Gao is governed by federal Mali law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as 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
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- Ambiguous
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Gao is lacking public opinion data.
Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Gao by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.
Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Gao is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Dec 13, 2024
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
On December 13th, 2024, Mali’s new penal code came into effect.
Article 325-1 criminalizes homosexual sex in public.
Article 325-2 criminalizes homosexual sex in private, and any such act is considered indecent assault.
Article 325-1 criminalizes homosexual sex in public.
Article 325-2 criminalizes homosexual sex in private, and any such act is considered indecent assault.
Until Dec 12, 2024
Legal
In Mali's current Penal Code, there is no mention of homosexuality or homosexual sex. However, the country's population has shown strong opposition to the LGBTQ.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Gao is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Aug 5, 2004
Imprisonment as punishment
Article 4 of the Law on Associations (2004) forbids the registration of associations with objectives deemed "contrary to law and morality." In November 2021, authorities detained multiple women following a complaint from a mother alleging her daughter's involvement in an "online network" of lesbians.
Researchers have found that searches for LGBT related subjects on the Malian internet are curated to provide anti-LGBT results. The country has an authoritarian government and appears to control the flow of information online.
Researchers have found that searches for LGBT related subjects on the Malian internet are curated to provide anti-LGBT results. The country has an authoritarian government and appears to control the flow of information online.
Right to change legal gender in Gao is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
There is no legal framework for transgender people who would like to change their gender.
Gender-affirming care in Gao is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
Gender-Affirming Care may be restricted.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Gao is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Similar to there being no legal framework for transgender people who would like to change their gender, there is also no framework for non-binary or intersex individuals who would like to legally identify as such.
LGBT discrimination in Gao is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Mali, there are no laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Article 322-18 of the new Penal Code in force since December 13, 2024, states that "Anyone who, except in cases provided for by law, places or stores on a computer medium or memory, without the express consent of the person concerned, personal data which, directly or indirectly, reveal the racial or ethnic origin, political, philosophical or religious opinions, or trade union membership, or which relate to the health or sexual life of the person concerned, as well as data relating to offences, convictions or security measures concerning them, shall be punished by imprisonment for five years and a fine of 5,000,000 francs."
"
Article 322-18 of the new Penal Code in force since December 13, 2024, states that "Anyone who, except in cases provided for by law, places or stores on a computer medium or memory, without the express consent of the person concerned, personal data which, directly or indirectly, reveal the racial or ethnic origin, political, philosophical or religious opinions, or trade union membership, or which relate to the health or sexual life of the person concerned, as well as data relating to offences, convictions or security measures concerning them, shall be punished by imprisonment for five years and a fine of 5,000,000 francs."
"
LGBT employment discrimination in Gao is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no laws in Mali that prohibit discrimination in the workforce towards the LGBTQ. As such, discrimination towards LGBTQ people during work hours happens quite frequently.
LGBT housing discrimination in Gao is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no laws in Mali that prohibit discrimination in housing towards the LGBTQ. Because of this, LGBTQ people often face discrimination when trying to buy or rent property and housing.
Same-sex adoption in Gao is illegal.
Current status
Since Dec 2, 2011
Illegal
Included in Article 522 of Mali’s people and family code is a ban on adoption by gay people. This part of the article when translated to English reads: “ Under no circumstances is a homosexual allowed to adopt a child under any regime whatsoever.”
Intersex infant surgery in Gao is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Mali.
Serving openly in military in Gao is don't ask, don't tell.
Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Although there are no specific laws on LGBTQ people serving in the military, due to the countries population being strongly against it, and people commonly being attacked simply for being apart of the LGBTQ, Mali's military policy regarding LGBTQ individuals might be similar to a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy the United States previously had.
Blood donations by MSMs in Gao is ambiguous.
Current status
Ambiguous
The National Blood Transfusion Center states that the donor must complete a questionnaire that allows the doctor to ensure that he or she is in good health, which could make donation difficult for LGBT people.
There are no official sources from the Ministry of Health regarding the questionnaire for donating blood.
There are no official sources from the Ministry of Health regarding the questionnaire for donating blood.
Conversion therapy in Gao is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
In Mali, there is no ban on conversion therapy, and they are very common in the heavily Muslim nation. According to research done by GPAHE, when users searched for conversion therapy on Google in West African Countries, the results were controlled by authorities. As such, the results often showed religious texts saying that homosexuality is wrong and anti-lgbt websites.
Legal Rights
6 / 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 Gao to help improve its accuracy.
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Gao LGBT Organizations
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