Current Version
| Region | Lebanon |
| Issue | Homosexual activity |
| Status | Male illegal, female legal |
| Start Date | Mar 1, 1943 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature”. While the law has been used to penalize homosexuality, it has been successfully challenged in court several times with defendants being acquitted and enforcement is rare. Several courts have also declined to prosecute. Currently, no national law has been passed to repeal Article 534, decriminalize homosexual activity, or clarify the position of the law. |
| Sources | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-economic-crisis-in-lebanon-politicians-unite-to-go-after-lgbtq-community-631672 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/806642.stm https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1304202/lebanese-psychiatric-association-stresses-homosexuality-cannot-be-considered-a-disease.html https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/lebanon/ - Section 6.6, paragraph 1 |
Revision History (41)
edited by jadeywadey. fixing status/desc and adding sources
Helpful?
1 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Male illegal, female legal |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Male illegal, female legal |
| Description | Note: Technically illegal, although enforcement is ambiguous. Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature”. While the law has been used to penalize homosexuality, it has been successfully challenged in court several times with defendants being acquitted. Several courts have also declined to prosecute. Currently no national law has been passed to repeal Article 534, decriminalize homosexual activity, or clarify the position of the law. | Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature”. While the law has been used to penalize homosexuality, it has been successfully challenged in court several times with defendants being acquitted and enforcement is rare. Several courts have also declined to prosecute. Currently, no national law has been passed to repeal Article 534, decriminalize homosexual activity, or clarify the position of the law. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-economic-crisis-in-lebanon-politicians-unite-to-go-after-lgbtq-community-631672 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/806642.stm https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1304202/lebanese-psychiatric-association-stresses-homosexuality-cannot-be-considered-a-disease.html | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-economic-crisis-in-lebanon-politicians-unite-to-go-after-lgbtq-community-631672 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/806642.stm https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1304202/lebanese-psychiatric-association-stresses-homosexuality-cannot-be-considered-a-disease.html https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/lebanon/ - Section 6.6, paragraph 1 |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | 2017 | Mar 1, 1943 |
| Description | Currently, Lebanon does not have a law that clearly bans same-sex acts. However, Article 534 of the penal code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature” but has almost never been used to penalize homosexuality. | Note: Technically illegal, although enforcement is ambiguous. Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature”. While the law has been used to penalize homosexuality, it has been successfully challenged in court several times with defendants being acquitted. Several courts have also declined to prosecute. Currently no national law has been passed to repeal Article 534, decriminalize homosexual activity, or clarify the position of the law. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-economic-crisis-in-lebanon-politicians-unite-to-go-after-lgbtq-community-631672 | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-economic-crisis-in-lebanon-politicians-unite-to-go-after-lgbtq-community-631672 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/806642.stm https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1304202/lebanese-psychiatric-association-stresses-homosexuality-cannot-be-considered-a-disease.html |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Pizzaslices412653. Legal but ambigous in most cases.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal | Ambiguous |
| Start Date | (unknown) | 2017 |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Innacurate and misleading information
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Male illegal, female uncertain | Legal |
edited by LGBTsoutheastasian. It still means the country have anti-homosexuality laws in place ‘de jure’ just never enforced
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | Male illegal, female uncertain |
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "the status is proven incorrect in its own description, a better status would be ambiguous. "
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Innacurate and misleading information
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal |
| Description | According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code. Although due to high government corruption and a lack of law enforcement by the country, different militias impose different rules which span from no punishment to death penalty (Hezbollah Controlled Territory) | Currently, Lebanon does not have a law that clearly bans same-sex acts. However, Article 534 of the penal code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature” but has almost never been used to penalize homosexuality. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-economic-crisis-in-lebanon-politicians-unite-to-go-after-lgbtq-community-631672 |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Innacurate and misleading information
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Description | According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code. | According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code. Although due to high government corruption and a lack of law enforcement by the country, different militias impose different rules which span from no punishment to death penalty (Hezbollah Controlled Territory) |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Canadianstudent03. According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value |
|---|
Reports (1)
- Sources are invalid or broken "A court has declared that homosexuality is natural therefore it doesn't apply to that law"
edited by Canadianstudent03. According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value |
|---|
edited by Canadianstudent03. According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value |
|---|
edited by Canadianstudent03. According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Special Status | N/A | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code. This law is never enforced and even dismissed by Lebanese politicians. This leads to most Lebanese people to say being gay is not a crime in Lebanon | According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal | N/A |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Legal |
| Description | In Lebanon, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code | According to Lebanese Law, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code. This law is never enforced and even dismissed by Lebanese politicians. This leads to most Lebanese people to say being gay is not a crime in Lebanon |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Incorrect information shown
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | In Lebanon, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code, although gay bars and clubs openly operate without intervention. Homosexuality in lebanon was declassified as an illness in 2013. | In Lebanon, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | N/A | Ambiguous |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | Ambiguous | N/A |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Ambiguous |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In Lebanon, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code | In Lebanon, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code, although gay bars and clubs openly operate without intervention. Homosexuality in lebanon was declassified as an illness in 2013. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by JohnQuebec98. Some incorrect information was shown with regards to this country
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Description | Homosexuality was declassified as an illness in 2013. Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law. Hezbollah does not target LGBTQ within the country of Lebanon. Almost all kidnappings, terrorism or murder committed by Hezbollah is imposed internationally, not domestically. Hezbollah never targets foreigners out of fear that other nations may carry attacks on the group. | In Lebanon, homosexuality is met with up to 1 year in prison according to article 534 of the Lebanese Penal code |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/02/04/lebanese-judge-declines-prosecute-couple-order-nature-law/ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hezbollah | https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/lebanon/ |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law. Hezbollah does not target LGBTQ within the country of Lebanon. Almost all kidnappings, terrorism or murder committed by Hezbollah is imposed internationally, not domestically. Hezbollah never targets foreigners out of fear that other nations may carry attacks on the group. | Homosexuality was declassified as an illness in 2013. Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law. Hezbollah does not target LGBTQ within the country of Lebanon. Almost all kidnappings, terrorism or murder committed by Hezbollah is imposed internationally, not domestically. Hezbollah never targets foreigners out of fear that other nations may carry attacks on the group. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (other penalty) | Legal |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (other penalty) |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | Ambiguous | (REMOVED) |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal | Ambiguous |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal |
| Special Status | N/A | Legal |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | (REMOVED) | N/A |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Inaccurate Status
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | Ambiguous | (REMOVED) |
| Description | Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law. | Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law. Hezbollah does not target LGBTQ within the country of Lebanon. Almost all kidnappings, terrorism or murder committed by Hezbollah is imposed internationally, not domestically. Hezbollah never targets foreigners out of fear that other nations may carry attacks on the group. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/02/04/lebanese-judge-declines-prosecute-couple-order-nature-law/ | https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/02/04/lebanese-judge-declines-prosecute-couple-order-nature-law/ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hezbollah |
Show Difference | ||
edited by CHR0LL0PH0BICCC. Not enforced but still illegal
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal | Ambiguous |
edited by GeorgieTheOrgie. Law is not enforced
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Legal |
edited by Pizzaslices412653. Ambigous in Lebanon
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (other penalty) | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Illegal (other penalty) | Ambiguous |
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "It is unenforced prison
"Under Section 534 of the Lebanese Criminal Code, "any sexual intercourse contrary to the order of nature" is punishable with up to a year in prison. However, this law is rarely enforced. In 2019, it was ruled that homosexuality is not punishable by law. In 2013, Lebanon became the first Arab country to declassify homosexuality as a disease. Conversion therapy isn't outlawed, but it is discouraged and unsupported by the government. Various LGBT organizations exist in Lebanon. See LGBT rights in Lebanon."
-Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Middle_East"
edited by CHR0LL0PH0BICCC
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Illegal (other penalty) |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Illegal (other penalty) |
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "Same sex relations are legal and homosexuality is no longer recognized as a mental illness in Lebanon "
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Legal |
| Description | Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law, however, this has not been settled by the Supreme Court and thus homosexuality is still illegal. | Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law. |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Pizzaslices412653
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Male illegal, female uncertain | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Male illegal, female uncertain | Ambiguous |
edited by LGBTsoutheastasian
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Male illegal, female uncertain |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Male illegal, female uncertain |
edited by Pizzaslices412653
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) | Ambiguous |
edited by Pizzaslices412653
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) |
| Start Date | Jan 28, 2014 | (unknown) |
| Description | Homosexual acts became legal in Lebanon after a judge said that homosexuality is not against nature although no law is passed. Close to being legalized. Judge Rabih Maalouf ruled that homosexuality is a personal choice, and not a punishable offence” which referenced Article 183 of their Criminal Code. Not enforced. | Illegal under Article 534 of the Penal Code. Some judges have ruled not to prosecute individuals based on the law, however, this has not been settled by the Supreme Court and thus homosexuality is still illegal. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2014/03/gay-rights-lebanon. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/01/29/lebanon-is-getting-closer-to-decriminalising-homosexuality/ | https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/02/04/lebanese-judge-declines-prosecute-couple-order-nature-law/ |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (3)
- Status is not correct "It isn't actually legal in Lebanon under the Lebanese Penal code 534"
- Status is not correct "Homosexuality is still illegal in Lebanon."
- Status is not correct "Although there has bee some protective verdicts, the principle of "precedent" is not adopted in Lebanon. And the law that criminalizes "unnatural" intercourse is still used to prosecute LGBTQ persons."
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Homosexual acts became legal in Lebanon after a judge said that homosexuality is not against nature although no law is passed. | Homosexual acts became legal in Lebanon after a judge said that homosexuality is not against nature although no law is passed. Close to being legalized. Judge Rabih Maalouf ruled that homosexuality is a personal choice, and not a punishable offence” which referenced Article 183 of their Criminal Code. Not enforced. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2014/03/gay-rights-lebanon. | http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2014/03/gay-rights-lebanon. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/01/29/lebanon-is-getting-closer-to-decriminalising-homosexuality/ |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal | Ambiguous |
| End Date | Mar 22, 2015 | (none) |
| Description | Homosexual acts became legal in Lebanon after a judge said that homosexuality is not against nature. | Homosexual acts became legal in Lebanon after a judge said that homosexuality is not against nature although no law is passed. |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (10)
- Status is not correct
- Status is not correct "that's absolutely not correct. It is still illegal, people are getting arrested, artists are being banned from performing, people re getting tortured and killed. Anal tests are still being performed, humiliations, constant raids, beating, shame, and I can go on and on and on and on"
- Status is not correct "NO"
- Status is not correct "this is ONE situation, its status is ILLEGAL in Lebanon"
- All information is correct, just adding sources
- Status is not correct
- Status is not correct "Under the Appeal Court only. Until now, all the decisions from the Supreme Court considered homosexuality against nature. "
- Status is not correct "There have still been sentences issues against homosexual acts. The sentence mentioned was a good precedent to decriminalize homosexuality but it didn't become a general rule. "
- Other "It was a personal choice and nothing has been done since then to protect the LGBT community instead Beirut pride week was canceled due to some governmental force (religious view) stating that it is not normal and not accepted to advertise such acts!"
- Status is not correct "https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/23/human-rights-watch-country-profiles-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity"
created by Tangotopaz
Helpful?
-1 | Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Legal |
| Start Date | Jan 28, 2014 |
| End Date | Mar 22, 2015 |
| Description | Homosexual acts became legal in Lebanon after a judge said that homosexuality is not against nature. |
| Sources | www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2014/03/gay-rights-lebanon. |