LGBT rights in Madagascar
Encyclopedia
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Madagascar face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT
residents.
is legal in Madagascar. The age of consent is 21. Neither homosexuality nor sodomy are mentioned in the criminal laws of Madagascar. The government acts to curb sex tourism with punishment for prostitution and pornography.
the LGBT community" and that "sexual orientation and gender identity were not widely discussed in the country, with public attitudes ranging from tacit acceptance to outright physical violence, particularly against transvestite sex workers." The report also found that "LGBT sex workers were frequently targets of aggression, including verbal abuse, stone throwing, and even murder" and that "in recent years there has been an increased awareness of "gay pride" through positive media exposure, but general attitudes have not changed."
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
residents.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
HomosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
is legal in Madagascar. The age of consent is 21. Neither homosexuality nor sodomy are mentioned in the criminal laws of Madagascar. The government acts to curb sex tourism with punishment for prostitution and pornography.
Discrimination protections
The law in Madagascar does not outlaw discrimination with regard to sexual orientation or gender identity,Living conditions
The U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report found that "there was general societal discrimination againstthe LGBT community" and that "sexual orientation and gender identity were not widely discussed in the country, with public attitudes ranging from tacit acceptance to outright physical violence, particularly against transvestite sex workers." The report also found that "LGBT sex workers were frequently targets of aggression, including verbal abuse, stone throwing, and even murder" and that "in recent years there has been an increased awareness of "gay pride" through positive media exposure, but general attitudes have not changed."
See also
- LGBT rights in AfricaLGBT rights in AfricaLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights in Africa are limited in comparison to other areas of the world, with the BBC estimating that homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries...
- Human rights in AfricaHuman rights in AfricaHuman rights as a legal concept is a relatively recent notion in Africa. The United Nations System, international law and the African Union have certainly all contributed to the establishment of a human rights system in Africa, which has positively and indispensably influenced the advancement of...