LGBT rights in Vietnam
Encyclopedia
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) persons in Vietnam may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT
residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Vietnam
, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
In 2001, a survey of Vietnamese found that 82% believe that homosexuality is never acceptable. This socially conservative morality is believed to result from the Confucian emphasis on family and tradition.
In 2002, the government-run media declared homosexuality to be a "social evil" comparable to prostitution, gambling and illegal drug use and promised that legislation would be forthcoming to allow the government to combat homosexuality and arrest gay couples. Publications such as The Gioi Phu Nu and Tiep Thi Va Gia Dinh have spoken of homosexuality as a disease and "deviant behavior that is incompatible with the good morals and time-honored customs of Vietnam.". Although there are some possible signs that more liberal opinions may exist.
The same year that the government-run press called homosexuality a "social evil", the Communist Youth Newspaper carried a story about homosexuality that stated "some people are born gay, just as some people are born left-handed".
In 2007, HCMC University of Pedagogy conducted the poll of 300 pupils at three junior high and high schools and discovered that 80% of pupils all said "no" when asked "is homosexuality bad?"
In September 2010, Tuoi Tre Online, the internet edition of Tuoi Tre
Newspaper, published letter of an 18-year old reader describing his hard time dealing with family after they found out he was gay. The post received hundreds of supportive responses from other readers that led the web site to conclude it with an interview with Dr Huynh Van Son, Dean of Psychology, HCMC University of Pedagogy. For the first time, a major state media agreed that "homosexuality is normal".
On November 29, the first foreign gay wedding was held in Hanoi
, Vietnam
, between a Japanese and an Irish national. The wedding raised much attention in the gay and lesbian community in Vietnam
.
Controversial film director Le Hoang
, took a more liberal tone when he stated that while homosexuality is a mental illness, "Qualities such as morality, talent and dignity do not depend on sexuality.".
-HIV
pandemic has put pressure on the government to address the issue of men who have sex with other men, irrespective of their marital status or how they may chose to identify themselves.
In 2006, the government enacted legislation to protect citizens infected with HIV
or AIDS
from discrimination and health care is provided to all its citizens free.
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. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
Criminal Code
Homosexuality is not a crime provided that it involves noncommercial acts between consenting adults in private. In fact many historians believe that homosexuality was never addressed in the nation's criminal code.Civil Rights
In 2000, crime journalist Bui Anh Tan's novel "A World Without Women" (Một Thế Giới Không Có Đàn Bà) was the first fictional Vietnamese book to deal extensively with gay people. In 2007 the story was turned into a television series.In 2001, a survey of Vietnamese found that 82% believe that homosexuality is never acceptable. This socially conservative morality is believed to result from the Confucian emphasis on family and tradition.
In 2002, the government-run media declared homosexuality to be a "social evil" comparable to prostitution, gambling and illegal drug use and promised that legislation would be forthcoming to allow the government to combat homosexuality and arrest gay couples. Publications such as The Gioi Phu Nu and Tiep Thi Va Gia Dinh have spoken of homosexuality as a disease and "deviant behavior that is incompatible with the good morals and time-honored customs of Vietnam.". Although there are some possible signs that more liberal opinions may exist.
The same year that the government-run press called homosexuality a "social evil", the Communist Youth Newspaper carried a story about homosexuality that stated "some people are born gay, just as some people are born left-handed".
In 2007, HCMC University of Pedagogy conducted the poll of 300 pupils at three junior high and high schools and discovered that 80% of pupils all said "no" when asked "is homosexuality bad?"
In September 2010, Tuoi Tre Online, the internet edition of Tuoi Tre
Tuoi Tre
Tuổi Trẻ is a major daily newspaper in Vietnam, publishing in Vietnamese from Hồ Chí Minh City. It was originally a publication of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Organization of Hồ Chí Minh City, and while it is still the official mouthpiece of that organization, it has grown to become the...
Newspaper, published letter of an 18-year old reader describing his hard time dealing with family after they found out he was gay. The post received hundreds of supportive responses from other readers that led the web site to conclude it with an interview with Dr Huynh Van Son, Dean of Psychology, HCMC University of Pedagogy. For the first time, a major state media agreed that "homosexuality is normal".
On November 29, the first foreign gay wedding was held in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, between a Japanese and an Irish national. The wedding raised much attention in the gay and lesbian community in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
Controversial film director Le Hoang
Le Hoang
Lê Hoàng is a Vietnamese film director and screenwriter.In 1998 he directed the film Ai xuoi van ly which he won several awards for including at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.His 2000 film Chiec chia khoa vang was a romantic war film....
, took a more liberal tone when he stated that while homosexuality is a mental illness, "Qualities such as morality, talent and dignity do not depend on sexuality.".
Marriage & Family
Marriage is defined as a union between two adults of the opposite sex. Though they are not constitutionally banned, the law does not recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnership benefits. Previous laws against all forms of cohabitation were repealed under a new marriage law approved by the parliament in 2000.AIDS/HIV
The AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
pandemic has put pressure on the government to address the issue of men who have sex with other men, irrespective of their marital status or how they may chose to identify themselves.
In 2006, the government enacted legislation to protect citizens infected with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
or AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
from discrimination and health care is provided to all its citizens free.
See also
- Same-sex marriage in VietnamSame-sex marriage in VietnamSame-sex marriage is not legal in Vietnam, nor is any other form of same-sex union recognized. There has been no evident support of legal recognition for same-sex couples from the government of Vietnam. Public opinion about same-sex marriage is unknown....
- Human rights in VietnamHuman rights in VietnamHuman rights in Vietnam have long been a matter of much controversy between the Government of Vietnam and some international human rights organizations and Western governments, particularly that of the United States...
- LGBT rights in Asia
External links
- Gay Vietnam Guide
- http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5870.html
- http://www.thanhniennews.com/features/?catid=10&newsid=38172