LGBTQ rights in Bahrain

See also: Human Rights in Bahrain, History of LGBT, LGBTQ people and Islam, LGBT rights in the Middle East, LGBT rights in Iran, and LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia

LGBTQ rights in Bahrain
Bahrain
StatusLegal since 1976 (de jure)[1][2][3][4][5][6][note 1]
Gender identityLimited
MilitaryNo
Discrimination protectionsNo
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsNo
AdoptionNo

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people living in Bahrain face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents.[2][3][4][5] While same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in 1976, laws against indecency remain and are used to target gender and sexual minorities. Offences under these provisions allow for sentences of imprisonment, fines and deportation.[7]

Individuals are able to change their legal gender in a limited range of circumstances that are assessed as being in accordance with Islamic understandings of sex and gender as transmitted by Sunni fiqh. The state offers no protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. LGBT individuals face entrenched social stigma.[6][8]

Attempts have been made to restrict the rights of LGBT individuals, however none have gone through.[citation needed]

Although no law explicitly criminalizes same-sex relations, authorities have used vague penal code provisions against "indecency" and "immorality" to target sexual and gender minorities.[9][6] There is no law that prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender identity or sexual orientation.[10] There are several other parts of the penal code that can be used against LGBT people.

Similarly to Iran, there is a confusion between Homosexual and Trans individuals in Bahrain.[11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference BNA Al was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "2013 State Sponsored Homophobia Report" (PDF). International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b "هكذا يعاقب القانون البحريني التحريض على الشذوذ الجنسي". Al Bilad (in Arabic). 31 January 2022. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b "جمعية (معاً): نؤيد بيان المجلس الأعلى الإسلامي وندعو الى احترام القيم الإسلامية والمجتمعية" (in Arabic). 5 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  5. ^ a b "استنكار شعبي واسع لقيام السفارة الأمريكية بالترويج للشذوذ الجنسي عبر حساباتها الرسمية على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي" (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference 2023 ussd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2022). "Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses: Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity". 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Bahrain (Report). United States Department of State. The law does not criminalize same-sex sexual conduct between consenting adults at least age 21, but it allots fines, imprisonment, deportation, or any of them for persons engaging in 'immoral behavior', and this provision has been used against individuals suspected of being LGBTQI+ or cross-dressing.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference cairo52 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference state 2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "World Report 2021: Rights Trends in Bahrain". Human Rights Watch. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2022. Bahrain's penal code criminalizes adultery and sexual relations outside marriage, a violation of the right to privacy, which disproportionately harms women and migrant women. Although no law explicitly criminalizes same-sex relations, authorities have used vague penal code provisions against 'indecency' and 'immorality' to target sexual and gender minorities. There is no law that prohibits discrimination on the grounds of gender identity or sexual orientation.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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