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Research in attittudes towards LGBTQ+ issues in Republic of the Congo have identified a strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting underlying homophobic sentiments.

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History

Homosexual activity in Republic of the Congo

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Homosexual activity in Republic of the Congo is legal.

Current status
Since 1940
Legal
Homosexuality has been legal in the Republic of the Congo since 1940.

Same-sex marriage in Republic of the Congo

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Same-sex marriage in Republic of the Congo is banned.

Current status
Banned
The Republic of Congo Family Code (Law No. 073-84):

Section II. Marriage. Article 127. - Definition. "Marriage is the public act by which a man and a woman establish between them a legal and lasting union, the conditions of formation, effects and dissolution of which are determined by this Code."
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Republic of the Congo

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Republic of the Congo is no censorship.

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

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Right to change legal gender in Republic of the Congo is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
There is no legal framework to change one's legal gender.
Sources:
www.refugeelegalaidinformation.org › ...
Democratic Republic of Congo LGBTI Resources | Rights in Exile Programme
cdn.sida.se/app/uploads/202…
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Gender-affirming care in Republic of the Congo

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Gender-affirming care in Republic of the Congo is legal.

Current status
Legal
There are no known laws restricting gender affirming care
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Republic of the Congo

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Republic of the Congo is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
There is no recognition of non-binary identities.
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LGBT discrimination in Republic of the Congo

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LGBT discrimination in Republic of the Congo is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since Jun 5, 2020
Illegal in some contexts
There is limited protection based on sexual orientation.

Article 19 of Law No. 27-2020 on the Fight Against Cybercrime, reads "Anyone who, except in the cases provided for by law, places or stores on a computer medium or memory, without the express consent of the person concerned, personal data revealing, directly or indirectly, the person's ethnic origin, political, philosophical, or religious opinions, or trade union membership, or relating to the person's health or sexual orientation, shall be punished by imprisonment of at least one year to a maximum of five years and a fine of one million to ten million CFA francs, or both."

Law No. 29-2019 on the Protection of Personal Data protects a person's sexual life as sensitive and personal data (Articles 4, 14 and 40).

LGBT employment discrimination in Republic of the Congo

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LGBT employment discrimination in Republic of the Congo is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT housing discrimination in Republic of the Congo

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LGBT housing discrimination in Republic of the Congo is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Republic of the Congo

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Same-sex adoption in Republic of the Congo is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Intersex infant surgery in Republic of the Congo

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Intersex infant surgery in Republic of the Congo is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Republic of the Congo

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Serving openly in military in Republic of the Congo is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
Legal known provisions relating to military recruitment do not exclude LGBT people from serving. Nevertheless, there are no inclusion measures for LGBT people.

Blood donations by MSMs in Republic of the Congo

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Blood donations by MSMs in Republic of the Congo is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
There are no official sources from the Ministry of Health and the National Blood Transfusion Center regarding the specific requirements for donating blood. It is unlikely that LGBT people can donate blood without facing legal and social discrimination.

Conversion therapy in Republic of the Congo

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Conversion therapy in Republic of the Congo is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
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Equal age of consent in Republic of the Congo

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Equal age of consent in Republic of the Congo is unequal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1947
Unequal
Article 331 from the 1947 Penal Code, defines an unequal age of consent with the age of consent for homosexual acts being 21 and punishable with jail (6 months to 3 years) and a fine.
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LGBT Rights by Department

View the LGBT laws in each individual department of Republic of the Congo.