LGBTQ rights in Asia
LGBTQ rights in Asia | |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Legal, with an equal age of consent, in 29 out of 50 states Legal, with an equal age of consent, 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 5 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 |
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Laws governing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) rights are complex in Asia, and acceptance of LGBTQ people varies. Same-sex behavior is illegal in 21 Asian countries. The behavior is punishable by death in Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Same-sex behavior is also punishable by imprisonment in 14 other Asian countries, such as Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman and Syria. 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. While egalitarian relationships have become more frequent in recent years, they remain rare.
Historical discrimination towards homosexuality in much of the region include the ban on homosexual acts enforced by Genghis Khan in the Mongol Empire, which made male homosexuality punishable by death. The Fatawa-e-Alamgiri of the Mughal Empire (descended from the Mongol 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, whereas the Yuan Dynasty (descended from the Mongol Empire) implemented a crackdown on homosexuality in China that was continued by the Ming Dynasty.
Many Asian countries, including Russia, have collectivist cultures, wherein aggression is generally accepted by society if it is used to protect the family honor. Homosexuality is generally considered to be dishonorable, so homophobic aggression in the name of protecting family honor is common.
The two Asian jurisdictions which nationally recognize same-sex marriage include Taiwan and Thailand. 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.
Legislation by country or territory
This table:
North Asia
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Russia
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Yes Fully legal nationwide since 1993 (de-facto illegal in Chechnya) |
No | No Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples since 2020 | No | Yes | No | No Gender change has not been legal since 2023 |
Central Asia
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Kazakhstan
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Yes Legal since 1998 | No | No | No | Yes Since 2022 | No | Yes |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Kyrgyzstan
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Yes Legal since 1998 | No | No Constitutional ban since 2016 | No | Ambiguous | No | Yes Requires sex reassignment surgery |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Tajikistan
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Yes Legal since 1998 | No | No | No | Ambiguous | No | Yes Requires sex reassignment surgery |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Turkmenistan
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No Male illegal since 1927 Penalty: up to 2 years imprisonment. Yes Female always legal |
No | No | No | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Uzbekistan
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No Male illegal since 1926 Penalty: up to 3 years imprisonment. Yes Female always legal |
No | No Constitutional ban since 2023. | No | No | No | No |
West Asia
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Abkhazia(Disputed territory) |
Yes Legal | No | No | No | Ambiguous | No | Ambiguous |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Akrotiri and Dhekelia(Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom) |
Yes Legal since 2000 + UN decl. sign. |
Yes Civil partnerships since 2005 | Yes Legal since 2014 | Ambiguous | Yes UK responsible for defence | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Ambiguous |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Armenia
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Yes Legal since 2003 + UN decl. sign. |
No | No Constitutional ban since 2015 | No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples. | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Azerbaijan
|
Yes Legal since 2000 | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Bahrain
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Yes Legal since 1976 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Cyprus
|
Yes Legal since 1998 + UN decl. sign. |
Yes Civil cohabitation since 2015 | No | No | Yes | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Yes Forbids some discrimination based on gender identity. No Gender change is not legal. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Georgia
|
Yes Legal since 2000 + UN decl. sign. |
No | No Constitutional ban since 2018 | No | Ambiguous | Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Iran
|
No Illegal Penalty: 74 lashes for immature men and death penalty for mature men (although there are documented cases of minors executed because of their sexual orientation). For women, 100 lashes for women of mature sound mind and if consenting. Death penalty offense after fourth conviction. |
No | No | No | No | No | Yes Sex reassignment surgery has been permitted since 1987. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Iraq
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No Re-criminalized in 2024. Penalty: Prison sentence between 10 and 15 years. | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Israel
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Yes Legal since 1963 (de facto), 1988 (de jure) + UN decl. sign. |
Yes Unregistered cohabitation since 1994. | No/ Yes Foreign same-sex marriages are recognized and recorded in the population registry | Yes Permitted by law since 2008. But in practice gay couples were put at the end of the queue for adoption, until the Supreme Court forbade this discrimination in 2023. Legal adoptions by gay couples began in practice in 2025. | Yes Since 1993; Includes transgender people | Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination | Yes Full recognition of gender's ID with or without a surgery or medical intervention; equal employment opportunity law bars discrimination based on gender identity |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Jordan
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Yes Legal | No | No | No | Ambiguous | No | Yes Allowed since 2014 |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Kuwait
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No | No | No | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Lebanon
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Ambiguous Ambiguous. Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law, however, this has not been settled by the Supreme Court and thus homosexuality is still illegal. However, a 2017 court ruling claims that it is legal, but the law against it is still in place. Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment (unenforced). |
No | No | No | No | No | Yes Legal gender change allowed, but sex reassignment surgery required |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Northern Cyprus(Disputed territory) |
Yes Legal since 2014 | No | No | No | No | Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination | Yes Legal, requires surgery for change |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Oman
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No Illegal Penalty: Fines and prison sentence up to 3 years (only enforced when dealing with "public scandal"). |
No | No | No | No | No | No Laws against forms of gender expression. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Palestine |
West Bank: Yes Legal Gaza: No consensus on legal applicability of British 1936 Sexual offences provisions to homosexual conduct |
West Bank: No Gaza: No |
No | No (can only be done by a single individual, not couples) | (Palestine does not have a military) | (but in employment only in some contexts) but in regard to provision of goods and services or in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) | No right to change legal gender but and gender-affirming care was restricted previously to intersex people, not available due to destruction from Gaza war |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Qatar
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No Illegal Penalty: Fines, up to 7 years imprisonment Death penalty for Muslims. |
No | No | No | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Saudi Arabia
|
|
No | No | No | No | No | No Laws against forms of gender expression. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" South Ossetia(Disputed territory) |
Yes Legal | No | No | No | Ambiguous | No | Ambiguous |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Syria
|
No Illegal since 1949 Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment. |
No | No | No | No | No | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Turkey
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Yes Legal since 1858 | No | No | No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples. | No | No | Yes Requires sterilisation and sex reassignment surgery for change |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" United Arab Emirates
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No Illegal |Penalty: Maximum: Death penalty Minimum: Lashings, imprisonment and fines | No | No | No | No | No | No Sex reassignment surgery severely restricted to limited circumstances (mainly physical intersex traits), highly regulated by the state. Laws used against forms of gender expression. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Yemen
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No Illegal (codified in 1994) Penalty: Unmarried men punished with 100 lashes of the whip or a maximum of one year of imprisonment, stoning for adultery is not enforced. Women punished up to three years of imprisonment. |
No | No | No | No | No | No |
South Asia
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of same-sex unions | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Afghanistan
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No Illegal Penalty: Death penalty |
No | No | No | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Bangladesh
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No Illegal since 1862 Penalty: 10 years to life imprisonment (Occasionally enforced). |
No | No | No | No | No | Yes A third gender option (hijra) besides male and female is available for a certain sect of third genders |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Bhutan
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Yes Legal since 2021 | No | No | No | No | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender without surgery |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" British Indian Ocean Territory(Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom) |
Yes Legal since 2001 + UN decl. sign. |
Yes Civil partnerships since 2005 | Yes Legal since 2014 | Ambiguous | Yes UK responsible for defense | Ambiguous | Ambiguous |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" India
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Yes Legal since 2009–2013, again since 2018 | No | No | No | No | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Yes A third gender option (hijra) besides male and female is available; transgender people have a constitutional right to change gender, only after medical/surgical intervention |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Maldives
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No Illegal (codified in 2014) Penalty: Up to 8 years imprisonment, house arrest, lashings and fines. (unenforced) LGBTQ welcomed in tourist islands |
No | No | No | No | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Nepal
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Yes Legal since 2007 + UN decl. sign. |
No | No | No | Yes Since 2007 | Yes Constitutional protections since 2015 | No Change to third gender "O" legal since 2007, unable to change to male or female |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Pakistan
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No Illegal since 1862 Penalty: 2 years to life sentence (Occasionally enforced). |
No | No | No | No | Yes Transphobia illegal No Homophobia/biphobia is not illegal |
Yes Right to change gender; transgender and intersex citizens have legal protections from all discrimination and harassment |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Sri Lanka
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No Illegal since 1885 Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment with fines. (Ruled unenforcable by the Supreme Court) Legalization proposed |
No | No | No | No | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender without surgery |
East Asia
| LGBT rights in: | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" China
|
Yes Legal since 1997 | No | No | No | Yes can openly serve No open displays of affection |
Yes Court has in some cases protected LGBT workers from employment discrimination.
No protection codified in law |
Yes
legal gender change possible since 2002. Since 2022, legal gender change allowed with only partial sex reassignment surgery. Difficulty remains to change gender information on diplomas and degrees. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Hong Kong
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Yes Legal since 1991 | No/ Yes Same-sex marriages registered overseas for government benefits and taxation, and limited recognition of local cohabiting partners | No | Yes/ No Stepchild adoption since 2021 | The central government of China is responsible for the defense of Hong Kong. | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination (government discrimination only) | Yes Following a legal decision, may change gender marker after partial sex reassignment surgery. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Japan
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Yes Legal since 1882 + UN decl. sign. |
No * Symbolic recognition in some jurisdictions. | No Proposed in 2023 | No | Yes The Japan Self-Defense Forces allows gay people to enlist. | No nationwide protections Yes some cities ban some anti-gay discrimination |
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Macau
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Yes Legal since 1996 | No | No | No | The central government of China is responsible for the defence of Macau. | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Ambiguous |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Mongolia
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Yes Legal since 1993 + UN decl. sign. |
No | No Constitutional ban since 1992 | No | Yes (Only LGB) | Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender but only after sex reassignment surgery |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" North Korea
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Yes Legal | No | No | No | Yes can serve with 10-year celibacy required for all soldiers. No open displays of LGBT attitudes. |
No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" South Korea
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Yes Legal + UN decl. sign. |
No | No Proposed in 2023 | No | No | No nationwide protections Yes Protection from discrimination varies by jurisdiction in some areas, including Seoul |
Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender but usually requires sex reassignment surgery |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Taiwan
|
Yes Legal | Legal since 2019 | Yes Stepchild adoption since 2019 Yes Joint adoption legal since 2023 |
Yes | Yes Constitutionally bans all anti-gay discrimination from government; several laws banning anti-gay discrimination regarding education and employment. | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery. |
Southeast Asia
| LGBT rights in | Same-sex sexual activity | Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage | Adoption by same-sex couples | LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military? | Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation | Laws concerning gender identity/expression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Brunei
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No Illegal since 1908 Penalty: Death by stoning (in abeyance, de jure), 7 year imprisonment and 100 lashes for men (de facto). Caning and 10 years prison for women. |
No | No | No | No | No | Laws prohibit forms of gender expression. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Cambodia
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Yes Legal | No/ Yes Partnerships recognized in certain cities | No Constitutional ban since 1993 | No | Ambiguous | No | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Indonesia
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Ambiguous Not criminalized in private relationship. Illegal under morality laws and in Aceh Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment |
No | No | No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples | No Not explicitly prohibited by Law (de jure), Illegal (de facto) | Ambiguous Circular letter bans hate speech based on sexual orientation but enforcement inconsistent and discrimination is active. | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Laos
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Yes Legal | No | No | No | Ambiguous | No | Ambiguous |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Malaysia
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No Federal criminal law: Illegal since 1871, up to 20 years imprisonment and caning for anal sex (male/male or male/female); Uncertain for lesbian sex. No State shariah law: Gay sex or lesbian sex, or both, are illegal for Muslims in all states and federal territories, except in Pahang. |
No | No | No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples | No | No | No Generally impossible to change gender. Gender changes was briefly recognized as fundamental rights in a 2014 court ruling, but was overturned by the apex court in 2015. Forms of gender expression are criminalized for Muslims under state shariah law. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Myanmar
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No Illegal since 1886 Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison (unenforced). |
No | No | No | No | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination (limited) | No |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Philippines
|
Yes Legal + UN decl. sign. |
No (Pending) | No (Pending) | No LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couples | Yes Since 2009 | Yes/ No Bans some anti-gay discrimination in certain cities and provinces, including the City of Manila,Cebu City, Quezon City, and Davao City; Nationwide anti-bullying law for basic education students. |
No Generally impossible to change legal gender. However in Cagandahan vs Philippines, allowed an intersex man to change his legal gender from female to male. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Singapore
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Yes Legal since 2007 (de facto), 2022 (de jure) | No | No Constitutional ban since 2023 | Ambiguous, a gay Singaporean man with a male partner in 2018 won an appeal in court to adopt a child that he fathered through a surrogate. | Yes | Yes Protections against anti-gay discrimination, harassment and violence | Yes Transgender people allowed to change legal gender, but only after sex reassignment surgery |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Thailand
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Yes Legal since 1956 + UN decl. sign. |
Yes Since 2025 | Yes Since 2025 | Yes Since 2025 | Yes Since 2005 | Yes Bans all anti-gay discrimination | No
Yes Anti-discrimination protections for gender expression. |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Timor-Leste
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Yes Legal since 1975 + UN decl. sign. |
No | No | Yes LGBT individuals may adopt but same-sex couples can not adopt |
Ambiguous | Yes Bans some anti gay discrimination, Hate crime protections since 2009. | Ambiguous |
Preview warning: Page using Template:Flag icon with unknown parameter "continent" Vietnam
|
Yes Legal + UN decl. sign. |
No | No | No LGBT individuals may adopt, not same-sex couples | Yes Irrespective of one's sexual orientation | Yes Bans some anti-gay discrimination | Yes Gender changes recognized and officially practised since 2017 |