LGBTQ rights in Guinea-Bissau

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LGBTQ rights in Guinea-Bissau
LocationGuineaBissau.png
Guinea-Bissau
Status Legal since 1993
Gender identity No
Military No
Discrimination protections None
Family rights
Recognition of relationships No recognition of same-sex unions
Adoption No

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Guinea-Bissau face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Guinea-Bissau, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.

Contents

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

The Penal Code which remained in force after the independence from Portugal was repealed in 1993 with the enactment of a new Code (Law-decree No. 4/93) which contains no provisions criminalising consensual same-sex sexual acts between adults. [1]

In December 2008, Guinea-Bissau became one of 66 nations to sign the "United Nations Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity", which supports decriminalization of homosexuality and transgender identity. [2]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

The U.S. Department of State's 2011 Human Rights Report found that, "the law (in 2011) only recognized heterosexual married couples as entitled to larger government housing." [3]

Adoption and family planning

According to a website of the French government, single and married people are eligible to adopt children. The website does not say whether LGBTQ people are disqualified. [4]

Living conditions

Of 19 African countries surveyed in 2010, Guinea-Bissau was one of the most tolerant about homosexual behavior. Nine percent in Guinea-Bissau said that homosexual behavior was morally acceptable, with fifteen percent saying it was not an issue. [5]

The U.S. Department of State's 2012 human rights report found that, [6]

There are no laws that criminalize sexual orientation. Antidiscrimination laws do not apply to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. There were no reported violent incidents or other human rights abuses targeting individuals based on their sexual orientation or identity. There was no official discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or access to education and health care. However, according to government guidelines for civil servants' housing allowances, only heterosexual married couples were entitled to family-size housing, while same-sex couples received the single person allotment. Social taboos against homosexuality sometimes restricted freedom to express sexual orientation, yet society was relatively tolerant of consensual same-sex conduct, according to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center.

In 2018, a local NGO director stated that there were some cases of violence targeting people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and stressed that Guinea-Bissau lacks legal protections for LGBTI people. [7]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes check.svg (Since 1993)
Equal age of consent Yes check.svg (Since 1993)
Anti-discrimination laws in hate speech and violence X mark.svg
Anti-discrimination laws in employment X mark.svg
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services X mark.svg
Same-sex marriage X mark.svg
Recognition of same-sex couples X mark.svg
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples X mark.svg
Joint adoption by same-sex couples X mark.svg
Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military X mark.svg
Right to change legal gender X mark.svg
Access to IVF for lesbians X mark.svg
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples X mark.svg
MSMs allowed to donate blood Yes check.svg [8]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Mendos, Lucas Ramón (2019). State-Sponsored Homophobia 2019: Global Legislation Overview Update (PDF). Geneva: ILGA. p. 31.
  2. ↑ "Tin's 'Pride' at UN Statement on Decriminalisation of Homosexuality", UKGayNews, 18 December 2008 Archived 22 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Guinea-Bissau, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, p. 16" (PDF).
  4. ↑ étrangères, Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires. "Adopter en Equateur". France Diplomatie - Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères.
  5. ↑ ""Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa", Topline Survey Results, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Pew Research Center, question 85, p. 276, 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Guinea-Bissau, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, pp. 17–18" (PDF).
  7. ↑ Garrido, Rui, "Recent SOGI Developments in Angola and an Overview on Other African Lusophone Countries By Rui Garrido" in Mendos, Lucas Ramón, State-Sponsored Homophobia 2019 (Geneva; ILGA, March 2019), p. 91.
  8. ↑ "LGBT Rights in Guinea-Bissau".
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