Mohale's Hoek is governed by federal Lesotho law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Unrecognized
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✖ Restricted
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Mohale's Hoek

?

Homosexual activity in Mohale's Hoek is legal.

Current status
Since Mar 9, 2012
Legal
The Penal Code Act of 2010 decriminalized homosexuality.
Details
Sources:
www.lesotholii.org/ls/legis…
Report error  ·  Log
1884–Mar 9, 2012
Male illegal, female legal
The Roman-Dutch law of the Cape Colony, including the sodomy offence, was applied to Basutoland (as Lesotho was then known) by a proclamation of the British High Commissioner in 1884 (exact date unknown).
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/ilga/en/countries/…
lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/…
www.jstor.org/stable/23245418 (page 164-165)
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Same-sex marriage in Mohale's Hoek

?

Same-sex marriage in Mohale's Hoek is unrecognized.

Current status
Since Oct 4, 1966
Unrecognized
The common law definition of marriage is “a union of one man with one woman, to the exclusion, while it lasts, of all others”
Details
Sources:
lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Mohale's Hoek

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Mohale's Hoek is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Lesotho, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
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Right to change legal gender in Mohale's Hoek

?

Right to change legal gender in Mohale's Hoek is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.

Current status
Since 1973
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Article 22 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act (1973) states that "In the event of a child, after being registered, either by operation or otherwise, changing from a female to a male or from a male to a female and such change is certified by a registered medical practitioner, the district registrar of the district in which the birth is registered shall, with the approval of the registrar and on the application of the parent or guardian of that child, alter the particulars of such child which appear in the births register."

May possibly change gender under the National Identity Cards Act 9 of 2011.
Details
Sources:
commons.laws.africa/akn/ls/…
commons.laws.africa/akn/ls/…
www.southernafricalitigatio…
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Gender-affirming care in Mohale's Hoek

?

Gender-affirming care in Mohale's Hoek is restricted.

Current status
Since 1994
Restricted
In 1994, Lesotho legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
Details
Sources:
www.rhsupplies.org/uploads/…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Mohale's Hoek

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Mohale's Hoek is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Non-binary identities are not legally recognized in Lesotho.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/lesotho-lgbti
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LGBT discrimination in Mohale's Hoek

?

LGBT discrimination in Mohale's Hoek is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since 2011
Illegal in some contexts
Section 127(4) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act 2011 states that "No child may be unfairly discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation in the selection of a diversion programme, process or option and all children shall have equal access to diversion options.

The Labor Code (2024) bans discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. It bans violence, harassment and sexual harassment based on gender identity.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/lesotho-lgbti
natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/…
natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Mohale's Hoek

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Mohale's Hoek is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Apr 2, 2024
Sexual orientation and gender identity under federal Lesotho law
The Labor Code (2024) explicitly bans discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. It also bans violence, harassment and sexual harassment based on gender identity.
Details
Sources:
natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/…
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LGBT housing discrimination in Mohale's Hoek

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Mohale's Hoek is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/lesotho-lgbti
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Mohale's Hoek

?

Same-sex adoption in Mohale's Hoek is illegal.

Current status
Since Oct 4, 1966
Illegal
Single males and same-sex couples cannot adopt
Details
Sources:
lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/…
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Mohale's Hoek

?

Intersex infant surgery in Mohale's Hoek is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Mohale's Hoek

?

Serving openly in military in Mohale's Hoek is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Current status
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Not a single country in Africa allows trans military service .
Details
Sources:
www.cbc.ca/news/world/count…
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Mohale's Hoek

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Mohale's Hoek is legal.

Current status
Legal
In all of Africa.
Details
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Conversion therapy in Mohale's Hoek

?

Conversion therapy in Mohale's Hoek is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Lesotho.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 325)
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Equal age of consent in Mohale's Hoek

?

Equal age of consent in Mohale's Hoek is equal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2012
Equal
when they decriminalized homosexuality.
Details
Report error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
43 / 100
Legal Rights
58 / 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 Mohale's Hoek to help improve its accuracy.

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Mohale's Hoek LGBT Organizations

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Common queries:
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  • Is homosexuality legal in Mohale's Hoek?
  • Is gay marriage legal in Mohale's Hoek?

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