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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Paramaribo

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Homosexual activity in Paramaribo is legal.

Current status
Since May 1, 1869
Legal
In 1869, Suriname passed a new Penal Code which decriminalised homosexuality.

Same-sex marriage in Paramaribo

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

Current status
Since Feb 13, 2025
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
On February 13, 2025, the District Court ordered the Central Civil Affairs Bureau (CBB) to register the marriage of two same-sex couples who married abroad. The ruling, regardless of whether the State appeals or not, must be implemented immediately. The case was filed with the court in October 2023.
Until Feb 13, 2025
Unrecognized
In 2023, the Constitutional Court of Suriname assessed the decision of the Central Bureau for Civil Affairs (CBB) not to recognize a marriage of a same-sex couple performed in Argentina and ruled that it did not violate Articles 8 and 17(1) of the Constitution. Moreover, the Court ruled that Article 80 of the Suriname Civil Code, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, must be interpreted to prohibit polygamy rather than same-sex marriage. This interpretation suggests that the article does not inherently conflict with the rights of same-sex couples to marry.

Censorship of LGBT issues in Paramaribo

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Paramaribo is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Suriname, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
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Right to change legal gender in Paramaribo

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

Current status
Since Jan 11, 2017
Legal, but requires surgery
In 2022, the High Court rejected the State’s appeal of a lower court decision of 2017 and emphasized that fundamental human rights, including protection from discrimination and respect for private life, extend to transgender persons. It ruled that the absence of legislation cannot be an excuse for denying legal gender recognition, but the ruling narrowly defined the process for changing the gender registration of transgender persons at civil registry offices, requiring psychological assessments, complete gender reassignment surgery, and gender screening.

In January 2017, the Eerste Kantongerecht (one of 3 Courts of First Instance in Suriname) granted a transgender woman the right to have her gender formally changed with the Central Bureau of Civil Affairs and ordered the registry to officially change her registration to reflect her amended status. The Association of Pentecostal Churches in Suriname (VVPES) and the Suriname Islamic Association (SIV), which had protested against and opposed the right to recognize a gender change, indicated they would "accept the verdict". In February 2017, the Central Bureau of Civil Affairs formally appealed the court ruling. In January 2022, the Suriname Court of Appeal ruled in favor and ordered the gender change on the birth certificate of the transgender woman who had undergone sex reassignment surgery in 2009.
Until Jan 10, 2017
Illegal
Until 2017, there was no legal gender recognition provided in Suriname.

Gender-affirming care in Paramaribo

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Gender-affirming care in Paramaribo is restricted.

Current status
Restricted
Access to Gender-affirming care is limited.
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Paramaribo

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
There's not the option of non-binary gender on Suriname gender markers.
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LGBT discrimination in Paramaribo

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LGBT discrimination in Paramaribo is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since Mar 30, 2015
Illegal in some contexts
In 2015, Articles 175(a) and 176 of the Criminal Code (1911) were amended by S.B. 2015 No. 44 to criminalise discrimination and incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation per Article 175, which includes the list of prohibited grounds.
The protections (only for sexual orientation) are: Education/Housing/Goods and services/Health/Employiment/Prohibition of Incitement
Until Mar 30, 2015
No protections under federal Suriname law
Until 2015, there were no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Suriname.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Paramaribo

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LGBT employment discrimination in Paramaribo is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Nov 10, 2022
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Article 1 of the Law on Equal Treatment in the Workplace (2022) bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Mar 30, 2015–Nov 9, 2022
Sexual orientation only
Articles 176b, 176c and 500a of the Criminal Code of Suriname bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment under Law 44 passed in 2015. However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2022.
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Until Mar 29, 2015
No protections
Until 2015, there were no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Suriname.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Paramaribo

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LGBT housing discrimination in Paramaribo is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Mar 30, 2015
Sexual orientation only
Protections in housing only available for sexual orientation and not gender identity.
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Until Mar 29, 2015
No protections
Until 2015, there were no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Suriname.
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Same-sex adoption in Paramaribo

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Same-sex adoption in Paramaribo is single only.

Current status
Single only
Joint same-sex adoption is not provided in Suriname. However, LGBTIQ+ singles can adopt.
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Intersex infant surgery in Paramaribo

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Intersex infant surgery in Paramaribo is not banned.

Current status
Not banned under federal Suriname law
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Suriname but not reported.
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Serving openly in military in Paramaribo

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Serving openly in military in Paramaribo is legal.

Current status
Legal
There are no bans or restrictions on LGBTIQ+ people serving in the military of Suriname.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Paramaribo

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Blood donations by MSMs in Paramaribo is legal.

Current status
Legal under federal Suriname law
There is no known ban on MSMs donating blood in Suriname.
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Conversion therapy in Paramaribo

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Conversion therapy in Paramaribo is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal in Suriname.
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Equal age of consent in Paramaribo

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Equal age of consent in Paramaribo is equal.

Current status
Since Mar 30, 2015
Equal
The age of consent is 16 years and gender neutral. Article 302 of the Penal Code, which established a different age of sexual consent for homosexuals, was amended in 2015.
Oct 14, 1910–Mar 29, 2015
Unequal
In 1910, the age of consent for homosexuality was set at 18 compared to 16 for heterosexuality in Suriname.
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May 1, 1869–Oct 13, 1910
Equal
In 1869, Suriname decriminalised homosexuality and there was no discrepancy in the age of consent compared to heterosexuality until 1910.
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