Afar is governed by federal Ethiopia law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Afar is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Afar is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Homosexuality is illegal in Ethiopia and penalties can range from 10 days to three years, according to the UN Refugee Agency. There is a maximum sentence of 10 years that can be imposed if an offender "uses violence, intimidation or coercion, trickery or fraud, or takes unfair advantage of the victim’s inability to offer resistance."
This status may change soon as several anti-gay organizations are pushing for the death penalty.
This status may change soon as several anti-gay organizations are pushing for the death penalty.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Afar is state-enforced.
Current status
Since May 9, 2005
State-enforced
Article 640 of the Penal Code (2004) criminalises the possession or dissemination of “grossly indecent material”, including providing information on how to procure them. The Code came into force in 2005.
A wide range of websites is reported to be blocked in Ethiopia, including the websites of LGBTI groups and organisations.
A wide range of websites is reported to be blocked in Ethiopia, including the websites of LGBTI groups and organisations.
Right to change legal gender in Afar is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Ethiopia provides no opportunity for trans people to change their legal gender and they often face persecution.
Gender-affirming care in Afar is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
In Ethiopia, gender-affirming care is not explicitly regulated by law. However, there is limited access to gender-affirming healthcare services due to various factors, including societal stigma, lack of awareness among healthcare providers, and limited resources. Additionally, there are no specific legal protections or regulations regarding gender-affirming treatments or procedures. As a result, individuals seeking gender-affirming care in Ethiopia may face significant challenges in accessing appropriate and comprehensive healthcare services.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Afar is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Non-binary identities are not legally recognized.
LGBT discrimination in Afar is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Afar is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
LGBT housing discrimination in Afar is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Ethiopia, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Same-sex adoption in Afar is illegal.
Current status
Since Jul 29, 2018
Illegal
Ethiopian law prohibits same-sex couples from adopting a child.
Intersex infant surgery in Afar is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Not banned in Ethiopia.
Serving openly in military in Afar is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Blood donations by MSMs in Afar is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
There is no ban on MSM blood donations. While homosexuality is illegal in Ethiopia, simply because homosexuality is illegal does not automatically mean that msm blood donations are not accepted.
Conversion therapy in Afar is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal and widespread in Ethiopia.
Equal age of consent in Afar is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal, so the age of consent does not apply.
Legal Rights
7 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Afar to help improve its accuracy.
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Top Contributors
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Afar LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Affar