tni01's Blogs

41 Commonwealth Nations where being gay can land you in prison

tni01 Blog Last Activity 10 years ago 679 views 14 comments
- Pakistan
In Pakistan same-sex sexual activity has been illegal since 1860. The laws are applied differently depending on what of region of the country you’re in with some areas carrying sentences of 2 – 10 years. Homosexuality is widely viewed with hatred and disdain in Pakistan with no expectation of change happening in the near future. Interestingly, Pakistan in among the biggest searches for for gay porn and is said to have a large underground gay community.

- Uganda
Both male and female homosexuality are illegal in Uganda with little to no legal protections existing for the LGBT community. A male convicted of same-sex activity can face up to life behind bars while a woman can face up to seven years. The laws against homosexuality in Uganda are already some of the harshest in the region but MP David Bahati has sought to imposed a death penalty for some people convicted for homosexuality. Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Rebecca Kadager promised to enact the laws as a Christmas gift to the Ugandan people because the vast majority of the population demanded homosexuality to be punished.

- Bangladesh
People convicted of same-sex activity in Bangladesh can receive fines and up to in prison to life imprisonment. LGB people are subject to abuse and discrimination in society is prevalent. Transgender people are however allowed to vote and have been able to since 2008 but social stigma is still an issue for the community.

- Brunei
Male same-sex activity is illegal in Brunei with those convicted facing up to 10 years in prison. There are no laws against female homosexuality.

- Malaysia
The Government of Malaysia has retained the colonial laws criminalising homosexuality although they are rarely enforced. If a person is convicted of same-sex sexual activity they can face up to 20 years in prison, fines and whippings.

- Seychelles
Men convicted of same-sex sexual activity can face up to 14 years in prison. Female homosexuality is not illegal in the Seychelles but the usual social stigmas still apply.

- Sri Lanka
Homosexual activity is illegal in Sri Lanka but since no one has ever been convicted under the law.

- Botswana
Same-sex activity is illegal in Bostwana and carries a sentence of up to 7 years in prison.

- Cameroon
Same sex sexual activity is illegal in Cameroon with those convicted facing up to 5 years in prison. In 2011 two men were arrested on suspicion of homosexuality based entirely on the way they dressed and spoke.

The Gambia
Gay sex is illegal in The Gambia and those convicted can face up to 14 years in prison. The Gambia came under the spotlight earlier this year when a lesbian asylum seeker faced deportation from the UK to the country where she feared she would be persecuted for being gay. The President of The Gambia last year attacked foreign countries who he claimed were trying to use aid as a means to bribe countries into accepting homosexuality. David Cameron said that countries that persecuted LGBT could face cuts in aid.

- Ghana
Same-sex sexual activity between men is illegal in Ghana with those found guilty facing up to 3 years in prison. A newspaper in the country made a claim last year that over 82% of the population abhorred homosexuality.

click on link to see more

Comments

You must be logged in to post comments, please login or signup (free)
10 years ago

and in Iran a 14 year old boy was beheaded for being gay. if you are fortunate enough like me in Canada a country that accepts us, we should be thankful...the gay struggle isn't over..it never will be.

tni01
10 years ago

Couldn't agree more Domono1, In an ideal world things could be a lot different but sadly they are not and we have two options, sweep them under the matt and pretend that they are not there or face up to the problems of the world.
I'd rather be aware of the dangers than live in a dream world.

Cant remember who said it, but "You are more guilty letting wrongs happen than the ones that committee the wrongs"

owls11
10 years ago

hey thancz ryan.,.if only everythinc waz like music does to make the world go round it would be a far far better place than the man-made politics, religion, conflict n ignorance - ha if only eh?? ??

Domono1
10 years ago

I agree with Yoshi we come on this site to get away from the negativity in our life. But on the other hand it is good to be aware. We should all live in peace and harmony. Isn't that what it's all about?

tni01
10 years ago

Yoshi, It's not a personally dig at you, most American's are awesome people I wouldn't hold "the people" responsible for their Governments actions, but feel the leader should be doing more for their people (the ones that vote them in) rather than worrying about the rest of the world... the Middle east is a basket case and always will be while religion has anything to do with there way of life.

Yoshi312
10 years ago

im just saying you should post about the positive things about being gay instead of the negative

BackStreetBoy
10 years ago

I've been in several countries in that list and no problems. But you must always be very careful what to do and how and where and with whom... these things don't change in one night.

tni01
10 years ago

Not being rude Yoshi, but America is one of the worst countries in the world to live in...
Just today's the headlines
"Richest 1pc collect 19pc of US income as pay gap hits record level not seen since 1927, IRS data shows"

"Debt Limit Deadline: Study Finds U.S. Could Default"

"The official accounting of the U.S. debt has remained stuck at exactly $16,699,396,000,000 trillion for another month – and, as of Wednesday, 109 days in a row."

If I were an American I'd one, be against the Syrian war, (fix your own back yard first)... from the outside, America is a basket case.

tni01
10 years ago

Prison for being how God created you... seems fair huh...
Nothing queer as folk.

10 years ago

Don't these people know what happens in Prison? Gay sex. Granted it's often rape but not always.

But look on the bright side,if you get locked up-at least you'll have a place to sleep.

Yoshi312
10 years ago

im never leaving america.

10 years ago

World is sick... lets blow it up.

tni01
10 years ago

List continued...

- Maldives:
The Maldives operate under Sharia Law and people of same sex sexual acts can receive the death penalty.

- Mauritius:
While same sex sexual acts are illegal in Mauritius with those convicted facing up to 5 years in prison discrimination protections are in place to prevent someone from being fired for being gay. Also Mauritius was one of the 66 nations to add it’s signature to the UN Declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity which failed to pass.

- Nauru:
Male same sex sexual acts are illegal in Nauru with those convicted facing up to 14 years in prison. However in 2011 the government announced plans to decriminalise homosexuality. As of 2013 this has not happened yet but no one has been convicted of homosexual acts since the plans were announced.

- Papua New Guinea:
Male homosexuality is illegal in Papua New Guinea with those found guilty of partaking in sodomy facing up to 14 years in prison. Although the law is rarely enforced, LGBT people face widespread social stigma and isolation from the rest of society. The AIDS epidemic which has exploded in Papua New Guinea in the past few years has been in part blamed on the homophobic laws and the homophobia in society.

- Samoa:
Homosexuality is illegal in Samoa with those convicted facing up to 7 years in prison. This year the Prime Minister reiterated that same-sex marriage would not be made legal in the country. In 2008 the flim Milk was banned from the country on the grounds it broke rules and guidelines.

- Singapore:
Although the law is rarely enforced, people in Singapore found guilty of same-sex activity can face up to 2 years in prison, People are permitted to change gender but great social stigma remains.

- The Solomon Islands:
Those found guilty of partaking in same-sex activity on The Solomon Islands can face up to 14 years in prison. People who attempt to engage in anal sex can face up to 7 years in prison. Attempts to reform the law were made in 2008 but the plans were met with strong opposition and in 2011 the country informed the United Nations that they would not seek to decriminalise same-sex behaviour.

- Tonga:
A person convicted of anal sex in Tonga can face up to 10 years in prison.

- Tuvalu:
Male homosexuality is illegal in Tuvalu with those found guilty facing up to 14 years in prison. Female homosexuality is legal but no legal protections or recognition exist for lesbians in the country. The law states that no person shall “commit buggery with another person or with an animal.” The country also makes it illegal for a man to have sexual intercourse with a “female idiot or imbecile woman”.

- Antigua and Barbuda:
In Antigua and Barbuda same sex activity is illegal for both gay men and lesbian women. Two consenting adults found guilty of the offence can face up to 15 years in prison and no legal protections exist to protect those who are LGBT.

tni01
10 years ago

List continued...

- Kenya
Homosexual activity is illegal in Kenya with those convicted facing up to 14 years in prison.

- Lesotho
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal for men in the Kingdom of Lesotho as a common law offence. Being a lesbian is legal.

- Malawi
Male and female homosexual acts are both illegal in Malawi with those convicted facing up to 14 years in prison. Malawi briefly suspended its anti-gay laws last year but after heavy pressure from the church and conservative groups, the laws were reenacted.

- Namibia
Anal sex is illegal in Namibia but the law is rarely enforced. In 2005 the Deputy Minister Minister of Home Affairs described homosexuals as have “betrayed Namibia’s fight for freedom” and being to blame for the AIDS pandemic in the country.

- Nigeria
Nigeria is split between a conservative Muslim north and a conservative Christian south. In both parts of the country gay relations are illegal. In areas where Sharia Law are in affect a person convicted of homosexuality can face the death penalty while in areas where Sharia is not in affect people can face up to 14 years in prison. A Pew Global Attitudes Project in 2007 found that 97% of the country’s population view homosexuality as unacceptable. In June, a report was released stating that 92% of the population polled believed that same-sex marriage should be criminalised.

- Sierra Leone
Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal but the laws are rarely enforced. Being a lesbian is not illegal.

- Swaziland
Male homosexual activity is illegal in Swaziland. Being a lesbian is not illegal.

- Tanzania
Male homosexual activity is illegal throughout the entire country. Being a lesbian is not illegal apart from in Zanzibar.

- Zambia
Same sex sexual activity is illegal in Zambia with those convicted facing up to 14 years in prison. The government has in place a department to combat homosexuality and protect the population from “abnormal sexual acts”

- Kiribati
Anal sex is punishable with up to 14 years imprisonment in the country. It is covered under the same law that prevents people from having sex with animals.