Lusaka is governed by federal Zambia law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Lusaka is lacking public opinion data.
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Lusaka is illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
Current status
Since Oct 7, 2005
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
In 2005, Zambia amended its Penal Code to criminalize lesbianism. Article 155 (a) punishes carnal intercourse against the order of nature with no less than 15 years in prison and the possibility of being liable to imprisonment for life.
Same-sex marriage in Lusaka is banned.
Current status
Since Sep 12, 2007
Censorship of LGBT issues in Lusaka is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1930
Imprisonment as punishment
Section 178(g) of the Zambian Penal Code (1930) criminalizes any act of "solicitation for immoral purposes in a public place".
This provision was used as a legal basis to arrest and prosecute Paul Kasonkomona who, in 2013, appeared on a television show arguing that the rights of sexual minorities should be recognized so that the HIV epidemic could be dealt with effectively. He was arrested by the authorities after his statement and was acquitted two years later.
Furthermore, in 2019, the Minister of Religious Affairs ordered the cancellation of a television program for allegedly "promoting homosexuality".
This provision was used as a legal basis to arrest and prosecute Paul Kasonkomona who, in 2013, appeared on a television show arguing that the rights of sexual minorities should be recognized so that the HIV epidemic could be dealt with effectively. He was arrested by the authorities after his statement and was acquitted two years later.
Furthermore, in 2019, the Minister of Religious Affairs ordered the cancellation of a television program for allegedly "promoting homosexuality".
Right to change legal gender in Lusaka is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Zambia does not provide for legal gender recognition. Although Section 9(2) of the National Registration Act 19 of 1964 could theoretically be used to change a person’s sex description, it has never yielded any results thus far.
Gender-affirming care in Lusaka is banned.
Current status
Banned
In Zambia, gender-affirming care is prohibited.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Lusaka is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
As there is no protocol to change legal gender in Zambia, non-binary self-identification is defacto not recognized.
LGBT discrimination in Lusaka is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Zambia.
LGBT employment discrimination in Lusaka is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no explicit legal protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Zambia.
LGBT housing discrimination in Lusaka is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Zambia.
Same-sex adoption in Lusaka is single only.
Current status
Single only
Zambia only allows married couples and single women to adopt children. As same-sex marriage is not recognised, this inhibits the ability for same-sex couples to adopt in Zambia.
Intersex infant surgery in Lusaka is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Zambia and reportedly practiced.
Serving openly in military in Lusaka is illegal.
Blood donations by MSMs in Lusaka is legal.
Current status
Legal
There are no known bans or legal restrictions on blood donations from men who have sex with men in Zambia in spite of the criminalisation of homosexuality.
Conversion therapy in Lusaka is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned in Zambia.
Equal age of consent in Lusaka is n/a.
Current status
Since Oct 7, 2005
N/A
16 for heterosexual males/females. No established age of consent for homosexual males/females, but they can be charged with engaging in consensual activity starting at age 12.
Legal Rights
5 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Lusaka to help improve its accuracy.
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Lusaka LGBT Organizations
There are no organizations listed in Lusaka. Suggest one