Compare LGBT Rights in South Africa & Western Sahara

Equality Index ?
67 / 100
20 / 100
Legal Index ?
77 / 100
20 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
58 / 100
Not enough data
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1998
Illegal (other penalty)
Since 1975
Same-sex marriageLegal
Since 2006
Unrecognized
Censorship of LGBT issuesNo censorship
Since 1990
No censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, but requires medical diagnosis
Since 2004
Illegal
Gender-affirming careLegalN/A
Legal recognition of non-binary genderNot legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsNo protectionsUnknown
LGBT discriminationIllegal
Since 1996
Unknown
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 1995
No protections
LGBT housing discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 1996
Unknown
Same-sex adoptionLegal
Since 2010
Unknown
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedUnknown
Serving openly in militaryLegal
Since 1996
Unknown
Blood donations by MSMsLegal
Since 2014
Unknown
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 2007
N/A
Public Opinion
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
71% Support
15% Against
Region not surveyed
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
69% Agree
23% Disagree
Region not surveyed
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
54% Yes
38% No
Region not surveyed
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(Afrobarometer, 2014–2016)
67% Tolerate
32% Not tolerate
Region not surveyed
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(Afrobarometer, 2016–2018)
70% Tolerate
28% Not tolerate
Region not surveyed
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
17% Justifiable
45% Not justifiable
Region not surveyed
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
32% Yes
61% No
Region not surveyed
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
49% Good place
51% Not a good place
Region not surveyed
Full DetailsFull Details

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