São Tomé is governed by federal Sao Tome and Principe law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Unrecognized
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✖ Legal, but restricted for minors
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ Sexual orientation only
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
    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 São Tomé

?

Homosexual activity in São Tomé is legal.

Current status
Since 2012
Legal
A new Penal Code was adopted in 2012 removing previous punishments.
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
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Sep 16, 1886–2012
Illegal (other penalty)
Inherited from Portuguese colonial era (amended in 1954). Articles 70 and 71(4°) provide for the imposition of
security measures on people who habitually practice
acts against nature. The security measures may include:
a bond of good behavior, being put on probation for a
certain period, or even internment in a workhouse or
agricultural colony (from 6 months to 3 years).
Details
Sources:
old.ilga.org/Statehomophobi…
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Same-sex marriage in São Tomé

?

Same-sex marriage in São Tomé is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
High support for gay marriage. Gay marriage pending.
Details
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Censorship of LGBT issues in São Tomé

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in São Tomé is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Sao Tome and Principe, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
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Right to change legal gender in São Tomé

?

Right to change legal gender in São Tomé is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
No laws allow trans people to legally change their gender.
Details
Sources:
No laws, thus no source.
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Gender-affirming care in São Tomé

?

Gender-affirming care in São Tomé is legal, but restricted for minors.

Current status
Since 1984
Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1984, Sao Tome and Principe adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in São Tomé

?

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
Legal documents are only permitted to have the gender options "M" and "F"
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/sao-tome-…
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LGBT discrimination in São Tomé

?

LGBT discrimination in São Tomé is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Illegal in some contexts
Article 130(2)(d) of the Penal Code (2012) aggravates the crime of homicide when motivated by hatred towards the sexual orientation of the victim.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 240)
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LGBT employment discrimination in São Tomé

?

LGBT employment discrimination in São Tomé is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since 2019
Sexual orientation only
The Labour Code passed in 2019 in Sao Tome and Principe confers the right to equality in employment to persons regardless of sexual orientation.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 26)
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LGBT housing discrimination in São Tomé

?

LGBT housing discrimination in São Tomé is no protections.

Current status
No protections
Details
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Same-sex adoption in São Tomé

?

Same-sex adoption in São Tomé is single only.

Current status
Single only
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Details
Sources:
travel.state.gov/content/ad…
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Intersex infant surgery in São Tomé

?

Intersex infant surgery in São Tomé is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in São Tomé

?

Serving openly in military in São Tomé is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Current status
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Trans people cannot serve in this country as of 2023
Details
Sources:
insider.com/countries-that-…
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Blood donations by MSMs in São Tomé

?

Blood donations by MSMs in São Tomé is legal.

Current status
Legal
Details
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Conversion therapy in São Tomé

?

Conversion therapy in São Tomé is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA, there's no ban of conversion therapy.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 326)
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Equal age of consent in São Tomé

?

Equal age of consent in São Tomé is equal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2012
Equal
According to Wikipedia.
Details
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_…
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Equality Index ?
48 / 100
Legal Rights
52 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in São Tomé to help improve its accuracy.
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