Dar es Salaam is governed by federal Tanzania law. Learn more
- 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
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Homosexual activity in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam is state-enforced.
Current status
Since 1981
State-enforced under federal Tanzania 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 Dar es Salaam is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No laws in place. Tanzania does not recognize transgender people.
Gender-affirming care in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Tanzania law
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Tanzania.
LGBT housing discrimination in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
You have to be married to adopt, and same-sex marriage is illegal.
Intersex infant surgery in Dar es Salaam is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Tanzania law
Surgery on intersex infants is legal and widespread in Tanzania.
Serving openly in military in Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam 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 Dar es Salaam is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in Tanzania.
Equal age of consent in Dar es Salaam is n/a.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 1998
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania.
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 Dar es Salaam to help improve its accuracy.
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Dar es Salaam LGBT Organizations
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Alternative names: Daressalam