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Public Opinion

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In Laos, public opinion seems to reflect a lack of acceptance or understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.

Laos is lacking public opinion data.

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History

Homosexual activity in Laos

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Homosexual activity in Laos is legal.

Current status
Legal federal law
Homosexual activity has never been illegal in Laos. The penal code for the current political system was not drafted until the 1990 (37 years after the country gained independence).
Details
Sources:
laoofficialgazette.gov.la/k…
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Same-sex marriage in Laos

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Same-sex marriage in Laos is banned.

Current status
Since Dec 24, 1990
Banned
The Family Law defines marriage to be a union between a man and a woman. Laos has not introduced any specific legislation around marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Details
Sources:
www.luangprabang-laos.com/I…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Laos

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Laos is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Laos, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Right to change legal gender in Laos

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Right to change legal gender in Laos is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Trans people are currently unable to change their legal gender in Laos.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… www.fandmglobalbarometers.o…
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Gender-affirming care in Laos

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Gender-affirming care in Laos is restricted.

Current status
Restricted
Laos does not provide for gender affirming surgery leaving trans Laotians to often go to Thailand for such care. Hormones however are available.
Details
Sources:
www.australianvolunteers.co…
www.weareaptn.org/wp-conten…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Laos

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
Laos does not legally recognize a non-binary gender.
Details
Sources:
www.iri.org/news/pride-mont…
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Hate crime protections in Laos

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Hate crime protections in Laos is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In Laos, there is no legal protection for LGBTIAQ+ people from hate crimes.
Details
Sources:
share.google/pTwCbErn3SgsdPQW0
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LGBT discrimination in Laos

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LGBT discrimination in Laos is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since May 12, 2017
Illegal in some contexts
In Laos, there are limited protections based on sexual orientation.

In the Law on Electronic Data Protection (No. 25/NA), they explicitly list out sexual behavior under the Prohibited data category.
Details
Sources:
multilaw.com/Multilaw/Multi…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Laos

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LGBT employment discrimination in Laos is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In Laos, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Laos

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LGBT housing discrimination in Laos is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In Laos, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Same-sex adoption in Laos

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Same-sex adoption in Laos is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Dec 24, 1990
Ambiguous
The Lao family law states in article 38 that people who have "inappropriate behaviours" or those who have had their parental rights withdrawn may not adopt children. However, LGBT is not explicitly covered in the way this law is written so the result is ambiguous.
Details
Sources:
www.law.yale.edu/rcw/rcw/ju…
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Intersex infant surgery in Laos

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Intersex infant surgery in Laos is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Laos does not ban medical interventions performed on intersex infants
Details
Sources:
intersexasia.org/wp-content…
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Serving openly in military in Laos

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Serving openly in military in Laos is legal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2012
Legal
No laws restricting or allowing LGBTQ+ people to serve in the military.
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2009022…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Laos

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Blood donations by MSMs in Laos is legal.

Current status
Legal
No laws resticting MSM to donate blood.
Details
Sources:
jclao.com/in-laos-an-invisi…
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Conversion therapy in Laos

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Conversion therapy in Laos is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Laos.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 328)
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Equal age of consent in Laos

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Equal age of consent in Laos is equal.

Current status
Equal
Age of consent set at 15 regardless of gender or sexual orientation
Details
Sources:
arquivo.pt/wayback/20080229…
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LGBT Rights by Province

View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Laos.

    Equality Index ?
    46 / 100
    Legal Rights
    43 / 100
    Public Opinion
    50 / 100

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    #141
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    Compare Laos

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    Cambodia

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    Indonesia

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    Alternative names: Lao (local name)

    LGBT Rights in Southeast Asia

    3

    LGBT Rights in
    Brunei

    47

    LGBT Rights in
    Cambodia

    12

    LGBT Rights in
    Indonesia

    18

    LGBT Rights in
    Malaysia

    26

    LGBT Rights in
    Myanmar

    54

    LGBT Rights in
    Philippines

    44

    LGBT Rights in
    Singapore

    65

    LGBT Rights in
    Thailand

    54

    LGBT Rights in
    Timor-Leste

    51

    LGBT Rights in
    Vietnam