LGBTQ rights in Madagascar

Last updated

LGBTQ rights in Madagascar
Madagascar (centered orthographic projection).svg
Madagascar
Legal status Legal since 1972, age of consent not equal
Gender identity Ambiguous
Military Ambiguous
Discrimination protections Limited protections
Family rights
Recognition of relationships No
Adoption No

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Madagascar face discrimination and legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. While same-sex sexual activity is legal among individuals above the age of 21, most civic liberties such as the rights to get married and adopt children are not afforded to LGBTQ individuals.

Contents

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual activity among persons at least 21 years of age is legal in Madagascar. The Penal Code provides for a prison sentence of two to five years and a fine of 2 to 10 million ariary (US$900 to US$4,500) for acts that are "indecent or against nature with an individual of the same sex under the age of 21". [1]

Recognition of same-sex unions

Madagascar does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions. [2]

Article 2 of Law No. 2007-022 on Marriage and Matrimonial Regimes states that "Marriage between two persons of the same sex is prohibited, whether celebrated before the Civil Registrar or performed according to traditional ceremonies." In addition, Article 39 mentions "gender identity" as a cause for the absolute nullity of marriage. [3]

Adoption and family planning

Only married, heterosexual couples may adopt children in Madagascar. [4]

Article 33 of Law No. 2005-014 on Adoption, states that "Full adoption is only permitted to heterosexual spouses." [5]

Discrimination protections

Madagascar law does not offer broad legal protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. There are limited legal protections in specific laws.

Employment

Law No. 2024–014 on the Labor Code does not offer protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. [10]

Life conditions

The U.S. Department of State's 2011 Human Rights Report found that "[t]here was general societal discrimination against the LGBT community" and that "[s]exual orientation and gender identity were not widely discussed in the country, with public attitudes ranging from tacit acceptance to violent rejection, particularly of transgender sex workers". The report also found that, "LGBT sex workers were frequently targets of aggression, including verbal abuse, stone throwing, and even murder. In recent years, awareness of 'gay pride' increased through positive media exposure, but general attitudes have not changed." [1]

In December 2019 a law was passed punishing gender-based violence. [11] Nevertheless, the sociologist and former president of the National Council of Women of Madagascar, Noro Ravaozanany noted that "Malagasy society is not ready to move on the rights of homosexuals. Gender equality is already a challenge in 2020, even in intellectual circles".

In 2020, a 33-year-old woman was arrested for the statutory rape of a 19-year-old woman, after her mother filed a complaint. A law punishes "anyone who has committed an indecent or unnatural act with an individual of her sex, under the age of 21" with imprisonment. [12] The mother wanted to take revenge for her daughter's decision to file a complaint against her father, who had raped her. A campaign to support the couple was organised on social networks, while Noro Ravaozanany declared that it was "scandalous that the mother did not defend her daughter against this incest. ... It was revenge on the part of the mother and a way to cover up the accusation of incest and rape". [13] On social media, the couple's supporters were victims of insults and death threats; religious leaders, accused them of "promoting homosexuality" and also offered the young woman conversion therapy. Although homosexuality is not illegal in Madagascar, it remains as a sensitive issue which is strongly condemned by Malagasy society.

In early July 2021, the Malagasy government canceled an LGBTQ party held in a bar in Antananarivo, on the grounds of "incitement to debauchery".

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legalsince 1972 Yes check.svg
Equal age of consent X mark.svg [14]
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 Yes check.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 X mark.svg

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Madagascar, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, p. 26" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "African kontris wey give go ahead to homosexuality". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Law No. 2007-022 on Marriage and Matrimonial Regimes" (PDF). Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Intercountry Adoption: Madagascar, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, January 2011". Archived from the original on 31 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Law No. 2005-014 on Adoption" (PDF). Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Act No. 2005-040 on the Fight against HIV/AIDS and the Protection of the Rights of people living with HIV/AIDS" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Law No. 2014–038 On the protection of personal data" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Law No. 2017-027 Relating to International Cooperation in Criminal Matters" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  9. ↑ "Law No. 2017-045 Governing the activity and supervision of Credit Information Bureaus" (PDF) (in French). 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Law No. 2024–014 on the Labor Code" (PDF). Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "How development policy financing can support COVID-19 response and preserve human capital". blogs.worldbank.org. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Overcrowding and the risk of unmitigated spread of COVID-19 in Madagascar's prisons". www.amnesty.org. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  13. ↑ drbyos (13 March 2020). "Imprisonment of a lesbian in Madagascar recalls the plight of sexual minorities". Newsy Today. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.