- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- 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
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Research in attittudes towards LGBTQ+ issues in Tanzania have identified a strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting underlying homophobic sentiments.
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Homosexual activity in Tanzania is illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
Current status
Since Jul 1, 1998
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
Section 16 of the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (1998) amended Section 154 of the Code to aggravate the penalty for "carnal knowledge against the order of nature”, raising it to "imprisonment for life and in any case to imprisonment for a term of not less than 30 years".
Same-sex marriage in Tanzania is banned.
Current status
Since Feb 12, 1971
Banned
Article 9(1) in The Law of Marriage Act defines marriage as a voluntary union of a man and a woman.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Tanzania is state-enforced.
Current status
Since 1981
State-enforced federal law
Tanzania has a history of enforcing strict laws against the LGBT community. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can be punished by imprisonment. The government has also taken steps to restrict LGBT rights organizations and their activities. Public attitudes towards the LGBT community in Tanzania can be quite hostile, which contributes to a challenging environment for individuals who identify as LGBT. It's important to stay informed about the current situation and exercise caution when discussing or engaging in LGBT-related issues in Tanzania.
The 1981 Penal Code criminalises selling, distributing or exhibiting "materials that are tending to corrupt morals" in Article 175 which is often used to censor LGBTIQ+ topics.
The 1981 Penal Code criminalises selling, distributing or exhibiting "materials that are tending to corrupt morals" in Article 175 which is often used to censor LGBTIQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Tanzania is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No laws in place. Tanzania does not recognize transgender people.
Gender-affirming care in Tanzania is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
Gender-affirming healthcare is not often provided to trans women but is to trans men in Tanzania. However, even for trans men, it’s very limited.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Tanzania is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
As Tanzania does not recognize gender changes, non-binary self-identification is defacto not recognized.
LGBT discrimination in Tanzania is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Mar 16, 2018
Illegal in some contexts
There is limited protection against hate speech based on sexual preference.
Section 11(2)(d) of The Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio and Television Broadcasting Content) Regulations 2018 reads: "A licensee shall not broadcast any matter which incites or perpetuates hatred or vilify any person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual preference, age, disability, religion or culture of that person or section of the community."
Section 11(2)(d) of The Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio and Television Broadcasting Content) Regulations 2018 reads: "A licensee shall not broadcast any matter which incites or perpetuates hatred or vilify any person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual preference, age, disability, religion or culture of that person or section of the community."
LGBT employment discrimination in Tanzania is no protections.
Current status
No protections federal law
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Tanzania.
LGBT housing discrimination in Tanzania is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Tanzania.
Same-sex adoption in Tanzania is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
You have to be married to adopt, and same-sex marriage is illegal.
Intersex infant surgery in Tanzania is not banned.
Current status
Not banned federal law
Surgery on intersex infants is legal and widespread in Tanzania.
Serving openly in military in Tanzania is don't ask, don't tell.
Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Although LGBTIQ+ people are not explicitly banned from serving in the military of Tanzania, homosexuality is illegal and the National Defence Act penalises “indecent or unnatural” practices which inhibit the ability of LGBTIQ+ troops to be open.
Blood donations by MSMs in Tanzania is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
The Blood Donor Assessment and Selection Guideline issued by the Ministry of Health and the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) of Tanzania states that male homosexuals or bisexuals are high-risk groups and should not donate.
Conversion therapy in Tanzania is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in Tanzania.
Equal age of consent in Tanzania is n/a.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 1998
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania.
LGBT Rights by Region
View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Tanzania.
- Arusha
- Dar es Salaam
- Dodoma
- Iringa
- Kagera
- Kaskazini Pemba
- Kaskazini Unguja
- Kigoma
- Kilimanjaro
- Kusini Pemba
- Kusini Unguja
Equality Rank
#173
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