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Public Opinion

In Laos, public opinion seems to reflect a lack of acceptance or understanding of the LGBTQ+ community, but please note that is based on a small number of surveys available in Laos.

Laos is lacking public opinion data.

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History

Homosexual activity in Laos

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Homosexual activity in Laos is legal.

Current status
Since Jan 9, 1990
Legal
Homosexual activity has never been illegal in Laos. The penal code for the current political system was not drafted until the 1990 (37 years after the country gained independence).
Details
Sources:
laoofficialgazette.gov.la/k…
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Same-sex marriage in Laos

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Same-sex marriage in Laos is banned.

Current status
Since Dec 24, 1990
Banned
The Family Law defines marriage to be a union between a man and a woman. Laos has not introduced any specific legislation around marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Details
Sources:
www.luangprabang-laos.com/I…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Laos

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Laos is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Laos, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
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Right to change legal gender in Laos

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Right to change legal gender in Laos is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Trans people are currently unable to change their legal gender in Laos.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… www.fandmglobalbarometers.o…
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Gender-affirming care in Laos

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Gender-affirming care in Laos is restricted.

Current status
Since 2009
Restricted
In 2009, Laos legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.

Additionally Laos does not provide for gender affirming surgery leaving trans Laotians to often go to Thailand for such care. Hormones however are available.
Details
Sources:
www.rhsupplies.org/uploads/…
www.australianvolunteers.co…
www.weareaptn.org/wp-conten…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Laos

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Laos is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Laos does not legally recognize a non-binary gender.
Details
Sources:
www.iri.org/news/pride-mont…
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LGBT discrimination in Laos

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LGBT discrimination in Laos is no protections.

Current status
Since Oct 22, 1953
No protections
The constitution does not explicitly cover sexual orientations and gender identities in protection against discrimination
Details
Sources:
www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/p…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Laos

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LGBT employment discrimination in Laos is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT housing discrimination in Laos

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LGBT housing discrimination in Laos is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Laos

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Same-sex adoption in Laos is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Dec 24, 1990
Ambiguous
The Lao family law states in article 38 that people who have "inappropriate behaviours" or those who have had their parental rights withdrawn may not adopt children. However, LGBT is not explicitly covered in the way this law is written so the result is ambiguous.
Details
Sources:
www.law.yale.edu/rcw/rcw/ju…
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Intersex infant surgery in Laos

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Intersex infant surgery in Laos is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Laos

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Serving openly in military in Laos is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2012
Ambiguous
No laws restricting or allowing MSM to donate blood.
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2009022…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Laos

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Blood donations by MSMs in Laos is legal.

Current status
Legal
No laws resticting MSM to donate blood.
Details
Sources:
jclao.com/in-laos-an-invisi…
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Conversion therapy in Laos

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Conversion therapy in Laos is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Laos.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 328)
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Equal age of consent in Laos

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Equal age of consent in Laos is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT Rights by Province

View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Laos.

    Equality Index ?
    47 / 100
    Legal Rights
    47 / 100
    Public Opinion
    47 / 100

    Equality Rank

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    #141
    Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?

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    Compare Laos

    4

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    Brunei

    47

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    Cambodia

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    Alternative names: Lao (local name)

    LGBT Rights in Southeast Asia

    4

    LGBT Rights in
    Brunei

    47

    LGBT Rights in
    Cambodia

    24

    LGBT Rights in
    Indonesia

    16

    LGBT Rights in
    Malaysia

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    LGBT Rights in
    Myanmar

    57

    LGBT Rights in
    Philippines

    50

    LGBT Rights in
    Singapore

    69

    LGBT Rights in
    Thailand

    55

    LGBT Rights in
    Timor-Leste

    54

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    Vietnam