- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Other punishment
- 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
- 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 Brunei is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Apr 3, 2019
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
On April 3rd, 2019, Brunei integrated more strict laws based off of Islam into its common law. The country immediately received heavy criticism, and some of Brunei’s buildings in other countries such as the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, and The Dorchester in London were boycotted. Due to international pressure, the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, placed a moratorium on the new law regarding homosexual acts, which allowed a maximum punishment of death by stoning. The moratorium is able to be dismantled at any moment by the Sultan due to his high level of power, but he has not done so yet.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
The Penal Code of Brunei (revised edition 2001), Chapter 22, Page 152 states:
"Unnatural offences.
377. Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. [S 12/97]"
"Unnatural offences.
377. Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. [S 12/97]"
Same-sex marriage in Brunei is banned.
Current status
Since 1951
Banned
Homosexuality is illegal.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Brunei is other punishment.
Current status
Other punishment
In Brunei, censorship towards LGBT issues are state enforced since the country is based on Sharia Law and managed by the monarchy. Those who are sought to be deviant or critizizing the Bruneian government or promoting something contradictory to Islam could be subjected to imprisonment, fines or exile.
In 2019, an Indonesian Instagram account criticizing the Bruneian government on the topics of LGBT rights and freedom of opinion, was reported by the Sultan and Bruneian police authorities.
In 2019, an Indonesian Instagram account criticizing the Bruneian government on the topics of LGBT rights and freedom of opinion, was reported by the Sultan and Bruneian police authorities.
Right to change legal gender in Brunei is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Laws against men dressing as women and vice versa.
Gender-affirming care in Brunei is restricted.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1996
Restricted
In 1996, Brunei adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Brunei doesn't allow sex reassignment surgeries but hormonal treatment isn't banned.
Brunei doesn't allow sex reassignment surgeries but hormonal treatment isn't banned.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Brunei is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
not recognized in Brunei
LGBT discrimination in Brunei is no protections.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1951
No protections
None exist.
LGBT employment discrimination in Brunei is no protections.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1951
No protections
Unknown.
LGBT housing discrimination in Brunei is no protections.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1951
No protections
None exist. As well Homosexuality is currently illegal.
Same-sex adoption in Brunei is illegal.
Current status
Since 1951
Illegal
Intersex infant surgery in Brunei is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Brunei is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Homosexuality is illegal.
Blood donations by MSMs in Brunei is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Conversion therapy in Brunei is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Brunei.
Equal age of consent in Brunei is n/a.
Current status
Since 1951
N/A
Homosexual activity is illegal in Brunei.
LGBT Rights by District
View the LGBT laws in each individual district of Brunei.
Legal Rights
5 / 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 Brunei to help improve its accuracy.
Equality Rank
#142
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- danlev 8 contributions
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- usmani 1 contribution
- cosmeticplague 1 contribution
- Clara 1 contribution
Brunei LGBT Organizations
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Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Brunei?
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Alternative names: Brunei Darussalam (local name)
