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LGBT Rights in North Korea

    Homosexuality
    Ambiguous
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Not legal
    Censorship
    ✖ Other punishment
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Military
    Ambiguous
    Donating Blood
    N/A
    Conversion Therapy
    N/A
    Age of Consent
    N/A
Suggest Public Opinion Data

History

Homosexual activity in North Korea

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Homosexual activity in North Korea is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
Ambiguous
Contrary to popular belief, homosexuality is technically not against the law in North Korea, however, North Korea is a sexually conservative country, and this applies to sexuality anywhere on the spectrum. Overt shows of affection by anyone of any sexual orientation tend to be frowned upon. There are, however, claims that it is de facto illegal, but this has no official backing. (Date shown is the date of North Korean statehood.)

While punishment is rare, it has been reported by The Korean Times that North Korea has executed a lesbian couple for being influenced by capitalism and bringing corruption of public morals.

However, even though de jure homosexuality is not prohibited, de facto there were some cases of punishment for LGBT people
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in North Korea

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Same-sex marriage in North Korea is not legal.

Current status
Not legal
Depiction in media of affection in North Korea tend to be very rare, and no law against gay marriage exists in the constitution.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Since Sep 14, 1948
Not legal
Article 193 outlaws the creation, distribution or possession of "decadent" culture.
Added by im_h_DEACTIVATED  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in North Korea

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Censorship of LGBT Issues in North Korea is other punishment.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
Other punishment
Sharing something of a sexual content is Illegal in North Korea. Penalty is Unknown.
Added by Hearts4Al  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in North Korea

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Right to change legal gender in North Korea is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
No gender change laws in place but no laws against sex change are in place either.
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in North Korea

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition of non-binary gender
Added by maddyksf  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in North Korea

?

LGBT discrimination in North Korea is no protections.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
No protections
Because sexual orientation as a concept does not appear in North Korea law, there is no legal prohibition of discrimination by state and nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in North Korea

?

LGBT employment discrimination in North Korea is no protections.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
No protections
North Korea executes LGBTQ+ Members, because they are "influenced by capitalism".
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in North Korea

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LGBT housing discrimination in North Korea is no protections.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
No protections
North Korea executes LGBTQ+ Members, because they are "influenced by capitalism".
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in North Korea

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Same-sex adoption in North Korea is illegal.

Current status
Since 2020
Illegal
As of 2020, same-sex couples could not legally adopt children in North Korea.
Added by im_h_DEACTIVATED  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in North Korea

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Serving openly in military in North Korea is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
Ambiguous
Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content.
Sources:
Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011.
Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000).
Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea
Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521
Added by Ratabzoo  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in North Korea

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Blood donations by MSMs in North Korea is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Not enough is known about North Korea to know their stance on blood bans.
Sources:
No sources available.
Added by im_h_DEACTIVATED  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in North Korea

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Conversion therapy in North Korea is n/a.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
N/A
No source about that.
Sources:
No source about that.
Added by im_h_DEACTIVATED  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in North Korea

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Equal age of consent in North Korea is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Not available
Sources:
Being LGBTQ+ is Illegal in North Korea.
Added by James  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log