Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in

Tajikistan Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...

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. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Tajikistan, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to heterosexual married couples. LGBT people tend to face frequent discrimination, harassment and violence from the authorities and the Muslim-majority public.

Legality of same-sex sexual activity and LGBT Activism

Both male and female same-sex sexual activity have been legal in

since 1998. The age of consent is 16, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. LGBT rights activism is not supported in the country, whether by the government or the majority of people in society. Tajikistan for Equality, founded in 2019 by Odinasho Sharopov, is the only LGBTQ+ support organization recognized by the Tajikistan government.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Tajikistan does not recognize same-sex unions.

Gender identity and expression

Transgender people "face a lot of stigma and discrimination" in Tajikistan. Under Tajik law, transgender people may change their legal gender on their passport if they provide a medical statement that they have undergone

sex reassignment surgery Gender-affirming surgery (GAS) is a surgical procedure, or series of procedures, that alters a transgender or transsexual person's physical appearance and sexual characteristics to resemble those associated with their identified gender, and a ...

. In practice, however, the lack of awareness, coupled with corruption and bureaucracy, means the process can be far more difficult. As of 2014, there have only been two gender change operations in Tajikistan, the first in 2001 and the second in January 2014.

Living conditions

Even though the law does not prohibit same-sex sexual activity, the living conditions in the country is not favourable for

people. This is mostly due to local religion and beliefs, as well as outside influence. Harassment from police and the public is common. In 2017, the authorities drew up an "official list" of LGBT citizens following two state operations named "Morality" and "Purge".

Public opinion

Islamic religious leaders have significant influence on the position of Tajik society on LGBT topics. The Supreme Mufti of Tajikistan Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda has publicly condemned same-sex relations, calling them a "disaster". In addition, he condemned countries that have legalized same-sex marriages, and spoke out against human rights activists and laws to protect LGBT people from discrimination. A number of Tajik psychologists and doctors consider homosexuality to be a form of addiction comparable to drug addiction and alcoholism, and provide "cure methods". These are considered pseudoscience by the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of ...

, however. There are several reported cases of disrespectful treatment to LGBT-patients by medical staff.

Summary table

References

Human rights in Tajikistan

LGBT in Tajikistan {{Tajikistan-stub