Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Gabon face legal challenges not experienced by non-

LGBTQ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...

residents. Except for a period between July 2019 and June 2020, same-sex sexual activity has generally been legal in Gabon. Same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples and LGBTQ persons face

stigmatization Stigma, originally referring to the visible marking of people considered inferior, has evolved to mean a negative perception or sense of disapproval that a society places on a group or individual based on certain characteristics such as their ...

among the broader population. In December 2008, Gabon co-sponsored and signed the non-binding UN declaration on

sexual orientation Sexual orientation is an enduring personal pattern of romantic attraction or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. Patterns ar ...

and

gender identity Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender. Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it. In most individuals, the various biological determinants of sex are congruent and consistent with the in ...

which called for the global decriminalization of homosexuality. It was one of only six African countries to do so. In 2011, however, Gabon voted against a joint statement on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity" at the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

, a statement which was condemning violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people.

Laws regarding same-sex sexual activity

Following the country's independence from France in 1960, and up to 2019, same-sex relationships have not been criminalized. The

age of consent The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to Human sexual activity, sexual acts. Consequently, an adult who engages in sexual activity with a person younger than the age of consent is un ...

is not equal. Opposite-sex sexual acts requires a minimum age of 15, while same-sex sexual acts requires the minimum age of 21. On 5 July 2019, Gabon enacted revisions to its Penal Code which criminalized homosexual relations between consenting adults with a potential penalty of imprisonment up to 6 months and/or a fine of up to 5 million CFA francs. According to Davis Mac-Iyalla of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa, he claimed he knew of two men in Gabon who had already been arrested under the law and had to bribe the police to be let go. On 23 June 2020, the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...

approved the government's bill to decriminalize same-sex sexual activity. It was approved by the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

on 29 June, and signed by the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

on 7 July 2020.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples. In November 2024, Gabon adopted a new constitution via a national referendum, which included a provision explicitly defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. This definition was enshrined as an " eternity clause," making it unamendable under the current constitutional framework. The clause states: "Le mariage, union entre deux personnes de sexe opposé" (Marriage, a union between two people of the opposite sex). The constitutional ban on same-sex marriage took effect on 12 April 2025.

Discrimination protections

There are limited protections based on

and sexual life. There is no legal protection against

discrimination Discrimination is the process of making unfair or prejudicial distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong, such as race, gender, age, class, religion, or sex ...

based on

. Law No. 025/2023 of 09/07/2023 amending Law No. 001/2011 of 25 September 2011 on the Protection of Personal Data included sexual orientation and sexual life as sensitive data.

Living conditions

The U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report found that "discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons was a problem, and LGBT individuals often kept their status secret from the community for fear of being harassed or discriminated against".

Summary table

References