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Research in attittudes towards LGBTQ+ issues in Ethiopia have identified a strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting underlying homophobic sentiments.

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History

Homosexual activity in Ethiopia

?

Homosexual activity in Ethiopia is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status
Since May 5, 1958
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Article 600 of Ethiopia's Penal Code of 1957 criminalized homosexual sex with simple imprisonment, a term lasting from ten days to three years, subject to the court's discretion.

Article 629 of Ethiopia's Penal Code of 2004, which replaced the Penal Code of 1957 when it took effect the following year, criminalizes homosexuality with simple imprisonment.
Details
Sources:
www.legal-tools.org/doc/6ea…
sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploa…
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1932–May 4, 1958
Legal
Ethiopia's Penal Code of 1930, which appears to not have been distributed until 1932, did not criminalize homosexuality.
Details
Sources:
journals.ju.edu.et/index.ph…
archive.org/details/in.erne…
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Same-sex marriage in Ethiopia

?

Same-sex marriage in Ethiopia is banned.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2009
Banned
Ethiopia's federal law places a statutory ban on same-sex marriage.
Details
Sources:
tile.loc.gov/storage-servic…
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Until Dec 31, 2008
Unrecognized
Homosexuality is currently illegal.
Details
Sources:
www.humandignitytrust.org/c…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Ethiopia

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Ethiopia is state-enforced.

Current status
Since May 9, 2005
State-enforced
Article 640 of the Penal Code (2004) criminalises the possession or dissemination of “grossly indecent material”, including providing information on how to procure them. The Code came into force in 2005.

A wide range of websites is reported to be blocked in Ethiopia, including the websites of LGBTI groups and organisations.
Details
Sources:
wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/…
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Right to change legal gender in Ethiopia

?

Right to change legal gender in Ethiopia is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Transgender individuals are not permitted to change their legal gender.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Gender-affirming care in Ethiopia

?

Gender-affirming care in Ethiopia is restricted.

Current status
Restricted
Ethiopia does not explicitly ban gender-affirming care. However, reports indicate that gender minorities are unable to access such care.
Details
Sources:
www.theadvocatesforhumanrig…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Ethiopia

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Ethiopia is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Ethiopia does not legally recognize a third gender.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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LGBT discrimination in Ethiopia

?

LGBT discrimination in Ethiopia is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from discrimination.
Details
Sources:
theadvocatesforhumanrights.…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Ethiopia

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Ethiopia is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
Details
Sources:
theadvocatesforhumanrights.…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Ethiopia

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Ethiopia is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Details
Sources:
theadvocatesforhumanrights.…
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Same-sex adoption in Ethiopia

?

Same-sex adoption in Ethiopia is illegal.

Current status
Since Jul 29, 2018
Illegal
Ethiopian law prohibits same-sex couples from adopting a child.
Details
Sources:
dot429.com/articles/1642-co…
travel.state.gov/content/ad…
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Intersex infant surgery in Ethiopia

?

Intersex infant surgery in Ethiopia is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Ethiopia does not ban “normalization” surgeries performed on intersex infants.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/wp-content/uploads…
(Page 95)
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Serving openly in military in Ethiopia

?

Serving openly in military in Ethiopia is don't ask, don't tell.

Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Ethiopia does not explicitly ban LGBTQ+ individuals from serving in the military. However, homosexuality is criminalized, so serving openly is not possible.
Details
Sources:
www.refworld.org/legal/legi…
sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploa…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Ethiopia

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Ethiopia is legal.

Current status
Legal
There is no ban on MSM blood donations in Ethiopia.
Details
Sources:
www.researchgate.net/profil…
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Conversion therapy in Ethiopia

?

Conversion therapy in Ethiopia is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Ethiopia does not ban conversion therapies that aim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Equal age of consent in Ethiopia

?

Equal age of consent in Ethiopia is n/a.

Current status
Since May 5, 1958
N/A
Since 1958, homosexuality has been illegal in Ethiopia, so there is no legal age of consent for same-sex sexual activities.
Details
Sources:
www.legal-tools.org/doc/6ea…
sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploa…
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1932–May 4, 1958
Equal
From 1932 until 1958, homosexuality was legal in Ethiopia, and there were no known discrepancies between the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex.
Details
Sources:
journals.ju.edu.et/index.ph…
archive.org/details/in.erne…
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LGBT Rights by State

View the LGBT laws in each individual state of Ethiopia.

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    Ethiopia LGBT Organizations

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