- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- Unknown
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- Unknown
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Transnistria is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 22, 2002
Legal
Consensual same-sex sexual activity is legal in Transnistria, despite many foreign sources saying that it is illegal. Article 131 of the Criminal Code of Transnistria that came into force in June 2002, states that committing sodomy, lesbianism and sexual intercourse with a person under the age of sixteen is illegal. However, the article does not state that committing 'sodomy and lesbianism' above 16 is illegal. All the other articles related to sex crimes, such as sexual assault and coercion to perform sexual acts, have listed '(heterosexual) sexual intercourse, sodomy and lesbianism' in the same category. There are no other articles in the Criminal Code of Transnistria that have laws that are separated in penalizing same-sex sexual activity, or committing 'sodomy and lesbianism.'
Male illegal, female legal under federal Moldova law
An article under which sodomy was punishable by imprisonment from 5 to 8 years appeared in the Soviet Criminal Code on March 7, 1934 - number 154-a: “Sexual intercourse between a man and a man (sodomy) - imprisonment for a term of three to five years. Sodomy committed with the use of violence or taking advantage of the dependent position of the victim - imprisonment for a term of five to eight years."
Legal under federal Moldova law
In 1917, after the October Revolution in Russia, homosexuality was decriminalised. This included Moldova at the time.
Male illegal, female uncertain under federal Moldova law
The 1835 Russian Penal Code applied to Moldova and criminalised sodomy.
Same-sex marriage in Transnistria is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
There is no legal recognition provided for same-sex couples in Transnistria.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Transnistria is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Feb 12, 2024
Imprisonment as punishment
Any public expression of support or sympathy for members of the LGBT community could be punishable by fines, arrest, or even imprisonment. A bill banning “propaganda of homosexuality” was submitted to the TMR’s “Supreme Council” on February 12, 2024. Its authors claim that the purpose of the law is to protect “traditional family values” and “the moral health of the nation. Absurdly, they even dared to claim that the law does not violate human rights but only regulates the field of education and information.
Gender-affirming care in Transnistria is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
In many parts of the former Soviet Union, the rights of transgender people are often restricted, and specific medical care for gender transition can be very difficult to obtain as in Transnistria as it is very limited there.
In April 2025, a bill to ban all forms of gender-affirming care passed the first reading and is likely to be enacted.
In April 2025, a bill to ban all forms of gender-affirming care passed the first reading and is likely to be enacted.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Transnistria is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
There is no recognition provided to intersex or non-binary people in Transnistria.
LGBT discrimination in Transnistria is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Transnistria.
LGBT employment discrimination in Transnistria is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Transnistria.
LGBT housing discrimination in Transnistria is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Transnistria.
Same-sex adoption in Transnistria is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Intersex infant surgery in Transnistria is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Moldova law
There is no official ban on unnecessary sex reassignment operations in infants in Moldova.
Serving openly in military in Transnistria is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Blood donations by MSMs in Transnistria is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Conversion therapy in Transnistria is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal in Transnistria.
Equal age of consent in Transnistria is equal.
Current status
Since Jun 22, 2002
Equal
The age of consent for both homosexual and heterosexual intercourse is 16 in Transnistria.
Female equal, male N/A
Unlike the rest of Moldova, male homosexuality remained illegal in Transnistria until 2002.
Female equal, male N/A under federal Moldova law
Until 1995, male homosexuality was illegal in Moldova.
Equal under federal Moldova law
In 1917, homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia, which included Moldova. There was no discrepancy with the age of consent compared to heterosexuality.
Female equal, male N/A under federal Moldova law
In 1835, male homosexuality was criminalised in Moldova.
Legal Rights
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