LGBTQ rights in Bhutan
LGBTQ rights in Bhutan | |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Legal since 2021 |
| Gender identity | Gender marker change is allowed. |
| Military | No |
| Discrimination protections | Some protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | No |
| Adoption | No |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in Bhutan face legal challenges that are not faced by non-LGBTQ people. Same-sex unions are not recognised, however, same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in Bhutan on 17 February 2021 after criminalizing in 11 August 2004. Although there is no broad legal protection against discrimination, there are some legal provisions that protect sexual orientation and gender identity. Transgender people are allowed to change their gender marker.
In recent years, due to opening up more to the outside world, Bhutanese LGBTQ people have started to publicly come out and establish visible outlets for the LGBTQ community. Therefore, attitudes among the general population are changing.