A Snapshot of the Legal Environment on Same-Sex Sexual Acts and the Rights of Transgender and Intersex Persons in Asia and the Pacific

A Snapshot of the Legal Environment on Same-Sex Sexual Acts and the Rights of Transgender and Intersex Persons in Asia and the Pacific is produced on the occasion of the 28th ILGA World Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. The Snapshot provides an overview of the legal environments in the Asia-Pacific region to inform the issues, challenges and opportunities regarding the rights of men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women, as well as transgender and intersex persons.

The lawfulness of same-sex sexual activity, legislative recognition of transgender identity change and/or expression and recognition of intersex persons’ rights in law are the key subjects being assessed in this Snapshot. With some of the sources being updated as per October 2016, the Snapshot is designed primarily for use among the community advocates working on the rights and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Asia and the Pacific. This Snapshot, however, only covers parts of the region where APCOM works: South Asia, South-East Asia, East Asia and the Pacific.

The data provided in this Snapshot may serve as an indication of the realities of the lives and experiences of LGBT people in the region. However, it is important to understand that inconsistency of legal interpretation within national penal codes and/or policies is often found, and law enforcement does not always adhere to the written legislation.