Northern is governed by federal Sierra Leone law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ✖ Male illegal, female legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Banned
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    Unknown
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    Ambiguous
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✖ Not banned
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    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 Northern

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Homosexual activity in Northern is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Since 1861
Male illegal, female legal
Male homosexuality is technically punishable with life imprisonment but is rarely enforced.
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Same-sex marriage in Northern

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Same-sex marriage in Northern is banned.

Current status
Since 1861
Banned
Same sex marriage is not legal
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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 Sierra Leone, 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 legal framework to change one's gender.
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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 illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Illegal in some contexts
Sexual orientation protection under the human rights institute.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Northern

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LGBT employment discrimination in Northern is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
Sexual orientation discrimination protections under the human rights institute.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Northern

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LGBT housing discrimination in Northern is no protections.

Current status
No protections
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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
Legal. 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
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Sierra Leone.
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Serving openly in military in Northern

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Serving openly in military in Northern is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Homosexuality is currently illegal.
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
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Blood donations by MSMs in Northern

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Blood donations by MSMs in Northern is legal.

Current status
Legal
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Conversion therapy in Northern

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Conversion therapy in Northern is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
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Equal age of consent in Northern

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Equal age of consent in Northern is equal.

Current status
Equal
Under the Sexual Offenses Act 2012.
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