LGBT rights in Asia

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LGBT rights in Asia
Asia
Asia
Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal in 27 out of 48 states
Legal in all 3 territories
Legal in 6 out of 7 states with limted recognition
Gender identity/expression Legal in 19 out of 48 states
Legal in 1 out of 3 territories
Legal in 2 out of 7 states with limited recognition
Military service Legal in 9 out of 48 states
Legal in 1 out of 3 territories
Legal in 1 out of 7 states with limited recognition
Discrimination protections Legal in 6 out of 48 states
Legal in all 3 territories
Legal in 2 out of 7 states with limited recognition
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 Legal in 1 out of 48 states
Legal in 0 out of 3 territories
Legal in 0 out of 7 states with limted recognition
Restrictions:
 Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned in 1 out of 48 states
Adoption Legal in 1 out of 48 states
Legal in 0 out of 3 territories
Legal in 0 out of 7 states with limited recognition

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Asia are limited in comparison to many other areas of the world. Same-sex sexual activity is outlawed in at least twenty Asian countries. While at least nine countries allow same-sex people to serve in the military, only Israel provides a wider range of LGBT rights - including same-sex relationship recognition.

In the Islamic regimes of Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, homosexual activity is punished with the death penalty.[1][2] The legal punishment for sodomy has varied among juristic schools: some prescribe capital punishment; while other prescribe a milder discretionary punishment such as imprisonment. In some relatively secular Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia,[3] Jordan and Turkey this is not the case.

Egalitarian relationships modeled on the Western pattern have become more frequent, though they remain rare. Same-sex intercourse officially carries the death penalty in several Muslim nations: Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Iran, and Yemen.[2][4]

Israel, Nepal, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, and Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus) are the most open to the LGBT community in Asia, with the Philippines ranked 9th as the friendliest country in the world to gay people despite having no legislation to recognize same-sex marriage or unions due to the predominant Catholic population. Japan, Israel, Taiwan and Nepal are the major players in legislation.[5][better source needed][6]

In a UN General Assemby declarationr for LGBT rights and/or sponsored the Human Rights Council's 2011 resolution on LGBT rights, state parties were given a chance to express their support or opposition on the topic. Only Armenia, Georgia, Cyprus, Israel, South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, and East Timor have expressed their support. State parties who expressed opposition are Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Maldives, North Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Syria, Afghanistan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. Other Asian parties did not show support or opposition.[7][better source needed]

The first and only LGBT political party in the world, Ladlad, was established in the Philippines in 2003. So far, no LGBT bills supported by the party have been passed in Philippine Congress due to the opposition of Catholic figures in the country, despite support from the majority educated population.[8][better source needed]

Asia
Same-sex sexual activity legal
  Other type of partnership (or unregistered cohabitation)
  Foreign same-sex marriages recognized1
  No recognition of same-sex couples
  Restrictions on freedom of expression
Same-sex sexual activity illegal
  Not Enforced or unclear
  Penalty
  Life in prison
  Death penalty

Legislation by country or territory

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Main article: LGBT rights by country or territory
This table:

Central Asia

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Yes Legal since 1998[9] No No No No[10] No No
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Yes Legal since 1998[9] No No No Emblem-question.svg No No
Tajikistan Tajikistan Yes Legal since 1998[9] No No No Emblem-question.svg No No
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan No Male illegal
Penalty: up to 2-year prison sentence
Yes Female always legal[9]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg No No
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan No Male illegal
Penalty: up to 3-year prison sentence
Yes Female always legal[9]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg No No

Northern Asia

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Akrotiri and Dhekelia Akrotiri and Dhekelia
(Overseas territory of the United Kingdom)		 Yes Legal since 2000
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No No Emblem-question.svg Yes UK responsible for defence Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination[11] Emblem-question.svg
Armenia Armenia Yes Legal since 2003
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No No No No/Yes No explicit ban. However, LGBT persons have been reportedly discharged because of their sexual orientation.[12] No No
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Yes Legal since 2000[9] No No No Yes[13] No Yes (Requires sterilization for change).[14]
Cyprus Cyprus Yes Legal since 1998
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 Yes Since 2015 No No No Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination[15] Yes Forbids discrimination based on gender identity.
Georgia (country) Georgia Yes Legal since 2000
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No No (Constitutional ban proposed) No Emblem-question.svg Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination[16] Yes (Requires sterilization for change)[14]
Russia Russia Yes Male legal since 1993
Female always legal[17][9]		 No No (Constitutional ban proposed) No LGBT individuals may adopt. Yes No Yes (Requires sterilization for change)[14]
Turkey Turkey Yes Legal since 1858[9] No No No No (Proposed)[18] No (Proposed)[19] Yes (Requires sterilization for change)

Western Asia

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Bahrain Bahrain Yes Legal since 1976[9] (Age of consent discrepancy) No No No No No No
Iran Iran No Illegal
Penalty: For men 74 lashes for immature men and death penalty for mature men of sound mind and is consenting. For women 50 lashes for women of mature sound mind and is consenting. Death penalty offense after fourth conviction.[9]		 No No No No No Yes Legal gender recognition in Iran is legal if accompanied by a medical intervention.[20]
Iraq Iraq Yes Legal since 2003[21] (Age of consent discrepancy) No No No No No No
Israel Israel Yes Legal since 1988
+ UN decl. sign.[9][22]		 Yes Unregistered cohabitation since 1994. No/Yes Unrecognized if performed in country, but foreign same-sex marriages are recognized. Yes Step-child adoption since 2005.
Joint adoption since 2008.[23][24]		 Yes Since 1993 Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination;[25][26] Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty applies to homosexuals and bisexuals.[27] Yes Full recognition of gender's ID without a surgery or medical intervention;[28] equal employment opportunity law bars discrimination based on gender identity;[29][30] Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty applies to transgender individuals.[29][31]
Jordan Jordan Yes Legal since 1951[9] No No No Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg
Kuwait Kuwait No Male illegal
Penalty: Fines or up to 6-year prison sentence
Yes Female always legal[9][32]		 No No No No No No
Lebanon Lebanon Yes Legal since 2014[33] No No No No No No
Oman Oman No Illegal
Penalty: Fines and prison sentence up to 3 years (Only enforced when dealing with "public scandal")[9]		 No No No No No No
Qatar Qatar No Illegal
Penalty: Fines, prison sentence up to 7 years. Death penalty offense. (Applies to Muslims only)[9]		 No No No No No No
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia No Illegal
Penalty: Prison sentences of several months to life, fines and/or whipping/flogging, castration, torture or death can be sentenced on first conviction. A second conviction merits execution.[9]		 No No No No No No
Syria Syria No Illegal
Penalty: Prison sentence up to 3 years (Law in de-facto suspended)[34][9]		 No No No No No Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates No Illegal under federal law
Penalty: deportation, fines or prison time (Unclear if the death penalty applies)
Illegal in the emirate of Dubai
Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment
Illegal in the emirate of Abu Dhabi
Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment[9]		 No No No No No No
Yemen Yemen No Illegal
Penalty: Unmarried men punished

with 100 lashes of the whip or a maximum of one year of imprisonment, married men with death by stoning. Women punished up to three years of imprisonment; where the offense has been committed under duress, the punishment is up to seven years detention.[9]

 No No No No No No

Southern Asia

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Afghanistan Afghanistan No Illegal
Penalty: Long imprisonment or death penalty (No known cases of death sentences have been handed out for same-sex sexual activity after the end of Taliban rule)[9]		 No No No No No No
Bangladesh Bangladesh No Illegal
Penalty: 10 years to life imprisonment[9]		 No No No No No Yes A third option (hijra) beside male and female[35]
Bhutan Bhutan No Illegal
Penalty: Prison sentence up to 1 year (Not enforced)[9]		 No No No No No No
India India No Illegal nationwide since 1861, was legal from 2009 to 2013.[36]
Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment (sporadically enforced)[37][36][9]

Legalization has been proposed. [38]

 No No explicit recognition.[39] No No explicit recognition.[39] No Transgender individuals may adopt. No[40] No Yes "Third gender" recognised by Supreme Court[41]
Maldives Maldives No Illegal
Penalty: For men the punishment is banishment for nine months to one year or a whipping of 10 to 30 strokes. For women is house arrest for nine months to one year.[9]		 No No No No[citation needed] No No
Nepal Nepal Yes Legal since 2007
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No (Proposed: By Supreme Court in 2008) No (Proposed: By Supreme Court in 2008) No Under consideration Yes Yes Constitution bans all anti-gay discrimination. Yes Gender change is legal since 2007.
Constitution bans all discrimination.[42]
Pakistan Pakistan No Illegal
Penalty: 2 years to life sentence[9]		 No No No No No Yes 'Third gender' officially protected from discrimination by Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2010
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka No Illegal
Penalty: Fine and up to 10 years imprisonment (Not enforced)[9]		 No No No No[citation needed] No No

Eastern Asia

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of relationships Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
China China
(People's Republic of)		 Yes Legal since 1997[9] No No No Emblem-question.svg No Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery.
Hong Kong Hong Kong
(Special administrative region of China)		 Yes Legal since 1991[9] No (Proposed)[43] No No Emblem-question.svg
The People's Republic of China is in charge of Hong Kong's defence affairs. Regardless of sexual orientation, military personnel are not recruited from Hong Kong.		 Yes Government employment, goods and services only Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery.
Japan Japan Yes Legal since 1880
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No/Yes Partnership in Shibuya (2015)[44] and Setagaya (2015)[45] No No Yes No/Yes No nationwide protections, but some cities ban some anti-gay discriminations[9] Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery and in case that the transsexual has no child under 20 years old
Macau Macau
(Special administrative region of China)		 Yes Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity has ever existed in the region)[46]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg
The People's Republic of China is in charge of Macau's defence affairs. Regardless of sexual orientation, military personnel are not recruited from Macau.		 Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination Emblem-question.svg
Mongolia Mongolia Yes Legal since 1961
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg
North Korea North Korea Yes Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity has ever existed in the country)[9]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg Unknown although there are heavily obeyed gender roles for both male and female. See Let's trim our hair in accordance with the socialist lifestyle
South Korea South Korea Yes Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity has ever existed in the country)
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No No No Yes Due to conscription. No Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender

Southeast Asia

LGBT rights in Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of relationships Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Brunei Brunei No Illegal
Penalty: Fines and imprisonment up to 10 years or death by stoning[9]		 No No No No No No
Myanmar Burma No Illegal
Penalty: Up to life sentence (Not enforced)[9]		 No No No No No No
Cambodia Cambodia Yes Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity has ever existed in the country)[9]		 No No Constitutional ban since 1993, though there has been at least one recorded case of a legally registered and recognized same-sex marriage. No[citation needed] Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg
East Timor East Timor Yes Legal since 1975
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg Yes Bans hate crimes based on sexual orientation Emblem-question.svg
Indonesia Indonesia Yes Legal nationwide, except;
No Illegal in the provinces of Aceh and South Sumatra (Applies only to Muslims)[47][48][9] (Age of consent discrepancy)		 No No No No[49] No Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender[citation needed]
Laos Laos Yes Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity has ever existed in the country)[9]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg
Malaysia Malaysia No Male illegal
Penalty: fines, prison sentence (2-20 years), or whippings

Yes Female always legal[9]

 No No No No No No
Philippines Philippines Yes Legal nationwide since 1933 except;
No Illegal in Marawi City (Applies to Muslims only)[50][9][51]		 No (Pending)[50] No (Pending)[52] No LGBT individuals may adopt.[53] Yes Since 2009 Yes[54] Cebu[55] Quezon City, Davao[56] and Albay have anti-discrimination ordinances[57] (National bill pending but still not made into law) No (Pending)[58]
Singapore Singapore No Male illegal
Penalty: up to 2 years prison sentence (Not enforced since 1999)
Yes Female legal since 2007[9]		 No No No Yes Due to conscription, but gays are not allowed to go to command school or serve in sensitive units. No Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery.
Thailand Thailand Yes Legal since 1956
+ UN decl. sign.[9]		 No (Proposed)[59] No No Yes Since 2005 Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination. Yes Transsexuals may change their legal name after having a sex change operation.[60]
Vietnam Vietnam Yes Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity has ever existed in the country)[9]		 No No[61] No Emblem-question.svg No Yes Sex-change recognized for sex assignment for persons of congenital sex defects and unidentifiable sex. Gender reassignment surgery from 2017

Partially recognized or unrecognized states

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Abkhazia Abkhazia Yes Legal after 1991 No No No Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Islamic State No Illegal
Penalty: Death penalty[62]		 No No No No No No
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Nagorno-Karabakh Yes Legal since 2000 No No No Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg
Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus Yes Legal since 2014[63][64][9] No No No No Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination[63][64] Yes Discrimination or hate speech banned since 2014.[63][64]

Emblem-question.svg Unknown if gender change is legal.
State of Palestine Palestinian territories West Bank:
Yes Legal since 1951 (As part of Jordan)[9]
Gaza:
No Male illegal
Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment
Yes Female always legal[9]		 No No No Emblem-question.svg No No
South Ossetia South Ossetia Yes Legal after 1991 No No No Emblem-question.svg No Emblem-question.svg
Taiwan Taiwan
(China, Republic of)		 Yes Legal since 1895[65] No/Yes check.svg Registered partnership in Kaohsiung (2015),[66] Taipei (2015)[67] and Taichung (2015)[68];
(Proposed nationwide)		 No (Pending) No (Pending) Yes Due to military draft Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination (in work and education) Yes Transsexuals allowed to change legal gender. Surgery no longer a requirement beginning in 2015[69]


See also

References

  1. ↑ Asia from a Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Perspective (2013).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ LGBT rights by country or territory
  6. ↑ http://www.therichest.com/expensive-lifestyle/lifestyle/e-free-and-be-gay-the-top-10-gay-friendly-countries-in-the-world/2/
  7. ↑ LGBT rights by country or territory#/media/File:LGBT rights at the UN.svg
  8. ↑ Ladlad
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 9.28 9.29 9.30 9.31 9.32 9.33 9.34 9.35 9.36 9.37 9.38 9.39 9.40 9.41 9.42 9.43 9.44 9.45 9.46 9.47 9.48 9.49 9.50 9.51 State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, authored by Lucas Paoli Itaborahy, May 2014
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Employment (Equality) Ordinance 2013
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ [1]
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Map shows how Europe forces trans people to be sterilized
  15. ↑ Rainbow Europe Country Index
  16. ↑ LAW OF GEORGIA ON THE ELIMINATION OF All FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
  17. ↑ Russian Gay History
  18. ↑ http://www.kaosgl.com/page.php?id=18860
  19. ↑ http://www.kaosgl.com/page.php?id=18860
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Iraq: Sexual Orientation, Human Rights and the Law
  22. ↑ LGBTQ Timeline
  23. ↑ Attorney General rules same sex couples eligible to adopt, ynet, February 10, 2008.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ HOMOSEXUALITY, HUMAN DIGNITY & HALAKHAH: A COMBINED RESPONSUM FOR THE COMMITTEE ON JEWISH LAW AND STANDARDS by RABBIS ELLIOT N. DORFF, DANIEL S. NEVINS & AVRAM I. REISNER
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Aeyal Gross, Human rights are part of the fight for gay rights, Haaretz (via Aguda website), December 17, 2013
  30. ↑ Hila Weissberg, Homophobia in the workplace? Fear of transgender people is even worse, Haaretz, August 29, 2014
  31. ↑ Aeyal Gross, Israel should drop binary view of gender, Haaretz, 16.09.13
  32. ↑ Kuwait Law
  33. ↑ Lebanon Just Did a Whole Lot More Than Legalize Being Gay
  34. ↑ Syria, Middle East
  35. ↑ Bangladesh government makes Hijra an official gender option
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., Supreme Court of India, retrieved on 7 March 2015
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Supreme Court recognizes transgenders as 'third gender', The Times of India, retrieved 15 April 2014
  42. ↑ classhttp://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/09/19/new-nepal-constitution-includes-lgbt-specific-protections/
  43. ↑ http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/hong-kong-legislature-debate-same-sex-unions-year250515/
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ http://rainbow.mo/?p=194
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Historical Dictionary of the Lesbian and Gay Liberation Movements
  52. ↑ http://www.interaksyon.com/article/113336/akbayan-rep-to-file-same-sex-marriage-bill-in-congress
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/324189/davao-council-bans-discrimination-vs-gays-minority-differently-abled
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Same-sex marriage may come true under Thai junta
  60. ↑ Gay Thailand News & Reports 2007
  61. ↑ LAW On Marriage and Family
  62. ↑ ISIS terrorists pose as gay men, lure victims on dates, then kill them: social media
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 Northern Cyprus Decriminalizes Homosexuality and Protects LGBTs Against Hate Speech
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 (Turkish) Kuzey Kıbrıs’ın “Eşcinsellik Suçu” Yasası Tarihe Karıştı!
  65. ↑ Taiwan
  66. ↑ http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2015/05/14/435974/Gay-groups.htm
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Gender reassignment rule to be changed

External links

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