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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Homosexual activity in Aiga-i-le-Tai is ambiguous.

Current status
Since 1961
Ambiguous under federal Samoa law
Male homosexuality is criminalised in Samoa with up to 5 years in prison, but female homosexuality is legal.

However, Samoan customary law in village lands is not required to be constitutional to be registered, nor does it even need to be registered to be enforceable. Cases dealing with customary law can only be appealed to the Land and Titles Court while Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions do not have any binding authority.

Same-sex marriage in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Same-sex marriage in Aiga-i-le-Tai is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized under federal Samoa law
Homosexuality is currently illegal.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Aiga-i-le-Tai is state-enforced.

Current status
Since May 1, 2013
State-enforced under federal Samoa law
In 2013, Samoa removed Section 58N from its Crimes Act, decriminalising “female impersonation”, which targeted the indigenous Fa’afafine population.

Despite this, there have been at least two cases of films with LGBT content getting banned from screening in the country over incompatibility with the country's laws and values.
Jan 1, 1962–Apr 30, 2013
Imprisonment as punishment under federal Samoa law
The 1961 Crimes Act in Samoa criminalised “female impersonation” with 6 months imprisonment. This had criminalised the gender expression of the indigenous Fa’afafine population and other trans women. It was repealed in 2013.

Right to change legal gender in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Right to change legal gender in Aiga-i-le-Tai is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Gender-affirming care in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Gender-affirming care in Aiga-i-le-Tai is n/a.

Current status
N/A under federal Samoa law
Samoa only has about 120 medical doctors in the entire country, and is below the WHO's target minimum of 200. Gender-affirming care is therefore absent, though it is not banned.

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Aiga-i-le-Tai is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Hate crime protections in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Hate crime protections in Aiga-i-le-Tai is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Nov 1, 2016
Ambiguous under federal Samoa law
Section 7(1)(h) of the Sentencing Act (2016) states that in sentencing or otherwise dealing with a defendant, the court must take into account that the defendant committed the offence partly or wholly because of hostility towards a group of persons who have an enduring common characteristic such as race, colour, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

However, Samoan customary law in village lands is not required to be constitutional to be registered, nor does it even need to be registered to be enforceable. Cases dealing with customary law can only be appealed to the Land and Titles Court while Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions do not have any binding authority.

LGBT discrimination in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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LGBT discrimination in Aiga-i-le-Tai is ambiguous.

Current status
Since 2007
Ambiguous under federal Samoa law
Explicit legal protections under:

-Mental Health Act (2007): sexual preference or sexual orientation.
-Labour and Employment Relations Act (2013): sex, gender, sexual orientation.
-Sentencing Act (2016): gender identity and sexual orientation (Aggravating factor).

However, Samoan customary law in village lands is not required to be constitutional to be registered, nor does it even need to be registered to be enforceable. Cases dealing with customary law can only be appealed to the Land and Titles Court while Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions do not have any binding authority.

As an example, Samoan villages have banned people of certain ethnicities or religions from setting up stores or have even banished those groups entirely, despite national law officially forbidding discrimination based on ethnicity or religion.

LGBT employment discrimination in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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LGBT employment discrimination in Aiga-i-le-Tai is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2013
Ambiguous under federal Samoa law
Under the Labour and Employment Relations Act (2013). Article 20 on Fundamental rights and principles (2) A person must not discriminate, directly or indirectly, against an employee or an applicant for employment in any employment policies, procedures or practices on1 or more arbitrary grounds, including sex, gender, sexual orientation, real or perceived HIV status, among others.

However, Samoan customary law in village lands is not required to be constitutional to be registered, nor does it even need to be registered to be enforceable. Cases dealing with customary law can only be appealed to the Land and Titles Court while Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions do not have any binding authority.

LGBT housing discrimination in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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LGBT housing discrimination in Aiga-i-le-Tai is no protections.

Current status
No protections under federal Samoa law
According to the ilga database there are no protections for LGBTIAQ+ people against housing discrimination in Samoa.
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Same-sex adoption in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Same-sex adoption in Aiga-i-le-Tai is single only.

Current status
Single only under federal Samoa law
In Samoa, same sex couples can't adopt but any single women could adopt which does include LGBTIAQ+ single women.
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Intersex infant surgery in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Intersex infant surgery in Aiga-i-le-Tai is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Serving openly in military in Aiga-i-le-Tai is n/a.

Current status
Since Aug 1, 1962
N/A under federal Samoa law
Samoa does not have a military. They are protected by New Zealand through an informal pact known as the Treaty of Friendship.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Blood donations by MSMs in Aiga-i-le-Tai is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Conversion therapy in Aiga-i-le-Tai is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Equal age of consent in Aiga-i-le-Tai

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Equal age of consent in Aiga-i-le-Tai is unknown.

Current status
Unknown