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Public opinion in Réunion appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.

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History

Homosexual activity in Réunion

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Homosexual activity in Réunion is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 25, 1791
Legal
In 1791, homosexuality was decriminalised in Reunion under French law.
Until Sep 24, 1791
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Until 1791, homosexuality was punished by burning at the stake in France, including in Reunion.

Same-sex marriage in Réunion

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Same-sex marriage in Réunion is legal.

Current status
Since May 18, 2013
Legal
France legalized same-sex marriage, which also applied for Réunion
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Nov 15, 1999–May 17, 2013
Civil unions (limited rights)
In 1999, France provided recognition to same-sex couples as civil unions. This also applied in Reunion. However, they had very limited rights compared to married couples.
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Until Nov 14, 1999
Unrecognized
Until 1999, there was no legal recognition provided to same-sex couples in Reunion.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Réunion

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Réunion is no censorship.

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

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Right to change legal gender in Réunion is legal, no restrictions.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2017
Legal, no restrictions
Under French law, trans people can change their legal gender without surgery or medical diagnosis since 2017. This law also applies to Reunion.
Dec 11, 1992–Dec 31, 2016
Legal, but requires surgery
In 1992, France began providing legal gender recognition provided that surgery be performed after two court cases. This also applied to Reunion.
Until Dec 10, 1992
Illegal
Until 1992, there was no legal gender recognition provided in Reunion.

Gender-affirming care in Réunion

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Gender-affirming care in Réunion is legal.

Current status
Legal
Under French law, Reunion allows gender transition care for adults and minors. Minors can access puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, and in some cases, mastectomies but genital surgeries are reserved for adults.

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Réunion

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

Current status
Since Mar 23, 2016
Not legally recognized
In 2016, France revoked legal recognition for intersex people. This also applies in Reunion.
Aug 20, 2015–Mar 22, 2016
Intersex only
In 2015, France provided legal recognition for intersex people. This also applied to Reunion. However, recognition would be revoked in 2016.
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Until Aug 19, 2015
Not legally recognized
Until 2015, there was no legal recognition provided for intersex or nonbinary people in Reunion.
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LGBT discrimination in Réunion

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LGBT discrimination in Réunion is illegal.

Current status
Since Mar 27, 2014
Illegal
In 2014, all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity became illegal in Reunion when discrimination in housing on the basis of gender identity became prohibited.
Nov 17, 2001–Mar 26, 2014
Illegal in some contexts
In 2001, the first protections against discrimination were provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Reunion when Law 1066 was passed prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in goods and services and employment.

Since then, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation were criminalised in the below:
-Law 73: Housing (2002)
-Law 496: All Other Areas (2008)

Gender identity would later be protected under Law 954 passed in 2012 in all areas except for housing.
Until Nov 16, 2001
No protections
Until 2001, there were no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Reunion.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Réunion

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

Current status
Since Aug 6, 2012
Sexual orientation and gender identity
In 2012, France extended discrimination protections in employment to include gender identity (written as sexual identity until 2016) as a protected characteristic. This also applies to Reunion.
Nov 17, 2001–Aug 5, 2012
Sexual orientation only
In 2001, France passed Law 1066 which added sexual orientation as a protected characteristic from discrimination in employment. This also applied to Reunion.

However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2012.
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Until Nov 16, 2001
No protections
Until 2001, there were no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Reunion.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Réunion

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LGBT housing discrimination in Réunion is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Mar 27, 2014
Sexual orientation and gender identity
In 2014, gender identity became a protected characteristic from discrimination in housing in Reunion under federal French law when France's housing law was amended to prohibit discrimination against tenants on grounds established by Article 225.1 of the Penal Code which lists gender identity.
Jan 18, 2002–Mar 26, 2014
Sexual orientation only
In 2002, France passed Law 73 which prohibited discrimination in housing on the basis of sexual orientation. This also applied to Reunion.

However, gender identity remained unprotected until 2014.
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Until Jan 17, 2002
No protections
Until 2002, there were no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Reunion.
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Same-sex adoption in Réunion

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Same-sex adoption in Réunion is legal.

Current status
Since May 18, 2013
Legal
Under French law, same-sex couples have been legally able to adopt children since May 2013.
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Until May 17, 2013
Single only
Until 2013, joint adoptions were only provided to married heterosexual couples in Reunion under French law. However, LGBTIQ+ singles could still adopt.

Intersex infant surgery in Réunion

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Intersex infant surgery in Réunion is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Reunion.
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Serving openly in military in Réunion

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Serving openly in military in Réunion is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Reunion's defence is under the jurisdiction of France.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Réunion

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Blood donations by MSMs in Réunion is legal.

Current status
Since Mar 16, 2022
Legal
Since 2022, blood donations by men who have sex with men has been legal with no deferral period in Reunion.
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Apr 2, 2020–Mar 15, 2022
Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
In 2020, the deferral period for blood donations from MSMs was reduced to four months in Reunion.
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Jul 10, 2016–Apr 1, 2020
Banned (1-year deferral)
In 2016, the complete ban on blood donations from MSMs was replaced with a 1-year deferral period in Reunion.
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1983–Jul 9, 2016
Banned (indefinite deferral)
In 1983, France introduced an indefinite ban on MSMs from donating blood. Lesbians were also banned until 2002.
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Until 1983
Legal
Until 1983, there were no known restrictions or bans on blood donations from men who have sex with men in Reunion.
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Conversion therapy in Réunion

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Conversion therapy in Réunion is banned.

Current status
Since Jan 26, 2022
Banned
Conversion therapy is banned in Réunion, as French laws are applied to Réunion.
Until Jan 25, 2022
Not banned
Until 2022, conversion therapy was legal in Reunion.

Equal age of consent in Réunion

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Equal age of consent in Réunion is equal.

Current status
Since Aug 4, 1982
Equal
In 1982, the age of consent became 15 for both heterosexual and homosexual couples in Reunion
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Aug 6, 1942–Aug 3, 1982
Unequal
Under Vichy France in 1942, the age of consent was fixed at 15 for heterosexual couples but prohibited for homosexual couples under 21. This was later lowered to 18 in 1974.
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Sep 25, 1791–Aug 5, 1942
Equal
Until 1942, there was no discrepancy in the age of consent between heterosexuality and homosexuality in Reunion, although the age was very low at 11 until 1863 when it was raised to 13.
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Until Sep 24, 1791
N/A
Until 1791, homosexuality was illegal in Reunion.