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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Samdrup Jongkha

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Homosexual activity in Samdrup Jongkha is legal.

Current status
Since Feb 17, 2021
Legal
Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in Bhutan on February 17, 2021.
Aug 11, 2004–Feb 16, 2021
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Offence of "unnatural" sex is considered a petty misdemeanor in article 213 & 214.
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Until Aug 10, 2004
Legal
Before 2004, homosexuality was legal in Bhutan.
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Same-sex marriage in Samdrup Jongkha

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Same-sex marriage in Samdrup Jongkha is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
Proposed on Legalizing Gay marriage by the King of Bhutan.

Censorship of LGBT issues in Samdrup Jongkha

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Samdrup Jongkha is no censorship.

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

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Right to change legal gender in Samdrup Jongkha is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.

Current status
Since 2019
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Trans people can change their legal gender if they have a psychiatrist's certificate confirming gender dysphoria and a support letter from a civil society organization.
Until 2019
Illegal
Until 2019, there was no legal gender recognition provided in Bhutan.
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Gender-affirming care in Samdrup Jongkha

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Gender-affirming care in Samdrup Jongkha is restricted.

Current status
Restricted
There is no explicit right for trans people to access gender-affirming care in Bhutan.
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Samdrup Jongkha

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

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

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LGBT discrimination in Samdrup Jongkha is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since 2018
Illegal in some contexts
The Information, Communications and Media Act of Bhutan (2018) protects sexual orientation as “Sensitive Personal Data or Information”.

Section 8.2(i) of the Bhutan Filming Regulation 2025, reads: "The tone and content of programming shall not in any way incite discrimination, hatred or violence against any individual or identifiable group based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital or family status, or political affiliation."
Sources:
The Information, Communications and Media Act. Article 464(89)(d)
samsn.ifj.org/wp-content/up…

Bhutan Filming Regulation 2025
www.bicma.gov.bt/wp-content…

web.archive.org/web/2018042…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Samdrup Jongkha

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LGBT employment discrimination in Samdrup Jongkha is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no laws in Bhutan protecting LGBT people from employment discrimination.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Samdrup Jongkha

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LGBT housing discrimination in Samdrup Jongkha is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no laws in Bhutan protecting LGBT people from housing discrimination.
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Same-sex adoption in Samdrup Jongkha

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Same-sex adoption in Samdrup Jongkha is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Intersex infant surgery in Samdrup Jongkha

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Intersex infant surgery in Samdrup Jongkha is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Samdrup Jongkha

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Serving openly in military in Samdrup Jongkha is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Blood donations by MSMs in Samdrup Jongkha

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Blood donations by MSMs in Samdrup Jongkha is legal.

Current status
Legal
There are no blood donation restrictions for MSMs in Bhutan.
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Conversion therapy in Samdrup Jongkha

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Conversion therapy in Samdrup Jongkha is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Equal age of consent in Samdrup Jongkha

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Equal age of consent in Samdrup Jongkha is equal.

Current status
Since Feb 17, 2021
Equal
The Penal Code Amendment Act of Bhutan 2021 decriminalised homosexual activity. The age of consent for all people is 18.
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Aug 11, 2004–Feb 16, 2021
N/A
Between 2004 and 2021, same-sex sexual activity was illegal.
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