💬 NEW! Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

LGBT Rights in Bahrain

    Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Not legal
    Censorship
    Ambiguous
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Military
    Unknown
    Donating Blood
    Ambiguous
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal

Public Opinion

Surveys in Bahrain have revealed a prevalence of resistance towards LGBTQ+ rights, but please note that is based on a small number of surveys available in Bahrain.

Bahrain Surveys

Views on Homosexuality

Of Bahraini people said that homosexuality is not justifiable
Of Bahraini people doesn't want to live next to homosexual neighbors

Bahrain is missing public opinion data.

Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Bahrain by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.

Suggest Public Opinion Data

History

Homosexual activity in Bahrain

?

Homosexual activity in Bahrain is legal.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
Legal
Bahrain may consider homosexuality as "immoral", although homosexual activity is not explicitly illegal.

However there has been documented cases of arrests being made towards homosexual people on virtue of them being homosexuals

Mar 20, 1976–Sep 8, 2018
Ambiguous
Not technically illegal. but certain sections of the criminal code have been used to prosecute LGBT people.
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Bahrain

?

Same-sex marriage in Bahrain is not legal.

Current status
Not legal
There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Bahrain.
Added by danlev  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 1976–Sep 8, 2018
Unrecognized
No such laws outlawing or criminalizing gay couples.
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Bahrain

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Bahrain is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
In Bahrain there are sometimes censorship as some movies or films containing LGBT content is banned.
Added by equaldex  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Bahrain

?

Right to change legal gender in Bahrain is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since Jan 2, 2014
Legal, but requires surgery
As of 2014, Bahrain allows sex change surgeries.
Added by Antinousosiris  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Bahrain

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Bahrain is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Nonbinary, intersex, or gender nonconforming options are not available.
Added by Markissik  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Bahrain

?

LGBT discrimination in Bahrain is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
None are in the criminal code.
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Bahrain

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Bahrain is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Bahrain

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Bahrain is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Bahrain

?

Same-sex adoption in Bahrain is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
According to The Ministry of Islamic and Justice Affairs, adoption is not possible in Bahrain.
Added by danlev  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Bahrain

?

Serving openly in military in Bahrain is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Blood donations by MSMs in Bahrain

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Bahrain is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
No data
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Bahrain

?

Conversion therapy in Bahrain is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Not criminalized anywhere in the middle east.
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Bahrain

?

Equal age of consent in Bahrain is equal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1976
Equal
Age of consent for same sex acts is 21
Sources:
Refugee legal aid information website - refugeelegalaidinformation.…
Added by Sar1990  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 19762019
Equal
A Penal Code was enacted in 1976 which decriminalized same-sex activities. It also stated that the age of consent for same-sex activities would be the same as heterosexuals at 21 years old.
Sources:
refworld.org/pdfid/598311a44.pdf

STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA
A WORLD SURVEY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION LAWS:
CRIMINALISATION, PROTECTION AND RECOGNITION Page 35
Added by Galaxius  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 1976–Sep 6, 2018
Equal
age of consent is set at 21.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log


LGBT Rights by Governorate

View the LGBT laws in each individual governorate of Bahrain.