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Regions  ▸  Africa

LGBT Rights in Namibia

    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✖ Male illegal, female legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
    Non-binary gender recognition
    Unknown
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ Sexual orientation only
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ Sexual orientation only
    Adoption
    Ambiguous
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal

Public Opinion

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Surveys in Namibia have revealed a prevalence of resistance towards LGBTQ+ rights.

History

Homosexual activity in Namibia

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Homosexual activity in Namibia is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Male illegal, female legal
Not enforced (decriminalization pending)
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/…
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Namibia

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Same-sex marriage in Namibia is foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.

Current status
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Namibian state does not perform same-sex marriage, however in numerous cases foreign same sex marriages have been recognized and parental rights have even been granted to gay couples looking to adopt.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/…
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
theguardian.com/world/2014/…
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Namibia

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Censorship of LGBT Issues in Namibia is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Namibia, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by equaldex  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Namibia

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Right to change legal gender in Namibia is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Legal, but requires surgery
It was reported in 2015 that applications for change of sex are done on a case-by-case basis and are not problematic, as long as a person can provide medical reports of their sex change, which includes undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Once the application is granted, a transgender person can apply for a new identity document and passport.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGB…
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Namibia

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Namibia is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Namibia

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LGBT discrimination in Namibia is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since Oct 21, 2021
Illegal in some contexts
"A Namibian court has found that the constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation."
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
76crimes.com/2021/10/21/nam…
Added by DuffdeNecker  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Mar 12, 1990–Oct 21, 2021
No protections
Discrimination is legal (as there are no provisions) and the date provided is the date that the constitution of the country is written. Discrimination protection is only granted for sex, race, social and economic conditions.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
refworld.org/pdfid/47175fd361.pdf
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Namibia

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LGBT employment discrimination in Namibia is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Oct 21, 2021
Sexual orientation only
"A Namibian court has found that the constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation."
Section 139 of the Labour Act of 2004 repealed the Labour Act of 1992 which in Section 107 prohibited sexual orientation discrimination.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
76crimes.com/2021/10/21/nam…
Added by murrayhawthorne  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Namibia

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LGBT housing discrimination in Namibia is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Oct 21, 2021
Sexual orientation only
"A Namibian court has found that the constitution bans discrimination based on sexual orientation."
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
76crimes.com/2021/10/21/nam…
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Mar 12, 2004–Sep 18, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
just recently added protection
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Namibia

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Same-sex adoption in Namibia is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
No laws in place for same sex couples, however recently the Namibian government allowed a same-sex couple legal custody over their child.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
allafrica.com/view/group/ma…
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Namibia

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Serving openly in military in Namibia is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Not legal
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Namibia

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Blood donations by MSMs in Namibia is legal.

Current status
Legal
No laws against it
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
namibian.com.na/index.php?i…
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Namibia

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Conversion therapy in Namibia is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Unknown.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Namibia

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Equal age of consent in Namibia is equal.

Current status
Equal
Set age of Consent.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT Rights by Region

View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Namibia.

    Equality Index ?
    39 / 100
    Legal Rights
    43 / 100
    Public Opinion
    35 / 100

    Equality Rank

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    #113
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    Namibia LGBT Organizations

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