Rukwa is governed by federal Tanzania law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- Unknown
- Housing Discrimination
- Unknown
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Rukwa is lacking public opinion data.
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Rukwa is illegal (up to life in prison as punishment).
Current status
Since Jul 1, 1998
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
Section 16 of the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (1998) amended Section 154 of the Code to aggravate the penalty for "carnal knowledge against the order of nature”, raising it to "imprisonment for life and in any case to imprisonment for a term of not less than 30 years".
Same-sex marriage in Rukwa is banned.
Current status
Since Feb 12, 1971
Banned
Article 9(1) in The Law of Marriage Act defines marriage as a voluntary union of a man and a woman.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Rukwa is state-enforced.
Current status
Since 1981
State-enforced under federal Tanzania law
Tanzania has a history of enforcing strict laws against the LGBT community. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can be punished by imprisonment. The government has also taken steps to restrict LGBT rights organizations and their activities. Public attitudes towards the LGBT community in Tanzania can be quite hostile, which contributes to a challenging environment for individuals who identify as LGBT. It's important to stay informed about the current situation and exercise caution when discussing or engaging in LGBT-related issues in Tanzania.
The 1981 Penal Code criminalises selling, distributing or exhibiting "materials that are tending to corrupt morals" in Article 175 which is often used to censor LGBTIQ+ topics.
The 1981 Penal Code criminalises selling, distributing or exhibiting "materials that are tending to corrupt morals" in Article 175 which is often used to censor LGBTIQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Rukwa is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No laws in place. Tanzania does not recognize transgender people.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Rukwa is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
As Tanzania does not recognize gender changes, non-binary self-identification is defacto not recognized.
LGBT discrimination in Rukwa is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Mar 16, 2018
Illegal in some contexts
There is limited protection against hate speech based on sexual preference.
Section 11(2)(d) of The Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio and Television Broadcasting Content) Regulations 2018 reads: "A licensee shall not broadcast any matter which incites or perpetuates hatred or vilify any person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual preference, age, disability, religion or culture of that person or section of the community."
Section 11(2)(d) of The Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio and Television Broadcasting Content) Regulations 2018 reads: "A licensee shall not broadcast any matter which incites or perpetuates hatred or vilify any person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual preference, age, disability, religion or culture of that person or section of the community."
LGBT employment discrimination in Rukwa is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
LGBT housing discrimination in Rukwa is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Same-sex adoption in Rukwa is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
You have to be married to adopt, and same-sex marriage is illegal.
Intersex infant surgery in Rukwa is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Tanzania law
Surgery on intersex infants is legal and widespread in Tanzania.
Serving openly in military in Rukwa is illegal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1998
Illegal
Homosexuality is currently illegal in Tanzania
Blood donations by MSMs in Rukwa is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
The Blood Donor Assessment and Selection Guideline issued by the Ministry of Health and the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) of Tanzania states that male homosexuals or bisexuals are high-risk groups and should not donate.
Conversion therapy in Rukwa is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
Equal age of consent in Rukwa is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal in Tanzania.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Rukwa to help improve its accuracy.
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