Compare LGBT Rights in China, South Korea, & Thailand

Equality Index ?
54 / 100
50 / 100
69 / 100
Legal Index ?
42 / 100
60 / 100
69 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
66 / 100
41 / 100
68 / 100
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1997
LegalLegal
Since 1957
Same-sex marriageOther type of partnership
Since 2017
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Since 2019
Legal
Since 2025
Censorship of LGBT issuesState-enforced
Since 2016
No censorship
Since 2003
No censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, but requires surgery
Since 1986
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2020
Illegal
Gender-affirming careRestrictedRestrictedLegal
Legal recognition of non-binary genderNot legally recognizedNot legally recognizedNot legally recognized
LGBT discriminationNo protectionsVaries by RegionIllegal in some contexts
Since 2015
LGBT employment discriminationNo protectionsVaries by RegionUnknown
LGBT housing discriminationNo protectionsVaries by RegionGender identity only
Since 2015
Same-sex adoptionSingle onlyIllegalLegal
Since 2025
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryAmbiguous
Since 1949
IllegalLegal
Since 2005
Blood donations by MSMsBanned (indefinite deferral)
Since 2012
LegalBanned (indefinite deferral)
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 1997
EqualEqual
Since 1997
Full DetailsFull DetailsFull Details

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