LGBT Rights in Southern
Province

💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

Public Opinion

Southern is lacking public opinion data.

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

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Have you lived in or visited Southern?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Southern.

Take Survey

History

Homosexual activity in Southern

?

Homosexual activity in Southern is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status
Since Sep 10, 2018
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for a term not less than fifteen years and may be liable to imprisonment for 14-15 years to life. Decriminalization pending.
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Southern

?

Same-sex marriage in Southern is banned.

Current status
Since Feb 18, 2010
Banned
SSM Pending.
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Southern

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Southern is imprisonment as punishment.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1930
Imprisonment as punishment
Section 178(g) of the Zambian Penal Code (1930) criminalizes any act of "solicitation for immoral purposes in a public place".

This provision was used as a legal basis to arrest and prosecute Paul Kasonkomona who, in 2013, appeared on a television show arguing that the rights of sexual minorities should be recognized so that the HIV epidemic could be dealt with effectively. He was arrested by the authorities after his statement and was acquitted two years later.

Furthermore, in 2019, the Minister of Religious Affairs ordered the cancellation of a television program for allegedly "promoting homosexuality".
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Southern

?

Right to change legal gender in Southern is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Zambia does not provide for legal gender recognition. Although Section 9(2) of the National Registration Act 19 of 1964 could theoretically be used to change a person’s sex description, it has never yielded any results thus far.

Gender-affirming care in Southern

?

Gender-affirming care in Southern is banned.

Current status
Banned
In Zambia, gender-affirming care is prohibited.

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Southern

?

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
As there is no protocol to change legal gender in Zambia, non-binary self-identification is defacto not recognized.
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Southern

?

LGBT discrimination in Southern is no protections.

Current status
Since Nov 1, 1931
No protections
As homosexuality is illegal, there are no protections for this population.
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Southern

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Southern is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no explicit legal protections in place.
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Southern

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Southern is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Southern

?

Same-sex adoption in Southern is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Homosexuality is currently illegal.
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Southern

?

Intersex infant surgery in Southern is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Not criminalized in Zambia.
Report error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Southern

?

Serving openly in military in Southern is don't ask, don't tell.

Current status
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Homosexuality is illegal, but long as you don't mention that you are gay you are fine.
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Southern

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Southern is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Unknown regulations
Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Southern

?

Conversion therapy in Southern is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Southern

?

Equal age of consent in Southern is n/a.

Current status
Since Sep 28, 2005
N/A
16 for heterosexual males/females. No established age of consent for homosexual males/females, but they can be charged with engaging in consensual activity starting at age 12.
Sources:
Zambian Penal Code (Amendment) Act of 2003. www.parliament.gov.zm/downl…
Report error  ·  Log