Al Wāḩāt is governed by federal Libya law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- N/A
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal with restrictions
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Al Wāḩāt is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Nov 18, 1953
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Articles 407 and 408 of the Penal Code of 1953 criminalize homosexuality.
Article 407 criminalizes “illicit sexual intercourse” with up to 5 years in prison, and Article 408 criminalizes anyone who ‘commits an indecent act with a partner with his consent’ with imprisonment.
Article 407 criminalizes “illicit sexual intercourse” with up to 5 years in prison, and Article 408 criminalizes anyone who ‘commits an indecent act with a partner with his consent’ with imprisonment.
Ambiguous
In 1911-1912, Italy annexed Libya. Although Italy had legalized homosexuality in 1890, its control and governance over certain parts of Libya, especially regions in the Sahara Desert, were considered “long-term challenges.” As such, the legality of homosexuality during this time period can best be described as ambiguous.
Same-sex marriage in Al Wāḩāt is banned.
Current status
Banned
In Libya, marriage is defined as between a man and a woman, and same-sex couples are granted no legal recognition.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Al Wāḩāt is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Nov 18, 1953
Imprisonment as punishment
Article 421 of Libya's Penal Code prohibits "indecent acts and articles" with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 50 pounds.
Law No. 11, which Libya adopted in 2016, forbids actions “contrary to public morals and the provisions of Islamic law”.
These laws are commonly used to detain suspected LGBTQ+ individuals.
Law No. 11, which Libya adopted in 2016, forbids actions “contrary to public morals and the provisions of Islamic law”.
These laws are commonly used to detain suspected LGBTQ+ individuals.
Right to change legal gender in Al Wāḩāt is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Transgender individuals are not able to change their legal gender.
Gender-affirming care in Al Wāḩāt is banned.
Current status
Banned
Gender-affirming care is inaccessible in Libya.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Al Wāḩāt is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
There is no legal gender recognition provided to nonbinary or intersex people in Libya.
LGBT discrimination in Al Wāḩāt is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Libya.
LGBT employment discrimination in Al Wāḩāt is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Libya.
LGBT housing discrimination in Al Wāḩāt is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Libya.
Same-sex adoption in Al Wāḩāt is n/a.
Current status
N/A
In Libya, adoption, as understood in many Western contexts, is prohibited for everyone.
Intersex infant surgery in Al Wāḩāt is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Libya.
Serving openly in military in Al Wāḩāt is don't ask, don't tell.
Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Libya does not explicitly ban LGBTQ+ individuals from serving in the military. However, homosexuality is criminalized, so serving openly is not possible.
Blood donations by MSMs in Al Wāḩāt is legal with restrictions.
Current status
Legal with restrictions
On Libya’s blood donation page, it states that donations from men who have sex with men are restricted due to the risk of HIV. However, on the page that lists when blood donation is prohibited, MSM are not listed.
Conversion therapy in Al Wāḩāt is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Libya does not have a ban on conversion therapy that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity
Equal age of consent in Al Wāḩāt is n/a.
Current status
Since Dec 24, 1951
Legal Rights
7 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Al Wāḩāt to help improve its accuracy.
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