LGBT Rights in Karnataka
State

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Public Opinion

Karnataka is lacking public opinion data.

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Perception of LGBTQ+ People

Survey results from 6 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Karnataka.

Overall

Overall

Perceived Safety*

Feel safe being open
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.

Equal Treatment

Treatment by peers
Treatment by family
Treatment at work
Treatment at school
Treatment by general public
Treatment by businesses
Treatment by law enforcement
Treatment by religious groups

Visibility & Representation

Inclusion in education
Representation in entertainment
Representation in news
Political support
Out public figures

Culture

Pride/events
Nightlife
Dating life
Interest groups and clubs

Services

Health and wellness
Gender-affirming care
Support and social services
Advocacy and legal

History

Homosexual activity in Karnataka

?

Homosexual activity in Karnataka is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Legal under federal India law
In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as a crime.
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Same-sex marriage in Karnataka

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Same-sex marriage in Karnataka is unregistered cohabitation.

Current status
Since Oct 17, 2023
Unregistered cohabitation under federal India law
In the Supreme Court case of Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench held that LGBTQ+ persons have the right to choose a partner, cohabit and enjoy physical & mental intimacy, free from physical threat and coercive action. The State is bound to protect the exercise of these rights.
Sources:
Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty v. Union of India (2023) 2023 INSC 920 (Supreme Court of India) [web.archive.org/web/2023101…
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Jun 12, 2020–Oct 16, 2023
Unregistered cohabitation under federal India law
The Uttarakhand High Court acknowledged that cohabitation and "live-in relationships" are protected by law.
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Apr 18, 2006–Jun 11, 2020
Banned
The 2006 "Karnataka Marriage (Registration and Miscellaneous Provisions) Rules" refer explicitly to a "bride" and "bridegroom".
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Jul 15, 1983–Apr 17, 2006
Unrecognized
The 1976 "Karnataka Marriages (Registration and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act" did not explicitly define marriage as between a man and a woman. The law did not receive assent and therefore take effect until 7 years later.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Karnataka

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Karnataka is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship under federal India law
In India, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQIA topics.
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6.7, Paragraph 14
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Right to change legal gender in Karnataka

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Right to change legal gender in Karnataka is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since Dec 5, 2019
Legal, but requires surgery under federal India law
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 allows for transgender individuals to change their gender marker to either "male" or "female" only after showing proof of their gender confirmation surgery issued by a medical officer to the District Magistrate. This provision contradicts the Supreme Court decision in 2014. This contradiction has been challenged as unconstitutional in the Indian Supreme Court. As of June 2020, a second petition alleging unconstitutionality has been entered, and will be heard along with the first. Overall, the petitions challenge Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Act, claiming that they also contradict the Constitution of India. This case is still pending a decision.

Under section 6 of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a trans person may apply to be issued a certificate of identity that certifies that they are transgender (denoted as "Transgender"). Upon receiving this certificate, the applicants have the right to be recorded as transgender in all official documents.
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Gender-affirming care in Karnataka

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Gender-affirming care in Karnataka is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Karnataka

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Karnataka is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Karnataka

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LGBT discrimination in Karnataka is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT employment discrimination in Karnataka

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LGBT employment discrimination in Karnataka is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT housing discrimination in Karnataka

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LGBT housing discrimination in Karnataka is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Karnataka

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Same-sex adoption in Karnataka is single only.

Current status
Single only under federal India law
Same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt a child in India but single LGBTQ parents are.
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Intersex infant surgery in Karnataka

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Intersex infant surgery in Karnataka is not banned.

Current status
Since Apr 22, 2019
Not banned
Karnataka has yet to ban intersex infant surgery however throughout India pressure to ban these surgeries has been mounting in recent years.
Until Apr 22, 2019
Not banned under federal India law
Before Tamil Nadu's ban, no Indian states had passed bans on intersex infant surgery.

Serving openly in military in Karnataka

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Serving openly in military in Karnataka is illegal.

Current status
Illegal under federal India law
Although homosexuality and gender transition are legal in India, LGBT personnel are not permitted in the military.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Karnataka

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Blood donations by MSMs in Karnataka is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Karnataka

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Conversion therapy in Karnataka is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is legal in Karnataka.
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Equal age of consent in Karnataka

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Equal age of consent in Karnataka is equal.

Current status
Since Sep 6, 2018
Equal under federal India law
The age of consent has been equal since decriminalization. In the Supreme Court case of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, a five-judge Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Suresh Kumar Koushal v. Naz Foundation and decriminalized homosexuality by striking down the provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that deemed sexual acts between consenting adults as criminal.
Sources:
Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) 2018 INSC 790 (Supreme Court of India) [web.archive.org/web/2020070…
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