- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Bathroom Access
- ✔ No explicit protections
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Keryneia is legal.
Current status
Since Feb 7, 2014
Male illegal, female legal
With the incorporation of the British Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 into Cyprus law. For the first time since 1858, this made male homosexuality a criminal act in Cyprus. Female homosexuality was not recognised or mentioned in the law. With independence from Britain in 1960, Cyprus retained British colonial law on the island almost in its entirety, with the relevant parts of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 becoming articles 171 to 174 of Chapter 154 of the Cypriot Criminal Code.
The Republic of Cyprus had decriminalized homosexuality earlier in 1998 however it was still illegal in TRNC-administered Keryneia
The Republic of Cyprus had decriminalized homosexuality earlier in 1998 however it was still illegal in TRNC-administered Keryneia
Censorship of LGBT issues in Keryneia is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
The parliament of TRNC repealed Articles 171 and 173 of the criminal code in 2014, ending prison penalties for male same-sex acts. There have been no censorship of LGBT issues in schools or in public.
Right to change legal gender in Keryneia is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Feb 1975
Legal, but requires surgery
In Northern Cyprus, changing legal gender on official identity documents is strictly conditioned on undergoing physical gender reassignment surgery. Under Births and Deaths Registration Law No. 2/1975, applicants must provide medical documentation of a physical transition, which requires approval from the Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital Central Health Board.
Gender-affirming care in Keryneia is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
In the northern part of Cyprus, there is no clear legal framework regulating the right to access the gender reconciliation process to prevent arbitrary and discriminatory practices. According to information provided to the Queer Cyprus Association Solidarity Line, trans people can only access gender-affirmative health services through private health service providers, and that these services are not considered within the scope of health insurance.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Keryneia is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
The legal framework in the northern part of Cyprus does had never recognized the existence of non-binary identities.
Hate crime protections in Keryneia is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Feb 7, 2014
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Northern Cyprus has basic statutory prohibitions against hate speech and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity following historic criminal code reforms in 2014, but lacks specialized, comprehensive hate crime sentencing enhancements, and societal enforcement by police has historically faced implementation gaps
LGBT discrimination in Keryneia is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Feb 7, 2014
Illegal in some contexts
Northern Cyprus has basic statutory prohibitions against hate speech and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity following historic criminal code reforms in 2014, but lacks specialized, comprehensive hate crime sentencing enhancements, and societal enforcement by police has historically faced implementation gaps
LGBT employment discrimination in Keryneia is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Since Feb 7, 2014
Sexual orientation only
Same-sex sexual activity and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation were made legal and prohibited in Northern Cyprus in 2014. However, enforcement remains weak, social stigma is common, and comprehensive legal protections for gender identity or public-sector accountability are still largely missing.
LGBT housing discrimination in Keryneia is no protections.
Current status
No protections
LGBT individuals in Northern Cyprus face high housing insecurity and societal stigma. Although same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in 2014, Northern Cyprus lacks explicit, enforceable legal protections against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, leaving queer residents vulnerable to landlord bias and eviction.
Same-sex adoption in Keryneia is single only.
Current status
Single only
While single individuals are legally permitted to apply for adoption regardless of their sexual orientation, same-sex couples cannot adopt jointly. However, some IVF clinics provide services to foreign same-sex couples looking to adopt.
Intersex infant surgery in Keryneia is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is currently no official ban or specific legislation prohibiting non-consensual intersex infant surgery in North Cyprus.
Serving openly in military in Keryneia is don't ask, don't tell.
Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
There are no bans against gay and transgender individuals from partaking in the military however being openly LGBTQ+ in the military is highly taboo, which means it's allowed as long as its not publicly shown. Conscription is mandatory for male citizens.
Blood donations by MSMs in Keryneia is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Bathroom access in Keryneia is no explicit protections.
Current status
No explicit protections
There are no laws explicitly banning transgender individuals from using public restrooms, nor are there legal protections or state guidelines guaranteeing access to the restroom matching a person's affirmed gender.
Conversion therapy in Keryneia is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There are no laws banning conversion therapy in Northern Cyprus.
Equal age of consent in Keryneia is equal.
Current status
Since Feb 7, 2014
Equal
The age of consent is 16 regardless of one's sexual orientation.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Keryneia to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
- nyelvtheelv 18 contributions
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Keryneia LGBT Organizations
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