• Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
  • Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Not legal
  • Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, but requires surgery
  • Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
  • Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
  • Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
  • Housing Discrimination
    Varies by Region
  • Military
    ✖ Illegal
  • Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
  • Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
  • Conversion Therapy
    ✔ Banned

Public Opinion

History

Homosexual activity in China

?
Current status
(since 1997)
Legal
Homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997 and was declassified as a mental disorders in 2001. According to a 2010 report by IGLHRC, "the Chinese government has remained largely silent on the issue of homosexuality."
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
iglhrc.org/content/china-le…
theatlantic.com/china/archi…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  7 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in China

?
Dec 4, 1982–Sep 17, 2018
Unregistered cohabitation
Recognized for some limited purposes in Beijing. Civil Unions pending. Their was a symbolic First Gay marriage in China in 2009. As well as in Beijing.

Gay unions and gay marriage pending in Hong Kong. Foreign marriage recognition in Hong Kong.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
theatlantic.com/china/archi…
Added by Ausyk  ·  3 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Current status
(since Dec 4, 1982)
Not legal
There are no laws in China recognizing same-sex relationships or marriage.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
iglhrc.org/content/china-le…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in China

?
Jan 1, 2011–Sep 1, 2018
Ambiguous
Sex change laws are vague. Missing non binary options on documents.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
No
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Current status
Legal, but requires surgery
"Sex change operation technical management standard" allows surgeries, and "Reply on household registration change gender related issues after the project's citizens Transsexual" by the Police Ministry allowed the legal gender to be changed.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
chinanews.com/jk/news/2009/…
gafw.jl.gov.cn/fujian.jsp?i…
Added by Icenowy  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in China

?
Dec 4, 1982–Sep 6, 2018
Varies by Region
Single nationwide. but laws might be pending for same sex couples in some areas.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
new-beginnings.org/adoption…
Added by Ausyk  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Current status
(since Dec 4, 1982)
Illegal
The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) does not allow same-sex couples to adopt, nor does it allow foreign same-sex couples to adopt a baby from China.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
chinadaily.com.cn/china/200…
iglhrc.org/content/china-le…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in China

?
Mar 6, 2018–Sep 8, 2018
Illegal in some contexts
Some protections in certain regions of china. Full Employment discrimination protections in Macau. Government Discrimination protection in Hong Kong.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
No
Added by Ausyk  ·  3 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Current status
No protections
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
iglhrc.org/content/china-le…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in China

?
Jan 1, 1982–Sep 9, 2018
Varies by Region
Some discrimination protections in certain regions of China. Currently a lawsuit is under way to get some discrimination protections in another region.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
cnn.com/2016/06/17/opinions…


hrw.org/video-photos/intera…



pinknews.co.uk/2018/09/28/g…
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Current status
No protections
Under Chinese Labour Law, there are no protections specifically protecting LGBT people.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
iglhrc.org/content/china-le…
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in China

?
Current status
Varies by Region
No
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
hrw.org/video-photos/intera…
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Homosexuals serving openly in military in China

?
Current status
(since Oct 1, 1949)
Illegal
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
lgbt.co.uk/67-military/129-…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Oct 1, 1949–Sep 5, 2018
Legal
More gay friendly than in the USA. Discrimination protections pending regionally.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
scmp.com/week-asia/society/…
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in China

?
Jul 1, 2012–Sep 8, 2018
Banned (1-year deferral)
Only for gay men.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
No
Added by Ausyk  ·  4 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Current status
(since Jul 1, 2012)
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Homosexual men who are sexually active with other men can not donate blood in China, however, in 2012, the Chinese Ministry of Health lifted the ban against lesbians donating blood.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
cnn.com/2012/07/06/world/as…
latitudenews.com/story/chin…
medicaldaily.com/china-lift…
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
1998–Jul 1, 2012
Banned (indefinite deferral)
In 1998, China banned homosexual men and women from donating blood out of fear of spreading HIV.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
latitudenews.com/story/chin…
medicaldaily.com/china-lift…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in China

?
Current status
(since Oct 1, 1949)
Equal
The age of consent in China is 14 for both same-sex and opposite sex couples.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
iglhrc.org/content/china-le…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in China

?
Current status
(since Dec 19, 2014)
Banned
Though the practice is still widespread throughout China, a Beijing court ruled conversion therapy illegal.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
theguardian.com/world/2014/…
Added by imullin01  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Search Interest

LGBT China

Equality Index BETA ?

Top Contributors

Discussions

LGBT Organizations

Share Topic

Map of China
LGBT China
LGBT China Flag

Compare China

Hong Kong Flag

Compare with
Hong Kong

Japan Flag

Compare with
Japan

Macau Flag

Compare with
Macau

Mongolia Flag

Compare with
Mongolia

North Korea Flag

Compare with
North Korea

Common queries:
  • Is it illegal to be gay in China?
  • Is homosexuality legal in China?
  • Is gay marriage legal in China?
Alternative names: Zhongquo (local name)

LGBT Rights in Eastern Asia

Hong Kong Flag

LGBT Rights in
Hong Kong

Japan Flag

LGBT Rights in
Japan

Macau Flag

LGBT Rights in
Macau

Mongolia Flag

LGBT Rights in
Mongolia

North Korea Flag

LGBT Rights in
North Korea

South Korea Flag

LGBT Rights in
South Korea

Taiwan Flag

LGBT Rights in
Taiwan