LGBT rights in Asia | |
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Status | Legal in 29 out of 50 states Legal in 7 territories |
Gender identity | Legal in 23 out of 50 states Legal in 1 territory |
Military | Allowed in 9 out of 50 states Allowed in 2 territories |
Discrimination protections | Protected in 14 out of 50 states Protected in 4 territories |
Family rights | |
Recognition of relationships | Recognized in 4 out of 50 states Recognized in 4 territories |
Restrictions | Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned in 5 out of 50 states |
Adoption | Legal in 2 out of 50 states |
Part of a series on |
LGBT rights |
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Lesbian ∙ Gay ∙ Bisexual ∙ Transgender |
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Laws governing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights are complex in Asia, and acceptance of LGBT persons varies widely. Same-sex sexual activity is outlawed in at least twenty Asian countries. As of 2023[update], Cyprus, Israel and Taiwan provide a wider range of LGBT rights – such as same-sex relationship recognition, while at least nine countries, such as Georgia, Singapore and Thailand, have enacted protections for LGBT people. In Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen homosexual activity is punishable with the death penalty.[1][2] In addition, LGBT people also face extrajudicial executions from non-state actors such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.[3][4] While egalitarian relationships have become more frequent in recent years, they remain rare.[2][5][6]
Historical discrimination towards homosexuality in much of the region includes when Genghis Khan banned homosexual acts in the Mongol Empire and made them punishable by death.[7][8] Many Asian countries have collectivist cultures, wherein aggression is generally accepted by society if it is used to protect the honor of a family. Homosexuality is generally considered to be dishonorable, so homophobic aggression in the name of protecting familial honor is common.[9] The Fatawa-e-Alamgiri of the Mughal Empire mandated a common set of punishments for homosexuality, which could include 50 lashes for a slave, 100 for a free infidel, or death by stoning for a Muslim.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
In 2019, a survey by The Economist found 45% of respondents in the Asia-Pacific believed that same-sex marriage is inevitable in the region, while 31% of respondents disagreed. Furthermore, three-quarters of those surveyed reported a more open climate for LGBT rights compared to three years ago. Of those reporting an improving climate for LGBT people, 38% cited a change in policies or laws. Meanwhile, 36% said coverage of LGBT issues in mainstream media was a major factor. The top reasons cited for diminishing openness was anti-LGBT advocacy by religious institutions.[17][18]
Main article: LGBT rights by country or territory |
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 |
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![]() Penalty: up to 2 years imprisonment. ![]() |
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![]() Penalty: up to 3 years imprisonment. ![]() |
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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 |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() Female always legal[40][19] ![]() |
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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 |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() ![]() Penalty: Up to 17 years imprisonment with or without hard labour and with or without fines under broadly-written morality laws.[19][50] |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() ![]() 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)[52]. For women, 100 lashes for women of mature sound mind and if consenting. Death penalty offense after fourth conviction.[19] |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19][56] |
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![]() Penalty: Fines or up to 6-year prison sentence. ![]() |
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![]() ![]() Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment (rarely enforced). |
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![]() Penalty: Fines and prison sentence up to 3 years (Only enforced when dealing with "public scandal").[19] |
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West Bank:![]() Gaza: ![]() Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment. ![]() |
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![]() ![]() Penalty: Fines, up to 7 years imprisonment[19] Death penalty for Muslims. |
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![]() ![]() Penalty: Prison sentences of several months to life, fines, castration, torture or death can be sentenced on first conviction. A second conviction merits execution.[19] |
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![]() Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment (Law de facto suspended)[70][19] |
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![]() ![]() 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; where the offense has been committed under duress, the punishment is up to seven years detention.[19] |
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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 |
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![]() ![]() Penalty: Death penalty[86] |
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![]() Penalty: 10 years to life imprisonment (Occasionally enforced).[19][87] |
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![]() (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom) |
![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() Penalty: Up to 8 years imprisonment, house arrest, lashings and fines[96] LGBTQ welcomed in tourist islands [97] |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() Penalty: 2 years to life sentence (Occasionally enforced).[19][99] |
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![]() Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment with fines.[19] (Ruled unenforcable by the Supreme Court) Legalization proposed |
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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 |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() ![]() Penalty: Unknown |
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![]() (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in South Korea) + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[108] |
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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 |
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![]() Penalty: 100 strokes of the cane or 8 years in prison[114] |
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![]() ![]() Penalty: Death penalty (in abeyance), 1 year imprisonment and 100 lashes for men. Caning and 10 years prison for women.[115] |
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![]() (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[19] |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country, except in Aceh) [19][117] |
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![]() (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[19] |
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![]() Penalty: fines, prison sentence (2-20 years), or whippings.[19][119] |
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![]() Penalty: Up to 20 years in prison (Not enforced).[19] Legalization proposed. |
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![]() (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country) + UN decl. sign.[121][19][122] |
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![]() Female always legal. |
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![]() + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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![]() (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[19] + UN decl. sign.[19] |
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