LGBTQ rights in the Comoros

LGBTQ rights in Comoros
Comoros
Legal status	Illegal [1]
Penalty	2 years imprisonment, and a fine
Gender identity	No
Military	No
Discrimination protections	No
Family rights
Recognition of relationships	No recognition of same-sex unions
Adoption	No

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in Comoros face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. LGBTQ persons are regularly prosecuted by the government and additionally face stigmatization among the broader population.

Law regarding same-sexual activity

Both male and female same-sex sexual acts are illegal in Comoros. Article 300 of the new 2020 Penal Code establishes that "Any act of a sexual nature contrary to morality or unnatural shall be punished with a sentence of six months to two years and a fine of 100,000 to 300,000 francs." ^[2]

Previously, the 1982 Penal Code established that such acts were punished with up to five years imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 to 1,000,000 francs. ^{[1] [3] [4]}

Recognition of same-sex relationships

There is no recognition of legal rights for same-sex couples. ^[5]

Discrimination protections

There is no legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. ^[5] The Labor Code (2012) does not provide protections for LGBTQ people. ^[6]

Living conditions

The U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report found that "persons engaging in homosexual activity did not publicly discuss their sexual orientation due to societal pressure. There are no lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations in the country." ^[7]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal	(Penalty: 2 years imprisonment and/or fine)
Equal age of consent
Anti-discrimination laws in employment only
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech)
Same-sex marriages
Recognition of same-sex couples
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples
LGBTQ people allowed to serve openly in the military
Right to change legal gender
Access to IVF for lesbians
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
MSMs allowed to donate blood

See also

• LGBTQ portal

• Human rights in Comoros
• LGBTQ rights in Africa

References

1. "State-Sponsored Homophobia" (PDF). International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
2. "Penal Code 2020" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2025.
3. "Penal Code of the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros". Comoros Law. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
4. "State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2012.
5. "Comoros | Human Dignity Trust". www.humandignitytrust.org. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
6. "Code du Travail 2012". Ministère de la Justice des Comores (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2025.
7. "COMOROS" (PDF).