Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Banned
    Censorship
    ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
    Changing Gender
    Ambiguous
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✔ Legal
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    Unknown
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    Unknown
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

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.

Views on Homosexuality

(World Values Survey, 2011)
Of Bahraini people said that homosexuality is not justifiable
Of Bahraini people doesn't want to live next to homosexual neighbors

Bahrain is lacking 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

Have you lived in or visited Bahrain?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Bahrain.

Take Survey

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
Details
Sources:
track.unodc.org/LegalLibrar…
gcchumanrights.org/lgbt.html
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
wikiislam.net/wiki/Persecut…)
hrw.org/video-photos/intera…
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Bahrain

?

Same-sex marriage in Bahrain is banned.

Current status
Banned
There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Bahrain.
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Bahrain

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Bahrain is imprisonment as punishment.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
Imprisonment as punishment
Article 355 of Bahrain's Penal Code (1976) brings about a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine is enforced on individuals who print, import, export, own, possess, carry, or exhibit publications, drawings, pictures, films, symbols, or similar items with the intention of exploiting, distributing, or displaying them if they are deemed to contravene public morals.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Bahrain

?

Right to change legal gender in Bahrain is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jan 2, 2014
Ambiguous
Changing gender in Bahrain is very limited.
Details
Sources:
abcnews.go.com/Internationa…
state.gov/reports/2023-coun…
Report error  ·  Log

Gender-affirming care in Bahrain

?

Gender-affirming care in Bahrain is legal.

Current status
Since 1997
Legal
In 1997, Bahrain adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
Report error  ·  Log
Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1985, Bahrain adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
Report error  ·  Log
Until 1985
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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.
Details
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2022-coun…
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.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/video-photos/intera…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Bahrain

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Bahrain is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
Details
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Bahrain

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Bahrain is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
Details
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.
Details
Sources:
adoptionservices.org/intern…
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Bahrain

?

Intersex infant surgery in Bahrain is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

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 banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
not allowed
Details
Sources:
no source available
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.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Bahrain

?

Equal age of consent in Bahrain is unknown.

Until 2011
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.
Details
Sources:
refworld.org/pdfid/598311a44.pdf

STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA
A WORLD SURVEY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION LAWS:
CRIMINALISATION, PROTECTION AND RECOGNITION Page 35
Report error  ·  Log
Current status
Unknown

LGBT Rights by Governorate

View the LGBT laws in each individual governorate of Bahrain.

    Equality Index ?
    38 / 100
    Legal Rights
    34 / 100
    Public Opinion
    42 / 100

    Equality Rank

    View All
    #55
    Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?

    Top Contributors

    Bahrain LGBT Organizations

    There are no organizations listed in Bahrain. Suggest one

    Share Region

    LGBT Bahrain Flag
    LGBT Bahrain Flag

    Compare Bahrain

    27
    Armenia Flag

    Compare with
    Armenia

    26
    Azerbaijan Flag

    Compare with
    Azerbaijan

    58
    Cyprus Flag

    Compare with
    Cyprus

    29
    Georgia Flag

    Compare with
    Georgia

    13
    Iraq Flag

    Compare with
    Iraq

    59
    Israel Flag

    Compare with
    Israel

    23
    Jordan Flag

    Compare with
    Jordan

    7
    Kuwait Flag

    Compare with
    Kuwait

    Common queries:
    • Is it illegal to be gay in Bahrain?
    • Is homosexuality legal in Bahrain?
    • Is gay marriage legal in Bahrain?
    Alternative names: Al-Bahrayn (local name)

    LGBT Rights in Middle East

    27
    Armenia Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Armenia

    26
    Azerbaijan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Azerbaijan

    58
    Cyprus Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Cyprus

    29
    Georgia Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Georgia

    13
    Iraq Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Iraq

    59
    Israel Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Israel

    23
    Jordan Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Jordan

    7
    Kuwait Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Kuwait

    20
    Lebanon Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Lebanon

    2
    Oman Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Oman

    10
    Qatar Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Qatar

    16
    Saudi Arabia Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Saudi Arabia

    22
    Syria Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Syria

    39
    Turkey Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Turkey

    13
    United Arab Emirates Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    United Arab Emirates

    8
    Yemen Flag

    LGBT Rights in
    Yemen