Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Papua New Guinea face legal challenges not experienced by non-

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...

residents. Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal, punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment, but the law is not enforced. Attitudes towards LGBT people are greatly influenced by Christian churches, as a majority of Papua New Guineans are Christian. Historically, gay men had certain societal roles. They would take on traditional female roles such as cooking and would participate with women in traditional festivals. However, some tribes were observed to have practiced ritual homosexuality such as the

Etoro people The Etoro, or Edolo, are a tribe and ethnic group of Papua New Guinea. Their territory comprises the southern slopes of Mt. Sisa, along the southern edge of the central mountain range of New Guinea, near the Papuan Plateau. They are well known a ...

and

Sambia people The Simbari people (also known as the Simbari Anga, called Sambia by Herdt) are a tribe of mountain-dwelling, hunting and horticultural people who inhabit the fringes of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, and are extensively descr ...

. Nowadays, LGBT people tend to be more tolerated and accepted in coastal areas than in the

New Guinea Highlands The New Guinea Highlands, also known as the Central Range or Central Cordillera, is a long chain of mountain ranges on the island of New Guinea, including the island's tallest peak, Puncak Jaya , the highest mountain in Oceania. The range is home ...

Terminology

The words "lesbian", "gay", "bisexual" and "transgender" tend to carry heavy stigma in Papua New Guinea. In recent years, the

Tok Pisin Tok Pisin (,Laurie Bauer, 2007, ''The Linguistics Student’s Handbook'', Edinburgh ; Tok Pisin ), often referred to by English speakers as "New Guinea Pidgin" or simply Pidgin, is a creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an ...

word has been used by transgender Papua New Guineas to refer to a cultural and traditional

third gender Third gender is a concept in which individuals are categorized, either by themselves or by society, as neither man nor woman. It is also a social category present in societies that recognize three or more genders. The term ''third'' is usuall ...

. Similarly, the

recognize a traditional third gender: ''kwolu-aatmwol'' (literally ''male thing transforming into female thing'').

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

Male same-sex sexual activity is prohibited by Section 210 of the

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

Penal Code. Anal sex and oral sex between persons of the opposite sex is also illegal. Those caught engaging in anal sex or

oral sex Oral sex, sometimes referred to as oral intercourse, is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth (including the lips, tongue, or teeth) and the throat. Cunnilingus is oral sex p ...

(whether heterosexual or homosexual) can be punished with up to fourteen years' imprisonment. Other same-sex sexual acts can be punished with up to three years' imprisonment. In 2011, the Government informed the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

that decriminalising homosexuality was not a priority. According to the

United States Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government responsible for the country's fore ...

, there were no reports of prosecutions in 2012 directed at LGBT persons."2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Papua New Guinea"
United States Department of State However, the department reported that LGBT persons in 2012 were "vulnerable to societal stigmatization". Former MP Dame

Carol Kidu Dame Carol Anne Kidu ( Millwater; born 10 October 1948), also known as Carol, Lady Kidu, DBE, is an Australian-born Papua New Guinean politician. Kidu was the only female Member of Parliament in the 2002–2007 and 2007–2012 National Pa ...

in 2012 described gay Papua New Guineans as being forced to live lives of secrecy, and called unsuccessfully on the Government to decriminalise homosexuality. Prime Minister

Peter O'Neill Peter Charles Paire O'Neill (born 13 February 1965) is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the seventh Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019. From 2002 until the present he served as Member of Parliament for Ialibu-Pan ...

explained that there were "strong feelings" against homosexuality in the country, which was "yet to accept such sexual openness"."Gay PNG citizens face discrimination"
, Special Broadcasting Service (video), 11 September 2012

Living conditions

LGBT persons have reported facing "discrimination in their daily lives, and often struggle to find jobs"."No end in sight to PNG’s anti-gay laws"
,

Special Broadcasting Service The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an Australian hybrid-funded public service broadcaster. About 80 percent of funding for the company is derived from the Australian Government. SBS operates six TV channels ( SBS, SBS Viceland, SBS World ...

, 11 September 2012 There are a few nightclubs in

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New ...

that have "gay nights" and small drag parties, mainly in

Hanuabada Hanuabada is a coastal village in Papua New Guinea in the outskirts of the nation's capital, Port Moresby. It is the biggest village in the Motuan tribe and is often known by its locals as "HB." Hanuabada means "big village" (''hanua'' "village" ...

, which has been described as a "gay village" and a sanctuary for local LGBT people.

Summary table

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lgbt Rights In Papua New Guinea Human rights in Papua New Guinea Political movements in Papua New Guinea Law of Papua New Guinea

Terminology

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

Living conditions

Summary table

See also

References