Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is governed by federal Kuwait law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- N/A
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1960
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Article 193 of Kuwait's Penal Code explicitly prohibits male homosexual sex for up to seven years in prison.
For lesbians, there is no specific law criminalizing it, however it is still technically illegal. This is because in Kuwait you are not able to consent to sex unless you're married.
So, since gay marriage is not legal in Kuwait and you can't give consent until your married, lesbian sex is illegal.
For lesbians, there is no specific law criminalizing it, however it is still technically illegal. This is because in Kuwait you are not able to consent to sex unless you're married.
So, since gay marriage is not legal in Kuwait and you can't give consent until your married, lesbian sex is illegal.
Same-sex marriage in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
Homosexual Activity is illegal in Kuwait, same-sex marriage is not possible as defined as imprisonment up to 5 years.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is state-enforced.
Current status
Since Feb 16, 2022
State-enforced
The Kuwaiti Constitutional Court has overturned Article 198 of the Penal Code, which criminalized “imitation of the opposite sex”, because it violates Article 30 of the constitution that guarantees personal freedom. However, there's still censorship of LGBT issues under Article 21 of the Press and Publications Law (Law No. 3) (2006), which prohibits the publication of anything that would insult public morals. This law was extended to include online publications under the Law Regulating Electronic Media (Law No. 8) (2016). In August 2023, Kuwait banned the 'Barbie' movie, claiming it "promoted homosexuality." There is still prevalent deportations for transgender people they are defined as cross-dressers to police.
Until Feb 16, 2022
Imprisonment as punishment
Mass arrests , people could be sent to deportation or imprisonment under public morality or Islamic Laws.
LGBT cinema also censored publicly.
LGBT cinema also censored publicly.
Right to change legal gender in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Transgender people are still deported after removal of a penal code in 2007, that states article 198, which prohibited “imitating the opposite sex." is unconstitutional. HRW reported in 2022 that the Kuwait times published an article stating the police deported 3,000 transgender and gay people because they "imitated" the opposite sex
Gender-affirming care in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is banned.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2007
Banned
Transgender people are still deported after removal of a penal code in 2007, that states article 198, which prohibited “imitating the opposite sex." is unconstitutional. HRW reported in 2022 that the Kuwait times published an article stating the police deported 3,000 transgender and gay people because they "imitated" the opposite sex.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
In Kuwait, it is not possible to legally change one’s gender.
LGBT discrimination in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is no protections.
Current status
No protections
Transgender people were deported in 2023 for "cross-dressing" this also included gay men, no laws specifically protect LGBTQ discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no laws on LGBTQ employment discrimination, however women are protected.
LGBT housing discrimination in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no known laws for LGBT housing discrimination
Same-sex adoption in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Adoption is not legal for anyone in Kuwait, Article 190, 209 prohibits such.
Intersex infant surgery in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Homosexual Activity at any compacity is illegal and punishable up to 5 years in prison. Transgender people are still actively discriminated against, in 2023, over 3,000 were deported due to "cross-dressing". This also included gay men.
Blood donations by MSMs in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Homosexual activity is illegal in Kuwait, it is not possible to donate MSM.
Conversion therapy in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There are no known laws banning conversion therapy in Kuwait.
Equal age of consent in Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Homosexual activity is illegal in Kuwait, there are no known equal laws in Kuwait, sex out of marriage is illegal
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 Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) to help improve its accuracy.
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Al Kuwayt (Al ‘Āşimah) LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
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Alternative names: Capital, Koweit, Kuwait, Kuwayt, al-Kuwayt