Western Highlands is governed by federal Papua New Guinea law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ✖ Male illegal, female legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Unrecognized
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    Unknown
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✖ Not banned
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    Female equal, male N/A
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

Public Opinion

Western Highlands is lacking public opinion data.

Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Western Highlands by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Have you lived in or visited Western Highlands?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Western Highlands.

Take Survey

History

Homosexual activity in Western Highlands

?

Homosexual activity in Western Highlands is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Since 2002
Male illegal, female legal
Men can receive 3 to 14 years of imprisonment under Criminal Code 1974. The legislation lists homosexuality under "Unnatural Offenses" and "Indecent Practices Between Males."
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Western Highlands

?

Same-sex marriage in Western Highlands is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
No laws in place.
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Western Highlands

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Western Highlands is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Papua New Guinea, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Western Highlands

?

Right to change legal gender in Western Highlands is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
No laws in place.

Gender-affirming care in Western Highlands

?

Gender-affirming care in Western Highlands is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Western Highlands

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Western Highlands is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Western Highlands

?

LGBT discrimination in Western Highlands is no protections.

Current status
Since 2002
No protections
As male homosexuality is illegal, no protection is available to any members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sources:
Homosexuality Activity entry
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Western Highlands

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Western Highlands is no protections.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2002
No protections
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Western Highlands

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Western Highlands is no protections.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2002
No protections
It is still illegal for males.
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Western Highlands

?

Same-sex adoption in Western Highlands is single only.

Current status
Single only
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Western Highlands

?

Intersex infant surgery in Western Highlands is not banned.

Current status
Not banned under federal Papua New Guinea law
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Papua New Guinea.
Report error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Western Highlands

?

Serving openly in military in Western Highlands is legal.

Current status
Legal
Nationwide.
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Western Highlands

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Western Highlands is legal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2016
Legal
As part of Indonesia.
Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Western Highlands

?

Conversion therapy in Western Highlands is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Papua New Guinea.
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Western Highlands

?

Equal age of consent in Western Highlands is female equal, male n/a.

Current status
Female equal, male N/A
Anal sex is illegal in Papua new Guinea and therefore it is illegal for males. However oral and other types of sex are legal and the age of consent is 16.
Report error  ·  Log