Northern is governed by federal Papua New Guinea law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ✖ Male illegal, female legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Unrecognized
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    Unknown
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✖ Not banned
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    Female equal, male N/A
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Northern

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Homosexual activity in Northern is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Since 2002
Male illegal, female legal
Men can receive 3 to 14 years of imprisonment under Criminal Code 1974. The legislation lists homosexuality under "Unnatural Offenses" and "Indecent Practices Between Males."
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Same-sex marriage in Northern

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Same-sex marriage in Northern is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
No laws in place.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Northern

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Northern is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Papua New Guinea, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
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Right to change legal gender in Northern

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Right to change legal gender in Northern is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
No laws in place.

Gender-affirming care in Northern

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Gender-affirming care in Northern is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Northern

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
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LGBT discrimination in Northern

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LGBT discrimination in Northern is no protections.

Current status
Since 2002
No protections
As male homosexuality is illegal, no protection is available to any members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sources:
Homosexuality Activity entry
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LGBT employment discrimination in Northern

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LGBT employment discrimination in Northern is no protections.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2002
No protections
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LGBT housing discrimination in Northern

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LGBT housing discrimination in Northern is no protections.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2002
No protections
It is still illegal for males.
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Same-sex adoption in Northern

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Same-sex adoption in Northern is single only.

Current status
Single only
No laws in place for same sex couples.
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Intersex infant surgery in Northern

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Intersex infant surgery in Northern is not banned.

Current status
Not banned under federal Papua New Guinea law
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Papua New Guinea.
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Serving openly in military in Northern

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Serving openly in military in Northern is legal.

Current status
Legal
Nationwide.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Northern

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Blood donations by MSMs in Northern is legal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2016
Legal
As part of Indonesia.
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Conversion therapy in Northern

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Conversion therapy in Northern is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Papua New Guinea.
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Equal age of consent in Northern

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Equal age of consent in Northern is female equal, male n/a.

Current status
Female equal, male N/A
Anal sex is illegal in Papua new Guinea and therefore it is illegal for males. However oral and other types of sex are legal and the age of consent is 16.
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