Afar is governed by federal Ethiopia law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Afar is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Afar 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.
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.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Afar 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.
A wide range of websites is reported to be blocked in Ethiopia, including the websites of LGBTI groups and organisations.
Right to change legal gender in Afar is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Transgender individuals are not permitted to change their legal gender.
Gender-affirming care in Afar 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.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Afar is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Ethiopia does not legally recognize a third gender.
LGBT discrimination in Afar is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Afar is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
LGBT housing discrimination in Afar is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Same-sex adoption in Afar is illegal.
Current status
Since Jul 29, 2018
Illegal
Ethiopian law prohibits same-sex couples from adopting a child.
Intersex infant surgery in Afar is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Ethiopia does not ban “normalization” surgeries performed on intersex infants.
Serving openly in military in Afar 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.
Blood donations by MSMs in Afar is legal.
Current status
Legal
There is no ban on MSM blood donations in Ethiopia.
Conversion therapy in Afar 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.
Legal Rights
11 / 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 Afar to help improve its accuracy.
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Afar LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Affar