Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is governed by federal Bahrain law. Learn more
    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
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

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Homosexual activity in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) 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…
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Same-sex marriage in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Same-sex marriage in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is banned.

Current status
Banned
There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Bahrain.
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) 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…
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Right to change legal gender in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Right to change legal gender in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) 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…
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Gender-affirming care in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Gender-affirming care in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) 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/…
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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/…
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Until 1985
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) 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…
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LGBT discrimination in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

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LGBT discrimination in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
None are in the criminal code.
Details
Sources:
hrw.org/video-photos/intera…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
Details
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LGBT housing discrimination in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is no protections.

Current status
Since Mar 20, 1976
No protections
Details
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Same-sex adoption in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Same-sex adoption in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) 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…
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Intersex infant surgery in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

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Intersex infant surgery in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

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Serving openly in military in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Blood donations by MSMs in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
not allowed
Details
Sources:
no source available
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Conversion therapy in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

?

Conversion therapy in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Not criminalized anywhere in the middle east.
Details
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Equal age of consent in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)

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Equal age of consent in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) 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
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Current status
Unknown
Equality Index ?
38 / 100
Legal Rights
34 / 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 Manamah (Al ‘Asimah) to help improve its accuracy.

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Common queries:
  • Is it illegal to be gay in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)?
  • Is homosexuality legal in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)?
  • Is gay marriage legal in Al Manamah (Al ‘Asimah)?
Alternative names: Manāmah, al-Manāmah, Manama, Manama, Manama

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