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Public Opinion

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Surveys in Mauritius have shown mixed views towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.

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History

Homosexual activity in Mauritius

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Homosexual activity in Mauritius is legal.

Current status
Since Oct 4, 2023
Legal
Five members of the LGBT community won their case before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. In an initial verdict by Justices David Chan Kan Cheong and Karuna Devi Gunesh-Balaghee, they ruled that section 250(1) of the Penal Code, which seeks to criminalise sodomy, is discriminatory and unconstitutional. This, insofar as it prohibits consensual sodomy between consenting male adults.
Details
Sources:
defimedia.info/cour-supreme…
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Dec 29, 1838–Oct 3, 2023
Male illegal, female legal
Homosexual activity was illegal in Mauritius until 2023; however, the law criminalizing it was unenforced.
Details
Sources:
www.reuters.com/article/mau…
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Same-sex marriage in Mauritius

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Same-sex marriage in Mauritius is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
The Civil Status Act (1981) does not expressly forbid same-sex marriages.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2026 recognizes same-sex couples. Section 2 of the law introduces the concept of “adult interdependent relationship” which means "a committed and mutually supportive relationship between 2 adults, whether or not of the opposite sex, characterised by emotional and economic interdependence."
Details
Sources:
csd.govmu.org/Documents/pdf…
lexpress.mu/s/a-maurice-le-…
youngqueeralliance.com/2016…
Domestic Abuse Act 2026
mauritiusassembly.govmu.org…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Mauritius

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Mauritius is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Mauritius, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6.6 paragraph 6
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Right to change legal gender in Mauritius

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Right to change legal gender in Mauritius is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Aug 5, 2021
Ambiguous
Since 2021, under Section 13 (1B) of the Civil Status Act of 2021, Mauritius has allowed the recognition of intersex people. However, the same is not applied to transgender people.
Details
Sources:
csd.govmu.org/DocumentsList…
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Until Aug 5, 2021
Illegal
Transgender people aren't currently allowed to change their gender marker on official documents.
Details
Sources:
www.lexpress.mu/article/303…

www.state.gov/reports/2022-…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6.6 paragraph 4
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Gender-affirming care in Mauritius

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Gender-affirming care in Mauritius is legal.

Current status
Legal
Gender-affirming healthcare is legal in Mauritius but is in practice limited to trans Mauritians due to a lack of recognition and costs.
Details
Sources:
africlaw.com/2024/08/23/mis…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Mauritius

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Mauritius is intersex only.

Current status
Since Aug 5, 2021
Intersex only
Section 13(1B) of the Civil Status Act (2021 amendment) reads: Where the sex of a newborn cannot be determined due to congenital anomalies at the time of birth or stillbirth, the officer shall register the sex as “undetermined”.
Details
Sources:
csd.govmu.org/DocumentsList…

www.state.gov/reports/2022-…
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Until Aug 4, 2021
Not legally recognized
Until 2021, there was no legal recognition provided for intersex or nonbinary people in Mauritius.
Details
Sources:
csd.govmu.org/DocumentsList…
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Hate crime protections in Mauritius

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Hate crime protections in Mauritius is no protections.

Current status
No protections
Mauritius does not provide hate crime protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Details
Sources:
Criminal Code. Section 282.
attorneygeneral.govmu.org/D…
Criminal Procedure Act. Section 132B.
lawsofmauritius.govmu.org/p…
2022 report
africa.unwomen.org/sites/de…
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LGBT discrimination in Mauritius

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LGBT discrimination in Mauritius is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2012
Illegal in some contexts
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited in Mauritius under the Equal Opportunities Act of 2008 which took effect in 2012. However, gender identity remains unprotected.
Details
Sources:
www.scribd.com/document/971…
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Until Dec 31, 2011
No protections
Until 2012, there were no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Mauritius.
Details
Sources:
www.scribd.com/document/971…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Mauritius

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LGBT employment discrimination in Mauritius is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2012
Sexual orientation only
Article 2 of the Equal Opportunities Act 2008, prohibits discrimination in employment and other activities on many grounds, including sexual orientation. The act came into effect in 2012. However, gender identity remains unprotected.
Details
Sources:
www.scribd.com/document/971…
www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/p…
ed_protect/---protrav/---ilo_aids/documents/legaldocument/wcms_126781.pdf.
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Until Dec 31, 2011
No protections
Until 2012, there were no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Mauritius.
Details
Sources:
www.scribd.com/document/971…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Mauritius

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LGBT housing discrimination in Mauritius is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2012
Sexual orientation only
Under the Equal Opportunities Act of 2008, effective 2012, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited in housing.
Details
Sources:
www.scribd.com/document/971…
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Until Dec 31, 2011
No protections
Until 2012, there were no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Mauritius.
Details
Sources:
www.scribd.com/document/971…
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Same-sex adoption in Mauritius

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Same-sex adoption in Mauritius is single only.

Current status
Single only
According to a 2006 report, adoptive parents may be either single or married. LGBT persons are not specifically disqualified. According to the ILGA, both joint and stepchild adoption by same-sex couples are not legal.
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2018040…
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 325)
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Intersex infant surgery in Mauritius

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Intersex infant surgery in Mauritius is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Mauritius but not reported.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Serving openly in military in Mauritius

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Serving openly in military in Mauritius is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Current status
Since Feb 2, 2009
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Since 2 February 2009, Mauritius’ Employment Rights Act 2008 has prohibited employment discrimination based on sexual orientation; accordingly, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people are not legally barred from serving openly in the Mauritius Police Force on that basis. Transgender people can not serve openly due to legal gender recognition not being available for them.
Details
Sources:
www.mra.mu/download/TheEmpl…
www.state.gov/wp-content/up…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Mauritius

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Blood donations by MSMs in Mauritius is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
The National Blood Transfusion Service disqualifies men who have at any point had sexual contact with another man.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6.6 paragraph 3
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Bathroom access in Mauritius

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Bathroom access in Mauritius is no explicit protections.

Current status
No explicit protections
In Mauritius, there is no restrictions or protections for trans people acess to the bathroom of their gender identity rather than their assigned sex at birth.
Details
Sources:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/03/19…
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Conversion therapy in Mauritius

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Conversion therapy in Mauritius is not banned.

Current status
Not banned federal law
Conversion therapy is legal in Mauritius but not widely practiced.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Equal age of consent in Mauritius

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Equal age of consent in Mauritius is equal.

Current status
Since Oct 4, 2023
Equal
Age of consent in Mauritius is 16 regardless of sexual orientation.
Details
Sources:
www.ohchr.org/sites/default…
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LGBT Rights by District

View the LGBT laws in each individual district of Mauritius.

    Equality Index ?
    54 / 100
    Legal Rights
    57 / 100
    Public Opinion
    52 / 100

    Equality Rank

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    #84
    Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?

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    Mauritius LGBT Organizations

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    Compare Mauritius

    83

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    Common queries:
    • Is it illegal to be gay in Mauritius?
    • Is homosexuality legal in Mauritius?
    • Is gay marriage legal in Mauritius?

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