LGBT rights in the Central African Republic | |
---|---|
Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal |
Military service | Unknown |
Discrimination protections | No |
Family rights | |
Recognition of relationships |
Unknown |
Adoption | Unknown |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the Central African Republic may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in the Central African Republic.
The Central African Republic signed a 2011 UN declaration supporting LGBT rights.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
However, the U.S. Department of State's 2012 human rights report found that,
The penal code criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. The penalty for "public expression of love" between persons of the same sex is imprisonment for six months to two years or a fine of between 150,000 and 600,000 CFA francs ($300 and $1,200). When one of the participants is a child, the adult may be sentenced to two to five years' imprisonment or a fine of 100,000 to 800,000 CFA francs ($200 and $1,600); however, there were no reports that police arrested or detained persons [in 2012] under these provisions.
There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples.
According to a website of the French government, single and married people are eligible to adopt children. The website does not say whether LGBT people are disqualified.
The U.S. Department of State's 2012 Human Rights Report found that,
While there is official discrimination based on sexual orientation, there were no reports of the government targeting gays and lesbians. However, societal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons was entrenched, and many citizens attributed the existence of homosexuality to undue Western influence. There were no known organizations advocating or working on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons.