- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Male illegal, female legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
Public Opinion
Research in attittudes towards LGBTQ+ issues in Lebanon have identified a strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting underlying homophobic sentiments.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
History
Homosexual activity in Lebanon is male illegal, female legal.
Current status
Since Mar 1, 1943
Male illegal, female legal
Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature”. While the law has been used to penalize homosexuality, it has been successfully challenged in court several times with defendants being acquitted and enforcement is rare. Several courts have also declined to prosecute. Currently, no national law has been passed to repeal Article 534, decriminalize homosexual activity, or clarify the position of the law.
Same-sex marriage in Lebanon is banned.
Current status
Banned
In Lebanon, only religious marriages are permitted. 15 separate family laws are in force in Lebanon and are administered by separate religious courts.
The country does not recognize same-sex marriage or any other form of legal partnership for same-sex couples.
The country does not recognize same-sex marriage or any other form of legal partnership for same-sex couples.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Lebanon is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Oct 27, 1943
Imprisonment as punishment
Article 521 of the 1943 Penal Code of Lebanon explicitly criminalises “men disguising themselves as women” with 6 years imprisonment, criminalising the gender expression of trans women and cross dressers.
The Lebanese government has vowed to shut down LGBT organizations, while several films have been banned in the country for LGBT content. Although it is not explicitly illegal to promote homosexuality as many LGBT night clubs and bars exist in the country.
The Lebanese government has vowed to shut down LGBT organizations, while several films have been banned in the country for LGBT content. Although it is not explicitly illegal to promote homosexuality as many LGBT night clubs and bars exist in the country.
Right to change legal gender in Lebanon is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Jan 2016
Legal, but requires surgery
As well as requiring gender reassignment surgery, they must also be unmarried and not have children.
Gender-affirming care in Lebanon is legal.
Current status
Legal
Unlike most Middle Eastern countries, there are no legal restrictions on gender affirming care in Lebanon and any treatment with it is considered lawful provided the recipient consents to it.
The main constraints are the lack of availability as trans Lebanese have to go through private institutions as the government does not offer such services. It is often quite costly with it only getting worse due to recent economic crises.
The main constraints are the lack of availability as trans Lebanese have to go through private institutions as the government does not offer such services. It is often quite costly with it only getting worse due to recent economic crises.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Lebanon is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Lebanon provides no legal gender recognition to nonbinary people and the process for such only gives the options of male and female.
LGBT discrimination in Lebanon is no protections.
Current status
No protections
No protections from discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Lebanon is no protections.
Current status
No protections
No protections.
LGBT housing discrimination in Lebanon is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Lebanon.
Same-sex adoption in Lebanon is single only.
Current status
Single only
Both married and single individuals may adopt in Lebanon. However, Lebanon does not recognize same-sex marriage.
Intersex infant surgery in Lebanon is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Lebanon is don't ask, don't tell.
Blood donations by MSMs in Lebanon is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
According to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, men who have had sexual contact with other men are prohibited from donating blood.
Conversion therapy in Lebanon is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Homosexuality was declassified as an illness in 2013.
The Lebanese Psychiatric Society, the Lebanese Psychological Association, other professional associations and NGOs have called for banning conversion therapy. To date, it is still legal.
The Lebanese Psychiatric Society, the Lebanese Psychological Association, other professional associations and NGOs have called for banning conversion therapy. To date, it is still legal.
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Lebanon.
Equality Rank
#54
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- GeorgieTheOrgie 28 contributions
- beeurd 11 contributions
- danlev 8 contributions
- DaisyGeekyTrans 6 contributions
- Pizzaslices412653 5 contributions
- omalpau 3 contributions
- LGBTsoutheastasian 2 contributions
- XabBG 2 contributions
- CHR0LL0PH0BICCC 2 contributions
- JohnQuebec98 2 contributions
Share Region
LGBT Lebanon Flag
Compare Lebanon
Alternative names: Lubnan (local name)
