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Country Overview

Bangladesh

At a glance

Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?

No

Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?

No

Legal Gender Recognition Possible?

Yes

LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?

No

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LGBTIQ people in Bangladesh face difficulty in many areas. The Penal Code of Bangladesh outlaws “intercourse against the order of nature” and is widely interpreted to criminalize same-sex sexual activity. Although this law is rarely enforced, there have been reports of police using the law as a pretext to harass people they thought were LGBTIQ. Conservative religious views influence societal norms around gender and sexuality, and LGBTIQ people experience harassment, discrimination, and social stigmatization. The government represses civil society and particularly targets the LGBTIQ community, as LGBTIQ activists have been the targets of violence and threats and have even been killed. However, Bangladesh legally recognizes gender diversity in relation to hijra people, whose gender expression and/or identity is of a third gender, as they are able to change their legal gender markers to reflect this. In recent years, there have been LGBTIQ and hijra Pride events. Yet, hijras continue to face social stigma and mistreatment. 

 

Global Impact

Sub-Saharan Africa

Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.

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United Nations

Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.

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Asia

Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.

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In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.



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Europe and Central Asia

Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.

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Americas

Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.

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Pacific

Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.

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Human Rights Research

Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.

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