Samtse is governed by federal Bhutan law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- Unknown
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- Unknown
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- Unknown
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Samtse is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Samtse is legal.
Current status
Since Feb 17, 2021
Legal
Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in Bhutan on February 17, 2021, after Section 213 was amended to clarify that “homosexuality between adults shall not be considered unnatural sex.”
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Article 213 of Bhutan’s 2004 Penal Code criminalized “unnatural sex” which was defined as “sodomy or any other sexual conduct that is against the order of nature.”
Article 214 stated that the offence of unnatural sex was a petty misdemeanor, which provided a maximum prison sentence of less than one year and a minimum term of one month.
Article 214 stated that the offence of unnatural sex was a petty misdemeanor, which provided a maximum prison sentence of less than one year and a minimum term of one month.
Same-sex marriage in Samtse is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
Proposed on Legalizing Gay marriage by the King of Bhutan.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Samtse is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Bhutan, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Samtse is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since 2019
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Trans people can change their legal gender if they have a psychiatrist's certificate confirming gender dysphoria and a support letter from a civil society organization.
Gender-affirming care in Samtse is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
There is no explicit right for trans people to access gender-affirming care in Bhutan.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Samtse is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
LGBT discrimination in Samtse is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since 2018
Illegal in some contexts
The Information, Communications and Media Act of Bhutan (2018) protects sexual orientation as “Sensitive Personal Data or Information”.
Section 8.2(i) of the Bhutan Filming Regulation 2025, reads: "The tone and content of programming shall not in any way incite discrimination, hatred or violence against any individual or identifiable group based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital or family status, or political affiliation."
Section 8.2(i) of the Bhutan Filming Regulation 2025, reads: "The tone and content of programming shall not in any way incite discrimination, hatred or violence against any individual or identifiable group based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital or family status, or political affiliation."
LGBT employment discrimination in Samtse is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Bhutan, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
LGBT housing discrimination in Samtse is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Bhutan, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Intersex infant surgery in Samtse is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Samtse is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Blood donations by MSMs in Samtse is legal.
Current status
Legal
There are no blood donation restrictions for MSMs in Bhutan.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Samtse to help improve its accuracy.
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Samtse LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Samchi, Samtse