [[LGBT rights in the Faroe Islands]]. |- |☆[[Finland]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Finland|Registered partnership]]||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Finland]]. |- |☆[[France]]||No||-||[[pacte civil de solidarité]]||Yes||No||It should be noted that [[pacte civil de solidarité]] (French civil unions) is a common choice with all couples. See [[LGBT rights in France]]. |- |☆[[Georgia (Country)|Georgia]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Georgia (country)]]. |- |☆[[Germany]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Germany|Registered partnership]]||Yes||No||Constitutional protection for [[sexual orientation]] in some states of [[Germany]]. See [[LGBT rights in Germany]]. |- |☆[[Gibraltar]]||No, [[age of consent]] 18 just for male-male sex and 16 for others from [[1993]]; Soon could be equalized [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5781.html]||-||Considered||Yes||No||AD since [[2004]] [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/World_legal_wrap_up_survey._November2006.pdf]. See [[LGBT rights in Gibraltar]] |- |☆[[Greece]]||No, [[age of consent]] is 15 for all, but just for male-male sex (For the partner over 18) is 17||-||Considered||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Greece]]. |- |[[Bailiwick of Guernsey]] - Including [[Alderney]], [[Herm]] and [[Sark]]||No, [[age of consent]] 18 for male-male and 16 for other acts from [[1999]]; Soon could be equalized [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/guernsey/6504499.stm]||-||Considered||Considered*||No||*AD in consideration and a [[Bill (proposed law)|proposed law]] to legalise civil partnerships passed its first reading in the [[States of Guernsey|States of Deliberation]] in [[2006]] [http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/showarchive.pl]. |- |☆[[Hungary]]||No||-||Unregistered cohabitation; [[registered partnership]] from 01/01/2009 [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6361.html]||Yes||No||[[registered partnership]] law will be effective on 01/01/2009 [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6361.html]. See [[LGBT rights in Hungary]]. |- |☆[[Iceland]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Iceland|Registered partnership]]||Yes||Yes||See [[LGBT rights in Iceland]]. |- |☆[[Republic of Ireland| Ireland]]||No||-||Civil partnerships bills being introduced in 2008||Yes||No||'''Civil Partnerships Bill 2008''' - Currently awaiting approval [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/politics/2005-5930.html] [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/1031/breaking45.htm] [http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50248.asp]. See [[LGBT rights in the Republic of Ireland]]. |- |☆[[Isle of Man]]||No||-||Yes (recognised only)||Yes (since 2005)||No*||*'''Adoption (Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2008''' will be introduced to the [[House of Keys]] in April 2008. See [[LGBT rights in the Isle of Man]]. |- |☆[[Italy]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Italy|Some regions]]||Yes (since 2003)||No||Civil unions are recognized in [[Tuscany]], [[Umbria]], [[Emilia Romagna]], [[Campania]], [[Marche]], [[Veneto]], [[Puglia]], [[Lazio]], [[Liguria]] and [[Abruzzo]]. See [[LGBT rights in Italy]]. |- |☆[[Bailiwick of Jersey]]||No||-||Considered||Yes||Yes [http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/showarchive.pl?ArticleID=100081&year=] ||Civil partnerships, AD laws and Adoption provided [[Civil partnerships in Jersey]]. |- |☆[[Kosovo]]||No||-||-||Yes*||No||*AD in [[Kosovo]] since 2001 and in Draft Constitution (effective from April 2008). See [[LGBT rights in Kosovo]]. |- |☆[[Latvia]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||Same-sex marriages banned. See [[LGBT rights in Latvia]]. |- |☆[[Liechtenstein]]||No||-||Considered||Considered||Considered||Registered partnerships, AD laws and Adoption are under consideration; See [[LGBT rights in Liechtenstein]]. |- |☆[[Lithuania]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Lithuania]]. |- |☆[[Luxembourg]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Luxembourg|Registered partnerships]]||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Luxembourg]]. |- |☆[[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]||No||-||-||Yes (since 2005)||No||See [[LGBT rights in Macedonia]]. |- |☆[[Malta]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Malta]]. |- |☆[[Moldova]]||No||-||-||Considered||No||See [[LGBT rights in Moldova]]. |- |☆[[Monaco]]||No||-||No||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Monaco]]. |- |☆[[Montenegro]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Montenegro]]. |- |☆[[Netherlands]]||No||-||[[Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|Same-sex marriage]] and [[Civil unions in the Netherlands|Registered partnerships]]||Yes||Yes||The first country in the world to legalize [[same-sex marriage]] in [[2001]]. See [[LGBT rights in the Netherlands]]. |- |☆[[Norway]]||No||-||[[Recognition of gay unions in Norway| Same-sex marriage and Registered partnership]]||Yes||Yes (Eff. 1-1-2009)||See [[LGBT rights in Norway]]. |- |☆[[Poland]]||No||-||Considered*||Yes||No||*[[Civil union]]s considered. See [[LGBT rights in Poland]]. |- |☆[[Portugal]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Portugal|Registered partnership]]||Yes||No||Constitutional protection for [[sexual orientation]] in Portugal since [[2004]]. See [[LGBT rights in Portugal]]. |- |☆[[Romania]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Romania]]. |- |☆[[Russia]]||No||-||-||Yes*||No||*Anti-Discrimination based on sexual orientation from a court ruling in 2005. See [[LGBT rights in Russia]]. |- |☆[[San Marino]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in San Marino]]. |- |☆[[Serbia]]||No||-||-||Yes*||No||*Serbia ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in Radio Emitters Law since 2002. See [[LGBT rights in Serbia]]. |- |☆[[Slovakia]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Slovakia]]. |- |☆[[Slovenia]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Slovenia|Registered partnership]]||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Slovenia]]. |- |☆[[Spain]]||No||-||[[Same-sex marriage in Spain|Same-sex marriage]]||Yes||Yes||[[Civil unions in Catalonia and other 10 out of 17 Spanish autonomous communities|Unregistered and Registered Cohabitation in a number of regions]]. See [[LGBT rights in Spain]]. |- |☆[[Sweden]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Sweden|Registered partnership]]||Yes||Yes||Constitutional protection for [[sexual orientation]] in Sweden since [[2003]] and partnerships have the same rights as heterosexual marriage including adoption, but are legally distinct from marriage. See [[LGBT rights in Sweden]]. |- |☆[[Switzerland]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Switzerland|Registered partnership]]||No||No||Constitutional protection for [[sexual orientation]] in Switzerland since [[2000]] based on "way of life". See [[LGBT rights in Switzerland]]. |- |☆[[Turkey]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Turkey]]. |- |☆[[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]] (not recognised internationally)|| No* [http://365gay.com/Newscon06/10/102006cyprus.htm]||Fine/10-14 years||No||No||No||*The [[sodomy law]] will be "repealed" by a new [[Criminal Code]], effective from [[1 January]] [[2009]]. See [[LGBT rights in Cyprus]]. |- |☆[[Ukraine]]||No||-||No||Considered||No||See [[LGBT rights in Ukraine]]. |- |☆[[United Kingdom]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in the United Kingdom|Civil partnership]]||Yes||Yes*||*England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 2005, Scotland since 2006; See [[LGBT rights in the United Kingdom]]. |- |☆[[Vatican City]]||No*||-||No||Yes**||No||*[[Homosexuality]] is technically legal, but its acting out is contrary to the teachings of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. See [[LGBT rights in the Vatican City]] |- |colspan="7"| ===North America=== |- !Country!!Laws against homosexuality!!Penalty!!Same-sex Unions!!Laws against discrimination!!Adoption!!Comments |- |[[Anguilla]]||No||-||No||-||-||Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory. Homosexual behaviour between two consenting adults in private was expressly legalised under the Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000. |- |[[Antigua and Barbuda]]||Yes||15 years||-||No||-||British laws are not applied to Antigua & Barbuda, and therefore the Sexual Offenses Act 1995 criminalising homosexual acts, is enforceable.[http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf]. |- |☆[[Aruba]]||No||-||Can not be performed, but is recognised||Yes||Yes||The Dutch Government states that as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba is obliged to recognise civil unions and same-sex marriage as valid. However, Aruba cannot perform SSM's, but has to be recognised by order of the Supreme Court in [[2007]] [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070413/lf_afp/netherlandsaruba_070413184451] [[LGBT rights in Aruba]] |- |☆[[Bahamas]]||No, same-gender sex "in public" is a 20 year jail sentence and the [[age of consent]] "in private" for [[homosexual]] sex is 18, 16 for [[heterosexual]] sex [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?CID=160&action=ShowCountry]||-||-||No||-||See [[LGBT rights in the Bahamas]]. |- |[[Barbados]]||Yes||Life||-||No||-||Laws currently under review - still illegal, but not enforced [http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=2&STORY_ID=1972&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=2]. |- |[[Belize]]||Yes*||10 years||-||No||-||*[[Homosexuality]] re-criminalised from [[2003]]. See[http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf] and also under section 26 ii (d) of the immigration act 1958, "Any prostitute or homosexual or any person who may be living on or receiving or may have been living on or receiving the proceeds of prostitution or homosexual acts." is outlawed from incoming to Belize. See[http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?action=ShowCountry&CID=184]. |- |[[Bermuda]]||No, [[age of consent]] 18 just for male-male sex, 16 for others from [[1994]] [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?CID=192&action=ShowCountry]||-||Considered||Considered*||-||*AD in consideration [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/06/060306bermuda.htm]. |- |[[British Virgin Islands]]||No||-||No||Yes; discrimination on grounds of sexuality is prohibited under the 2007 [[Constitution]]||-||British Virgin Islands is a British Overseas Territory. Homosexual behaviour between two consenting adults in private was legalised under the Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000. |- |☆[[Canada]]||No, see [[anal sex]] in section 159 in the Criminal Code. However, the higher age of consent for anal sex has been recognised as unconstitutional by both the Ontario Court of Appeal in Re Carmen M and the Quebec Court of Appeal in R v. Roy.] [http://canada-justice.ca/en/news/nr/2006/doc_31832.html]||-||[[Same-sex marriage in Canada|Same-sex marriage]]||Yes||Yes||Anti-discriminatory laws provided by [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms|constitution]] and ''[[Egan v. Canada]]''; in all provincial/territorial civil rights codes since ''[[Vriend v. Alberta]]''. Common-law marriage since ''[[M. v. H.]]'', [[1999]]; SSM since ''[[Civil Marriage Act]]'', [[2005]]. See [[LGBT rights in Canada]]. |- |[[Cayman Islands]]||No||-||No||Yes||-||[[Cayman Islands]] is a British Dependent Territory. Homosexuality between two consenting adults in private was legalised under the Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000. |- |☆[[Costa Rica]]||No||-||Considered||Yes*||-||*Anti-discrimination law since [[1998]]. See [http://typo3.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Homosexualitaet/World_legal_wrap_up_survey._November2006.pdf]; Same-sex marriages and 'scandalous sodomy' is banned. See [[LGBT rights in Costa Rica]] |- |☆[[Cuba]]||No||-||Considered*||No||-||*Civil unions or partnerships may be considered; see [[LGBT rights in Cuba]]. |- |[[Dominica]]||Yes||10 years||-||No||-||From 1995 to 2000, 35 persons were arrested for the crime of buggery [http://www.ndu.edu/chds/REDES2001/Papers/Block1/Caribbean%20Security%20Panel/George.Caribbean%20Security%20Panel.rtf]. |- |[[Dominican Republic]]||No||-||-||No||-||- |- |[[El Salvador]]||No||-||No||No||No||There is much discrimination within society, making it uncomfortable for people to come out |- |[[Greenland]]||No||-||Yes||Yes||-||See [[Civil Union]]. |- |[[Grenada]]||Male only||10 years||-||No||-||. |- |☆[[Guadeloupe]]||No||-||[[Pacte civil de solidarité]]||Yes||-||Guadeloupe is a ''Département Français d'Outre-mer'', so French Law is in force. See [[LGBT rights in France]]. |- |[[Guatemala]]||No||-||-||No||-||AD in Youth and Childhood Act since 1997. |- |☆[[Haiti]]||No||-||-||No||-||See [[LGBT rights in Haiti]]. |- |☆[[Honduras]]||No||-||-||No||-||Same-sex marriages and adoption banned in the Constitution since 2005. See [[LGBT rights in Honduras]]. |- |☆[[Jamaica]]||Male only||10 years hard labour||-||No||-||[[Jamaica]] has been quoted as the worst place in all of the Americas for [[LGBT]] people. See [[LGBT rights in Jamaica]]. |- |☆[[Martinique]]||No||-||[[Pacte civil de solidarité]].||Yes||-||Martinique is a ''Département Français d'Outre-mer'', so French Law is in force. See [[LGBT rights in France]]. |- |☆[[Mexico]]||No||-||[[Civil union]]s ([[Mexico City]] and [[Coahuila]])||Yes*||-||*Mexican Congress reformed the Constitution in 2001, to forbid discrimination of any kind; in 2003, this change produced the Federal Law to Prevent Discrimination that forbids discrimination by [[sexual orientation]]. [[Civil union]]s ([[Mexico City]] and [[Coahuila]]). See [[LGBT rights in Mexico]]. |- |[[Montserrat]]||No||-||No||-||-||Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory. Homosexual behaviour between two consenting adults in private was legalised under the Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000. |- |☆[[Netherlands Antilles]]||No||-||Can not be performed, only recognised||Yes||Yes||As part of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], civil unions and same-sex marriage are fully recognised as valid; however, they cannot be performed in the Netherlands Antilles themselves. See [[LGBT rights in the Netherlands]]. |- |☆[[Nicaragua]]||No||-||-||Yes (since 2008)||-||A new [[Penal Code]] came into force since [[1 March]] [[2008]], legalizing homosexuality and ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. See [[LGBT rights in Nicaragua]]. |- |☆[[Panama]]||?||-||-||No||-||? Some reports say yes, other say No and LGBT people are banned from the military and police services only. See [[LGBT rights in Panama]]. |- |☆[[Puerto Rico]]||No||-||-||Considered*||-||*[[Civil unions]] considered and debated. Puerto Rico is a devoutly Christian island, and homosexuality is not thought to be practised openly. See [[LGBT rights in Puerto Rico]]. |- |[[Saint Kitts and Nevis]]||Male only||10 years||-||No||-||- |- |[[Saint Lucia]]||Male only||Fine-10 years||-||No||-||- |- |[[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]||Yes||Fine-10 years||-||No||-||- |- |☆[[Trinidad and Tobago]]||Yes*||25 years||No||No||No||*Applies to both men and women. Also under Article 8 (18/1) of the Immigration Act, [[homosexual]] men and women are not allowed to enter the country. [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?action=ShowCountry&CID=952] and [[LGBT rights in Trinidad and Tobago]]. |- |[[Turks and Caicos Islands]]||No||-||No||-||-||Turks and Caicos Islands is a British Overseas Territory. Homosexuality between two consenting adults in private was legalised under the Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order, 2000. |- |☆[[United States]]||No||-||'''[[Civil Union]]s''': [[Civil unions in Vermont|Vermont]], [[Civil unions in Connecticut|Connecticut]], [[Civil unions in New Jersey|New Jersey]] and [[Civil unions in New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]. '''[[Domestic partnership]]s''': [[Domestic partnerships in California|California]], [[Domestic partnership in Maine|Maine]], [[Domestic Partnerships in Oregon|Oregon]], [[Domestic partnership in Washington|Washington]], [[Domestic partnership in District of Columbia|District of Columbia]] and [[Domestic partnerships in Hawaii|Hawaii]]. '''[[Same-sex marriage]] performed and/or recognised''': in [[Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]] and [[Same-sex marriage in California|California]], and only recognized in [[New York]], [[New Mexico]] and [[Rhode Island]].||In 20 states* and 100 County, City or Council areas||10 states and 25 County, City or Council areas||*13 states cover sexual orientation and gender identity, 7 only cover sexual orientation and 30 do not cover either. *[[LGBT rights in the United States]] |- |colspan="7"| ===Oceania=== |- !Country!!Laws against homosexual behaviour!!Penalty!!Same-sex Unions!!Laws against discrimination!!Adoption!!Comments |- |[[American Samoa]]||No||-||-||No||No||[http://www.sodomylaws.org/usa/samoa/samoa.htm]. |- |☆[[Australia]] (including [[Norfolk Island]])||No||-||'''Civil Partnerships''': [[Australian Capital Territory]]; '''[[Registered partnership]]s''': The Council areas of [[Yarra]], [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]], [[Tasmania]], [[South Australia]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] (affective 1/12/2008); '''Unregistered co-habitation''': [[Commonwealth]] (terrorism legislation only) [[Northern Territory]], [[Norfolk Island]], [[Queensland]], [[Western Australia]] and [[New South Wales]]||Yes, all states and territories, (except [[Commonwealth]] legislation)||In TAS and VIC you can adopt the biological child only; In ACT and WA joint adoption is available; SA, NT, NSW, QLD, NI adoption policies are banned and under review (no review for QLD)||[[Queensland]] is considering ''registered relationships" [http://www.ssonet.com.au/display.asp?ArticleID=8465] and 100 Commonwealth laws will be amended to include same-gender couples under the ''Same Sex Relationships (Provision of Equal Entitlements) Bill (No. 1)'', with both [[Kevin Rudd]] and [[Brendon Nelson]] supporting this Bill. [[Same-sex marriage]] is banned under [[Commonwealth]] law since [[13 August]] [[2004]]. See [[Recognition of same-sex relationships in Australia]] and [[LGBT rights in Australia]]. |- |☆[[Cook Islands]]||Male only*||Fine - 14 years||No||No||No||*Illegal, despite being part of [[New Zealand]]. See [[LGBT rights in New Zealand]]. |- |☆[[Fiji]]||No||-||-||-||-||Constitution outlaws discrimination against sexual orientation. See [[LGBT rights in Fiji]]. |- |[[Guam]]||No||-||-||Yes*||Yes||Guam is a US Territory which legalized sodomy in 1979. Guam has an anti-discrimination policies since 1999, some defacto relationship rights have been available since 2002 and adoption is available since 2006. However, the fundamentalist Catholic, Mormon and Christian churches have created an repressive atmosphere for gay people here resulting in most gay people being more or less in the closet, which makes it difficult to pull the community together and to come out of the closet, and live an open life. |- |[[Kiribati]]||Male only||Fine-14 years||-||No||No||See section 467A of the Criminal Code. |- |[[Marshall Islands]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[Criminal Code]] [http://www.paclii.org/mh/legis/consol_act_new/cc94/]. |- |[[Federated States of Micronesia|Micronesia]]||No||-||-||-||No||- |- |[[Nauru]]||Male only||14 years hard labour||-||-||No||Legislation indexed in written laws of the former criminal code of [[Queensland]] (When Nauru became independent from Australia, Queensland in 1962). |- |☆[[New Caledonia]]||No||-||-||Considered. See [[Pacte civil de solidarité]].||Considered||See [[LGBT rights in France]]. |- |☆[[New Zealand]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in New Zealand|Civil unions]]||Yes||Yes||See [[LGBT rights in New Zealand]]. |- |☆[[Niue]]||Male only*||Fine-10 years||-||No||No||*Illegal, despite being part of [[New Zealand]]. See [[LGBT rights in New Zealand]]. |- |[[Palau]]||Male only||Fine-10 years||-||No||No||- Illegal as a hold over from US Military Laws when Palau was a US Territory and Christian Missionary influence. |- |[[Papua New Guinea]]||Male only||Fine-14 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Pitcairn Island]]||No||-||Yes||Yes||No||[[Pitcairn Island]] is under [[United Kingdom|British]] law. See [[LGBT rights in the United Kingdom]]. |- |[[Samoa]]||Yes||Fine-7 years [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?action=ShowCountry&CID=820]||-||No||No|| [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/With_the_government_in_our_bedrooms_November_2006.pdf]. |- |[[Solomon Islands]]||Yes||Fine-14 years||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Tahiti]] / [[French Polynesia]]||No||-||-||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in France]]. |- |☆[[Tokelau]]||Male only*||Fine-10 years||-||No||No||*Illegal, despite being part of [[New Zealand]]. See [[LGBT rights in New Zealand]]. |- |[[Tonga]]||Male only||Fine-10 years|-||No||No||-||- |- |[[Tuvalu]]||Male only||Fine-14 years||-||No||No||- |- |[[Vanuatu]]||No, [[age of consent]] is 18 for same-sex activity, while it is 15 for opposite-sex activity [http://www.avert.org/aofconsent.htm]||-||-||No||No||- |- |colspan="7"| ===South America=== |- !Country!!Laws against homosexual behaviour!!Penalty!!Same-sex Unions!!Laws against discrimination!!Adoption!!Comments |- |☆[[Argentina]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in Argentina|Civil unions]] in [[Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires City]], [[Rio Negro Province]] and Villa Carlos Paz city in the province of cordoba.||Yes||No||There are no national anti-discriminatory laws, however, the cities of [[Buenos Aires]] and [[Rosario]] have specific laws protecting LGBT people against discrimination. Debating [[Same sex marriage]]. See [[LGBT rights in Argentina]]. |- |[[Bolivia]]||No||-||-||No||No||- |- |☆[[Brazil]]||No||-||[[Civil unions]] in [[Rio Grande do Sul]].||Yes*||Yes<ref>[http://aprendiz.uol.com.br/content.view.action?uuid=15a7a22d0af47010001989b55102ea36 Pela 1ª vez, Justiça autoriza casal gay a adotar criança no Brasil'' (in Portuguese)]</ref>||*[[Constitutional]] protection for [[sexual orientation]] in some states of [[Brazil]]. See [[LGBT rights in Brazil]]. |- |☆[[Chile]]||No, [[age of consent]] 18 for same-sex sexual activity, 14 for opposite-sex sexual activity.||-||Considered*||Considered*||No||*AD and civil unions in considered. See [[LGBT rights in Chile]]. |- |☆[[Colombia]]||No||-||[[Civil unions. Same sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples]]||Yes||No||*AD considered. See [[LGBT rights in Colombia]]. |- |☆[[Ecuador]]||No||-||No||Yes||No||See [[LGBT rights in Ecuador]]. |- |☆[[Falkland Islands]]||No||-||[[Civil unions in the United Kingdom|Civil partnership]]||Yes||Yes||[[Falkland Islands]] comes under [[United Kingdom|British]] law. See [[LGBT rights in the United Kingdom]]. |- |☆[[French Guiana]]||No||-||Yes [[Pacte civil de solidarité]].||Yes||No||French Law applies. See [[LGBT rights in France]]. |- |☆[[Guyana]]||Male only||Life (The only country in South America to be still illegal)||-||Considered*||No||*Sexual Orientation protection was about to be amended into the [[constitution]] of Guyana, then the "council of churches" stopped and blocked this reform from happening in [[2003]] [http://www.gina.gov.gy/%20document_reports/amendmentbill.html]. |- |[[Paraguay]]||No||-||No||No||No|| |- |[[Peru]]||No||-||-||Yes||No||- |- |☆[[Suriname]]||No, [[age of consent]] 18 for same-sex activity, 16 for opposite-sex activity - Section 302 is rarely enforced [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/listings.asp?action=ShowCountry&CID=900]||-||No||No||No||See [[LGBT rights in Suriname]]. |- |☆[[Uruguay]]||No||-||[[Civil unions]]||Yes||Currently being discussed by parliament.||[[Civil union]] for all couples, after 5 years together. See [[LGBT rights in Uruguay]]. |- |☆[[Venezuela]]||No||-||No||Yes||No||The 1999 Organic labour Law provides protection for LGBT people. See [[LGBT rights in Venezuela]]. |} ==See also== * [[Age of consent]] notes where there is a different threshold for same-sex sexual activity vs. opposite-sex sexual activity. * [[Buggery]] * [[Civil rights movement]] * [[Civil union]] * [[LGBT adoption]] * [[Heterosexism]] * [[Homophobia]] * [[LGBT rights by country]] * [[Religion and homosexuality]] * [[Same-sex marriage]] * [[Sexual Revolution]] * [[Socialism and LGBT rights]] * [[Sodomy law]] * [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.iglhrc.org/files/iglhrc/reports/990604-antidis.pdf Antidiscrimination Legislation, April 1999, a worldwide summary] IGLHRC (pdf) * [http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/ International LGBT and Lesbian Human Rights Commission] (IGLHRC) * [http://www.ilga.org/ International Lesbian and LGBT Association] * [http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/ilga_world_legal_survey%20introduction.htm International Lesbian and LGBT Association World Legal Survey] (2000) * [http://www.sodomylaws.org/ Sodomy Laws Around the World] * [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/StateHomophobia3.jpg State Homophobia], world map, ILGA (2004) * [http://www.ai-lgbt.org/SEXUAL_MINORITIES_MAP.gif New Internationalist sexual minorities map] * [http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/content.php?type=1&id=77 Where Having Sex is a Crime: Criminalization and Decriminalization of Homosexual Acts], IGLHRC (2003) * [http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/content.php?type=1&id=91 Where You Can Marry: Global Summary of Registered Partnership, Domestic Partnership, and Marriage Laws], IGLHRC (November 2003) * [http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/State_sponsored_homophobia_ILGA_07.pdf State-sponsored Homophobia] (April 2007) {{Lists by country}} [[Category:LGBT rights by country| ]] [[Category:LGBT civil rights]] [[Category:LGBT-related legislation]] [[Category:Sex laws]] [[ca:Legislació sobre l'homosexualitat en el món]] [[cs:Zákony týkající se homosexuality]] [[cy:Deddfwriaeth ar gyfunrywioldeb yn ôl gwlad]] [[de:Gesetze zur Homosexualität]] [[es:Legislación sobre la homosexualidad en el mundo]] [[fr:Droits des personnes LGBT dans le monde]] [[it:Omosessualità e legge]] [[hu:LMBT-törvények listája]] [[pt:Direitos dos homossexuais pelo mundo]] [[sh:Prava LGBT osoba]] [[fi:Homoseksuaalisuus ja laki]]