- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✖ Unequal
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Public Opinion
According to recent survey data, there appears to be strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights in Gabon.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
History
Homosexual activity in Gabon is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 29, 2020
Legal
Homosexual acts are not criminalized.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Article 402 of the Penal Code outlines moral offences, including "sexual relations between persons of the same sex", punishable by imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to 5 million CFA francs.
Until Jul 4, 2019
Legal
Not criminalised but same sex couple report being harassed by the police.
Same-sex marriage in Gabon is banned.
Current status
Since Nov 29, 2024
Banned federal law
The Gabonese constitution adopted by referendum on November 16th 2024 states: "Le mariage, union entre deux personnes de sexe opposé" - translating to "Marriage, a union between two people of the opposite sex".The new constitution was approved following a military coup the year prior. On 29 November, the Constitutional Court validated the results of the referendum, definitively adopting the constitution.
Until Nov 29, 2024
Unrecognized
Same sex marriage is not recognized in Gabon.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Gabon is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Gabon, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Gabon is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Legal gender recognition is not available in the country.
Gender-affirming care in Gabon is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
Although gender-affirming care is legal in Gabon, it is restricted due to the lack of plastic surgeons.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Gabon is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Legal gender recognition is not available in the country.
LGBT discrimination in Gabon is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Jul 9, 2023
Illegal in some contexts
LGBT employment discrimination in Gabon is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Gabon.
LGBT housing discrimination in Gabon is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Gabon.
Same-sex adoption in Gabon is single only.
Current status
Single only
Only married couples may jointly adopt in Gabon, which does not recognise same-sex marriage. However, LGBTIQ+ singles can adopt.
Intersex infant surgery in Gabon is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Gabon.
Serving openly in military in Gabon is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
Current status
Since Jun 29, 2020
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Serving openly in the military is legal for LGB people, but Transgenders are yet to achieve this. Not a single African country including this one allows trans military service
Until Jun 29, 2020
Illegal
Homosexuality is illegal.
Blood donations by MSMs in Gabon is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
According to the Gabonese Ministry of Health website, male homosexuals cannot donate blood
Conversion therapy in Gabon is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal and widespread in Gabon.
Equal age of consent in Gabon is unequal.
Current status
Since Jun 29, 2020
Unequal
According to Article 257(4) states that "Any indecent or unnatural act against an individual of the same sex and under eighteen years of age constitutes a violation of morality."
Article 256, paragraph 1 states that: Any act of sexual penetration of any kind committed against the person of another, with violence, coercion, threat, surprise or deception, shall constitute rape, regardless of the nature of the relationship between the aggressor and his victim, even if they are married. If the victim is under fifteen years of age, the absence of consent shall always be presumed.
Age of consent is unequal as the age of consent for homosexuality is 18 since 2020. Previously was at 21.
Article 256, paragraph 1 states that: Any act of sexual penetration of any kind committed against the person of another, with violence, coercion, threat, surprise or deception, shall constitute rape, regardless of the nature of the relationship between the aggressor and his victim, even if they are married. If the victim is under fifteen years of age, the absence of consent shall always be presumed.
Age of consent is unequal as the age of consent for homosexuality is 18 since 2020. Previously was at 21.
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Gabon.
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Gabon LGBT Organizations
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Alternative names: Le Gabon (local name)