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World laws on homosexuality
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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 intercourse. Among the first laws on same-sex relations ca. 600 BC are those in ancient Crete and Sparta, which encouraged all adult men to engage in mentoring homoerotic friendships.

The first recorded laws against sexual intercourse between men are dated by scholars to circa 550 BC, during the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish people; they are recorded in Leviticus (though conservative scholars date Leviticus much older), and they prescribe the death penalty. It is largely seen as a distinction between Judaism and Paganism on par with worshiping "false gods". At the time same-sex relations were incorporated into many Pagan religions. This pattern was continued throughout history with punitive laws arising from traditional interpretations of Judaism and its descendants: Christianity and Islam. With the advent of colonialism this attitude spread along with political control from the imperial powers of the Abrahamic religions. In post-colonial times some non-Abrahamic religions have maintained their adoptive views of homosexuality. Usually an Abrahamic religion is the primary factor when accounting for a law against homosexuality and the major supporter.

Christian psychologists in Europe also attempted to rationalize the negative views of sodomy predominant in Europe in the middle ages with secular language, calling it a disease, by which means it was later absorbed as non-religious science in Communist states.

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. For example, Jason Donovan and Liberace have sued newspapers that ran articles insinuating they were gay; both men won their lawsuits.

This is a list of laws around the world concerning homosexuality. The list is arranged alphabetically by region. It should be noted that this list should not be assumed to represent a standard for measuring a nation's views, per se. Many nations which retained negative laws for a lengthy period of time, or even retain them today, may in practice be less oppressive of homosexuality than this suggests, with such laws simply being unenforced anachronisms. Similarly, a country which lacks formal laws against it may possess a culture which is openly hostile and may chose to persecute individuals by other means.

For greater depth in coverage see these related articles.

Homosexuality laws

Country links marked "(☆)" feature special "Gay rights" articles about the country in question.

Africa

Country Laws against homosexuality Max. Penalty Min. Penalty Same-sex Unions Laws against discrimination Comments
☆Algeria Yes 3 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Algeria.
☆Angola No, yes who habitually practice homosexuality Labor camps Labor camps - No See page 6 of and Gay rights in Angola.
Benin Yes 3 years Unknown - No  
Botswana Yes 7 years Fine - No  
☆Burkina Faso No - - - No See Gay rights in Burkina Faso.
Burundi No - - - No  
☆Cameroon Yes 5 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Cameroon.
☆Cape Verde No - - - No Decriminalized homosexual acts by the new Penal Code of 2004. See Gay rights in Cape Verde.
☆Central African Republic No - - - No See Gay rights in the Central African Republic.
☆Chad No - - - No See Gay rights in Chad.
☆Comoros No - - - No See Gay rights in Comoros.
☆Republic of the Congo No - - - No See Gay rights in the Republic of the Congo.
☆Democratic Republic of the Congo No - - - No See Gay rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
☆Côte d'Ivoire No - - - No See Gay rights in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
☆Djibouti Yes Unknown Unknown - No See Gay rights in Djibouti.
☆Egypt No* (Prostitution law used against gay males) - - - No *Although not illegal, commonly oppressed with vague morality laws. See page 13 of and Gay rights in Egypt.
☆Equatorial Guinea No - - - No See Gay rights in Equatorial Guinea.
☆Eritrea Yes 3 years 10 days - No See Gay rights in Eritrea.
☆Ethiopia Yes 3 years 10 days - No See Gay rights in Ethiopia.
☆Gabon No - - - No See Gay rights in Gabon.
☆Gambia Yes 14 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Gambia.
☆Ghana Yes Unknown Unknown - No See Gay rights in Ghana.
☆Guinea Yes 3 years 6 months - No See Gay rights in Guinea.
☆Guinea Bissau Yes Unknown Unknown - No See Gay rights in Guinea Bissau.
☆Kenya Male only 14 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Kenya.
☆Lesotho Male only Unknown Unknown - No See Gay rights in Lesotho
☆Liberia Yes Fine Fine - No See Gay rights in Liberia.
☆Libya Yes 5 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Libya.
☆Madagascar No* - - - No *The age of consent is 21 for homosexual sex, lower for heterosexual sex. See Gay rights in Madagascar.
Malawi Yes 14 years Unknown - No  
☆Mali No - - - No See Gay rights in Mali.
☆Mauritania Yes Death Death - No See Gay rights in Mauritania.
☆Mauritius Yes 5 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Mauritius.
☆Morocco Yes 3 years 6 months - No See Gay rights in Morocco.
☆Mozambique No, yes who habitually practice homosexuality Labor camps Labor camps - No See page 25 of and Gay rights in Mozambique.
Namibia Male only Unknown Unknown - Yes Laws against discrimination in Labour Code since 1992.
☆Niger No* - - - No *Age of consent at 21 for homosexual sex, lower for heterosexual sex. See Gay rights in Niger.
☆Nigeria Yes. See Death/14 years* Fine - No *Areas under Sharia have instituted death for men and women. Talking or associating with a LGBT person can land you in jail. See and Gay rights in Nigeria.
☆Rwanda No* - - - No *The homosexual age of consent set at 18, 16 for heterosexual sex. See Gay rights in Rwanda.
☆São Tomé and Príncipe No, yes who habitually practice homosexuality Labor camps Labor camps - No See page 34 of and gay rights in São Tomé and Príncipe.
☆Senegal Yes 5 years 1 month - No See Gay rights in Senegal.
☆Seychelles Yes Unknown Unknown - No See Gay rights in Seychelles.
Sierra Leone Yes Life - - Yes* *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/3 years* 3 months - No *Areas under Sharia have instituted death for men and women.
☆South Africa No* - - Same-sex marriage Yes *The age of consent is under review and debate. See Ages of consent in Africa Constitution explicitly protects against sexual orientation discrimination. First country in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage. See Gay rights in South Africa
☆Sudan Yes Death 5 years - No See Gay rights in Sudan.
Swaziland Male only Prison Fine - No  
Tanzania Yes Life - - 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.
☆Togo Yes 3 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Togo.
☆Tunisia Yes 3 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Tunisia.
☆Uganda Male only Life Fine - No See Gay rights in Uganda.
☆Zambia Male only 14 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Zambia.
☆Zimbabwe Male only 3 years Fine - No In July the Zimbabwe government passed the "sexual deviancy laws". See , and Gay rights in Zimbabwe.

Asia

Country Laws against homosexuality Max. Penalty Min. Penalty Same-sex Unions Laws against discrimination Comments
☆Afghanistan Unknown* Unknown Unknown - No *Not sure if homosexuality is a crime or not since the country is under extreme war, but the death penalty (imposed under the Taliban) is no longer used. The Penal Code from 1976 in force, stipulates long imprisonment for adultery and pederasty. See and Gay rights in Afghanistan.
☆Bahrain Male only 10 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Bahrain.
☆Bangladesh Yes Life 10 years - No See Gay rights in Bangladesh.
☆Bhutan Yes Unknown Unknown - No See Gay rights in Bhutan.
☆Brunei Yes 10 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Brunei.
☆Cambodia No - - - No Former king Norodom Sihanouk has called for legalization of gay marriage. See Gay rights in Cambodia.
☆Chechen Republic Yes Death* Caning* - No *Caning for the first and second convictions, the death penalty for the third conviction. See page 11 of and Gay rights in the Chechen Republic.
☆China (PRC) No - - - No Marriage laws under-review. See Gay rights in China
☆Hong Kong No - - - Considered* *AD under consideration. Court ruling in 2005 and 2006 equalized age of consent at 16 for all. See and the judgment appeal by the Government in 2006 pronounced the "buggery" law "dead". See and Gay rights in China#Hong Kong.
☆India Yes* Life Fine - No *Law remains on books but government does not prosecute, criminalizes 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal'. See Gay rights in India.
☆Indonesia No - - - No homosexual acts are legal. However, article 292 (According to the Penal Code) criminalizes homosexual acts with a person under the age of 18, with up to 5 years imprisonment; The age of consent for heterosexual sex is 16 for females and 19 for males. 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 South Sumatra has introduced jail time and hefty fines, for homosexual acts. See also in 2003, a proposal to nationally criminalize homosexuality failed; See Gay rights in Indonesia.
☆Iran Yes Death Death (but many are imprisoned or pardoned "under the table") - 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. Executions for homosexuality continue, most recently teenagers Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni. See LGBT rights in Iran.
☆Iraq 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. See and Gay rights in Iraq.
☆Israel No - - Same sex marriage recognized in Israel. See and unregistered cohabitation Yes 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 Gay rights in Israel.
☆Japan No - - - Yes AD in Human Rights Act since 2001. See Gay rights in Japan.
☆Jordan and West Bank No* - - - No *While not a crime, reports have shown that LGBT people can be victims of vigilante "honor killings". See Gay rights in Jordan.
☆Kazhakstan No - - - No See Gay rights in Kazhakstan.
☆Kuwait Yes 7 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Kuwait.
☆Kyrgyzstan No - - - No See Gay rights in Kyrgyzstan.
☆Laos No - - - No See , and Gay rights in Laos.
☆Lebanon Yes 1 year Fine - No A small public campaign exists to legalize homosexual relations between consenting adults in private. See Gay rights in Lebanon.
☆Macao No - - - No See Gay rights in Macao.
☆Malaysia Yes 20 years Fine - No Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was himself jailed for homosexuality, has called for their repeal. The daughter of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Marina Mahathir, has called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, as Prime Minister, her father warned gay ministers in foreign countries not to visit his nation. See Gay rights in Malaysia
☆Maldives Male only 10 years Fine - No See Gay rights in The Maldives.
☆Mongolia No - - - No “Satisfaction of sexual desire in unnatural

manner” is modified as of the Penal Code of 2002, and cannot be used for consensual homosexuality in private, from 2002. See and Gay rights in Mongolia.

☆Myanmar/Burma Yes Life 10 years - No See Gay rights in Myanmar/Burma.
☆Nepal Yes 1 year Fine (5,000 rupees, approximately US$115.00) - No See and Gay rights in Nepal.
☆North Korea No - - - No No public discussion or reference to homosexuality is allowed. Seen as a capitalist disease or vice. See Gay rights in North Korea.
☆Oman Yes 3 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Oman.
☆Pakistan Yes* Life 2 years - No *The law applies to both men and women - See and Gay rights in Pakistan.
☆Palestinian Authority Yes* (In Gaza only). See and 10 years (In Gaza only) Unknown - No *Homosexual acts are illegal in Gaza only, 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. See Gay Palestinian issues.
☆Philippines No - - - Considered AD in consideration and the Communist Party assist same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriages banned since 2003. See Gay rights in the Philippines
☆Qatar Yes 5 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Qatar.
☆Saudi Arabia Yes Death Death - No Jail time, fines or whipping may be used in lieu of the death penalty. See Gay rights in Saudi Arabia
☆Singapore Yes* Life 2 years - No *Law is rarely enforced, usually when it suspects risk of HIV infections during events such as sex parties. A pending law reduces to 2 years in "maintained" section 377A (once section 377 is "repealed"). See Government officials have made calls to embrace diversity and to legalize anal and oral sex (only for heterosexual sex). See . Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong stated that open homosexuals can be employed in the civil workforce. See Discrimination against homosexuals in Singapore.
☆South Korea No - - - No No mention of homosexuality in Constitution or Civil Penal Code, although in practice widespread discrimination against homosexuals 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. See Gay rights in South Korea.
☆Sri Lanka Yes 10 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Sri Lanka.
☆Syria Yes 3 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Syria.
☆Taiwan No - - - No Pending law allows same-sex marriage. See Gay rights in Taiwan.
☆Tajikistan No - - - No See Gay rights in Tajikistan.
☆Thailand No - - - No From 2005, Thailand allows LGBT people to serve in the military. See and Gay rights in Thailand.
☆Timor-Leste No - - - No See Gay rights in Timor-Leste.
☆Turkmenistan Male only 2 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Turkmenistan.
☆United Arab Emirates Yes Death Unknown - No See Gay rights in the United Arab Emirates.
☆Uzbekistan Male only 3 years Fine - No Only applies to anal sex. See and Gay rights in Uzbekistan.
☆Vietnam No - - - No Same-sex marriages banned since 1998. Reports suggest that this ban may extend to a prohibition on domestic partnerships and civil unions and/or having any sort of public commitment celebration. See Gay rights in Vietnam.
☆Yemen Yes Death Flogging - No See Gay rights in Yemen.

Europe

Country Laws against homosexuality Max. Penalty Min. Penalty Same-sex Unions Laws against discrimination Comments
☆Albania No - - - No See Gay rights in Albania.
☆Andorra No - - Stable unions Yes* *AD since 2005. See and Gay rights in Andorra.
☆Armenia No - - - No See Gay rights in Armenia.
☆Austria No - - Considered Yes See Gay rights in Austria.
☆Azerbaijan No - - - No See Gay rights in Azerbaijan.
☆Belgium No - - Same-sex marriage Yes See Gay rights in Belgium.
☆Belarus No - - - No See Gay rights in Belarus.
☆Bosnia-Herzegovina No - - - Yes AD in Gender Equality Act since 2003. See Gay rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
☆Bulgaria No - - - Yes Gay rights in Bulgaria.
☆Croatia No - - Unregistered cohabitation Yes See Gay rights in Croatia.
☆Cyprus No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Cyprus.
☆Czech Republic No - - Registered partnership Yes See Gay rights in the Czech Republic.
☆Denmark No - - Registered partnership Yes First country to legalize same-sex partnerships of any kind in 1989. See Gay rights in Denmark.
☆Estonia No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Estonia.
☆Faroe Islands No - - Considered Yes* *AD from 2006. See and Gay rights in the Faroe Islands.
☆Finland No - - Registered partnership Yes See Gay rights in Finland.
☆France No - - pacte civil de solidarité Yes It should be noted that pacte civil de solidarité (French civil unions) is a common choice with all couples. See Gay rights in France.
☆Georgia No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Georgia.
☆Germany No - - Registered partnership Yes See Gay rights in Germany.
☆Gibraltar No* - - Considered Yes* *AD since 2004. See ; *The age of consent set at 18 for male-male sex, 16 for others from 1993, See page 9, number 9 and and Gay rights in Gibraltar.
☆Greece No* - - Considered Yes *Age of consent is 15 for all, but the male-male sex (for the partner over 18) is 17. See Gay rights in Greece.
☆Guernsey(Including Herm, Sark and Alderney) No* - - Considered Considered* *AD in consideration; *Age of consent set at 18 for male-male sex, 16 for other acts from 1998 - Under review and debate, see and . A bill to legalise civil partnerships passed its first reading in the States of Deliberation in 2006. and Gay rights in Guernsey.
☆Hungary No - - Unregistered cohabitation Yes See Gay rights in Hungary.
☆Iceland No - - Registered partnership Yes See Gay rights in Iceland.
☆Ireland No - - Considered Yes See Gay rights in the Republic of Ireland.
☆Isle of Man No - - Considered Yes See Gay rights in the Isle of Man.
☆Italy No - - Some regions Yes Civil unions are recognized in Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia Romagna, Campania, Marche, Veneto, Puglia, Lazio, Liguria and Abruzzo. See Gay rights in Italy.
☆Jersey No - - Considered Considered See Gay rights in Jersey.
☆Latvia No - - - Yes Same-sex marriages banned. See Gay rights in Latvia.
☆Liechtenstein No - - Considered Considered See Gay rights in Liechtenstein.
☆Lithuania No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Lithuania.
☆Luxembourg No - - Registered partnerships Yes See Gay rights in Luxembourg.
☆Macedonia No - - - No See Gay rights in Macedonia.
☆Malta No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Malta.
☆Moldova No - - - Considered See Gay rights in Moldova.
☆Monaco No - - Yes Yes See Gay rights in Monaco.
☆Montenegro No - - - No See Gay rights in Montenegro.
☆Netherlands No - - Same-sex marriage and Registered partnerships Yes The first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. See Gay rights in the Netherlands.
☆Norway No - - Registered partnership Yes See Gay rights in Norway.
☆Poland No - - Considered Yes See Gay rights in Poland.
☆Portugal No - - Registered partnership Yes See Gay rights in Portugal.
☆Romania No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Romania.
☆Russia No - - - No Proposals (by NPRF)to recriminalize homosexuality failed in 2002, 2003 and 2004. See Gay rights in Russia.
☆San Marino No - - - No See Gay rights in San Marino.
☆Serbia No - - - Yes* *AD in Kosovo since 2001. See Gay rights in Serbia.
☆Slovakia No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Slovakia.
☆Slovenia No - - Registered partnership Yes See Gay rights in Slovenia.
☆Spain No - - Same-sex marriage Yes Unregistered and Registered Cohabitation in a number of regions. See Gay rights in Spain.
☆Sweden No - - Registered partnership Yes Partnerships have the same rights as heterosexual marriage including adoption, but are legally distinct from marriage. See Gay rights in Sweden.
☆Switzerland No - - Civil unions No See Gay rights in Switzerland.
☆Turkey No - - - No See Gay rights in Turkey.
☆Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Yes* 14 years* Fine* - Considered *Pending law to make gay sex legal. See and soon being decriminalized in 2007/2008. See and Gay rights in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
☆Ukraine No - - - No See Gay rights in Ukraine.
☆United Kingdom No - - Civil partnership Yes See Gay rights in the United Kingdom.
☆Vatican City No - - - No Homosexuality is technically legal, but contrary to the teachings of the ruling Roman Catholic Church. See Gay rights in the Vatican City.

North America

Country Laws against homosexuality Max. Penalty Min. Penalty Same-sex Unions Laws against discrimination Comments
☆Antigua and Barbuda Yes 15 years - - No British laws are not applied to A & B, and therefore the Sexual Offenses Act 1995 criminalizing homosexual acts, is enforceable.. See Gay rights in Antigua and Barbuda.
☆Aruba No - - Seen as valid but not recognized Yes The Dutch Government states that as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba is obliged to recognize civil unions and same-sex marriage as valid. However, the Aruban Government says it won't recognize them. A judge ruled in favor of the Dutch Government, case is now pending in higher court. See Gay rights in Aruba
☆Bahamas No* - - - No *However "public" or "on the beach" homosexual sex is a 20 year jail sentence and the age of consent for homosexual sex is 18 - 16 for heterosexual sex. See and Gay rights in Bahamas.
Barbados Yes Life - - No Laws currently under review - technically still illegal, but not enforced. .
Belize Yes* 10 years - - No *Homosexual acts are re-crimilized from 2003. See 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 behavior." is outlawed from incoming to Belize. See 
☆Bermuda No* - - Considered Considered* *AD in consideration ; *Age of consent set at 18 for male-male sex, 16 for others from 1994. See and Gay rights in Bermuda.
☆Canada No* - - Same-sex marriage Yes *The age of consent or the "age of protection" (as it is called in Canada) is 18 for anal sex, 14 for non-anal sex, currently under review and debate. See ; Anti-discriminatory laws provided by 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 Gay rights in Canada.
☆Cayman Islands No - - Yes Yes Cayman Islands is under British law. See Gay rights in the United Kingdom.
☆Costa Rica No - - Considered Yes* *Anti-discrimination law since 1998. See ; Same-sex marriages and scandalous sodomy is banned. See Gay rights in Costa Rica
☆Cuba No - - - No See Gay rights in Cuba.
Dominica Yes 10 years - - No From 1995 to 2000, 35 persons were arrested for the crime of buggery. See
Dominican Republic No - - - No  
☆El Salvador No - - - No See Gay rights in El Salvador.
☆Greenland No - - Yes Yes See and Gay rights in Greenland.
☆Grenada Male only 10 years - - No See Gay rights in Grenada.
☆Guadeloupe No - - Pacte civil de solidarité Yes Guadeloupe is a Département Français d'Outre-mer, so French Law is in force. See Gay rights in France.
Guatemala No - - - Yes AD in Youth and Childhood Act since 1997
Haiti No - - - No  
Honduras No - - - No Same-sex marriages and adoption banned in the Constitution since 2005.
☆Jamaica Male only 10 years 10 years - No 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 Gay rights in France.
☆Mexico No - - Civil union (Mexico City and Coahuila state) 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 (Mexico City and Coahuila state). See Gay rights in Mexico.
☆Netherlands Antilles No - - Yes Yes As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, civil unions and same-sex marriage are recognized as valid, however, they cannot be performed in the Netherlands Antilles themselves. See Gay rights in the Netherlands.
☆Nicaragua Yes* - - - No *In Article 204, people who induced, promoted, propagandized or practiced Sodomy in a scandalous way risk facing 1 to 3 years in jail. See and Gay rights in Nicaragua.
☆Panama No* - - - No *"Public" homosexuality prohibited with 1 year prison or a fine of US$500 under Decree No. 149 of 1949. See , and Gay rights in Panama.
☆Puerto Rico No - - - No Legal since 2005. See and Gay rights in Puerto Rico.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Male only 10 years - - No  
Saint Lucia Male only 10 years Fine - No  
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Yes 10 years Unknown - No Applies to both men and women
Trinidad and Tobago Yes* 20 years Fine - 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. See .
☆Turks and Caicos Islands No - - - No See Gay rights in Turks and Caicos Islands.
☆United States No, 20 states still have sodomy laws left in the books, however, they are not allowed to be enforced. See Lawrence v. Texas - - Civil Unions: VT, CT, and NJ. Domestic partnerships: CA, ME, DC and HI. Same-sex marriage: MA. In 14 states only* *5 states cover sexual orientation and gender identity, 9 only cover sexual orientation and 36 do not cover either. See National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Resource Library . See Gay rights in the United States.
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Oceania

Country Laws against homosexuality Max. Penalty Min. Penalty Same-sex Unions Laws against discrimination Comments
American Samoa No - - - No
☆Australia No* - - registered partnership in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory Yes in all states and territories (Not including Norfolk Island and federal legislation) *In Queensland, age of consent for anal sex 18 (16 for non-anal sex) under review and debate. See ; Anti-discrimination law, domestic partnership, registered partnership or civil union in all states and territories (except Norfolk Island and federal legislation); Same-sex marriage banned under federal law and registered partnerships exists in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory giving rights to same-sex couples. See Gay rights in Australia.
Cook Islands Male only* 14 years Fine - No *Illegal, despite being part of New Zealand.
☆Fiji No - - - Yes Sodomy law ruled unconstitutional by Fiji High Court on 26 August, 2005. Constitution explicitly protects against sexual orientation discrimination and in 2006, the Fijian High Commissioner has long established beforehand unofficial rule changes that men engaging in consensual gay sex will no longer be arrested. See and Gay rights in Fiji.
☆Guam No - - - No See and Gay rights in Guam.
Kiribati Male only 14 years Fine - No  
☆Marshall Islands No - - - No Sodomy was decriminalized by the new Criminal Code of 2004.. See Gay rights in Marshall Islands.
☆Micronesia No - - - No See Gay rights in Micronesia.
Nauru Male only* See 14 years hard labor 14 years hard labor - No *Legislation also indexed in written laws and of the criminal code of Queensland. See
☆New Caledonia No - - Considered. See Pacte civil de solidarité. Considered See Gay rights in France.
☆New Zealand No - - Civil unions Yes See Gay rights in New Zealand.
Niue Male only* 10 years Fine - No *Illegal, despite being part of New Zealand.
Palau Male only 10 years Fine - No  
☆Papua New Guinea Male only 14 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Papua New Guinea.
☆Pitcairn Island No - - Yes Yes Pitcairn Island is under British law. See Gay rights in the United Kingdom.
☆Solomon Islands Yes 14 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Solomon Islands.
☆Tahiti, French Polynesia No - - - No See Gay rights in France.
Tokelau Male only* 10 years Fine - No *Illegal, despite being part of New Zealand.
☆Tonga Male only 10 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Tonga.
☆Tuvalu Male only 14 years Fine - No See Gay rights in Tuvalu.
Vanuatu No* - - - No *The age of consent is higher for homosexual sex at 18, lower for heterosexual sex. See .
Western Samoa Yes 7 years Fine - No .

South America

Country Laws against homosexuality Max. Penalty Min. Penalty Same-sex Unions Laws against discrimination Comments
☆Argentina No - - Civil unions in Buenos Aires City and Rio Negro Province. Yes There are no national anti-discriminatory laws, however, the cities of Buenos Aires and Rosario have specific laws protecting against gay discrimination. See Gay rights in Argentina.
☆Bolivia No - - - No See Gay rights in Bolivia.
☆Brazil No - - Civil unions in Rio Grande do Sul. Yes* *Anti discriminatory laws in some cities and states. Other Brazilian areas do not have specific laws to protect LGBT people. See Gay rights in Brazil.
☆Chile No* - - Considered Considered *Age of consent 18 for homosexual sex, 14/16? for heterosexual sex. See and Gay rights in Chile.
☆Colombia No - - Considered Considered See Gay rights in Colombia.
☆Ecuador No - - - Yes Anti-discrimination laws have been in Ecuador's constitution since 1998. See Gay rights in Ecuador.
☆Falkland Islands No - - Yes Yes Falkland Islands comes under British law. See Gay rights in the United Kingdom.
☆French Guiana No - - Yes. See Pacte civil de solidarité. Yes French Law applies. See Gay rights in France.
☆Guyana Male only Life Life - Considered See Gay rights in Guyana.
☆Paraguay No - - - No See Gay rights in Paraguay.
☆Peru No - - - Yes See Gay rights in Peru.
☆Suriname No* - - - No *Age of consent for homosexual sex set at 18, 16 for heterosexual sex. See Gay rights in Suriname.
☆Uruguay No - - Considered, and a pending law for Civil union yet to be passed. See and Yes See Gay rights in Uruguay.
☆Venezuela No - - No Yes The 1999 Organic labor Law provides protection for LGBT people. See Gay rights in Venezuela.

See also

External links

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LGBTQ rights
The Greek letter "lambda"
Lesbian ∙ Gay ∙ Bisexual ∙ Transgender ∙ Queer
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Related
LGBTQ portal

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