LGBT rights in Pakistan | |
---|---|
Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Illegal (not enforced) |
Penalty:
|
2 years to life imprisonment. |
Gender identity/expression | Laws to protect Transgender and Transexual persons in all of Pakistan |
Military service | No |
Discrimination protections | Only for transgender and transsexual persons |
Family rights | |
Recognition of relationships |
Same-sex relationships considered taboo |
Adoption | Adoption not allowed by same-sex couple; transgender persons allowed to adopt |
Being open about one's sexual orientation, such as being a lesbian, gay or bisexual person, is considered a taboo in Pakistan. Even in large cities, gays and lesbians have to be highly discreet about their sexual orientation. There is a growing number of individuals—especially those born to parents who have been educated in the developed world, are usually university graduates and have some sort of understanding about evolution and sexuality—who are coming out to their friends and introducing them to their same-sex partner.
Pakistan's law prescribes criminal penalties for same-sex sexual acts. The Pakistan Penal Code of 1860, originally developed under colonialism, punishes sodomy with a possible prison sentence and has other provisions that impact the human rights of LGBT Pakistanis, under the guise of protecting public morality and order. Despite being a legal offense, acts of homosexuality are rarely prosecuted in the country.
In what was seen as a historic move in 2009, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled in favour of the civil rights of transsexual citizens.
Pakistan does not have civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation. Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions enjoy legal recognition and are scarcely ever brought up in the political discourse. The LGBT community in Pakistan has not officially begun to campaign for LGBT rights and it remains a long distance dream for that community.
Discrimination and disapproval of the LGBT community, along with the associated social stigma, mostly stem from religious and patriarchal beliefs and make it difficult for the LGBT people to have steady relationships. Nevertheless, the LGBT community is able to socialize, organize, date and even live together as couples, but usually only secretly: Sexual encounters between same-sex partners are easily accessible, especially in big cities such as Karachi and Lahore, and for gay and bisexual men in particular, with it even being socially accepted to demonstrate their affection. As a result of globalisation, increasing liberalisation trends and advancing social tolerance, private gay parties in Pakistan have been thriving for a number of years.