Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 1961 Adoption No | Recognition of
relationships No | |
 | ||
Gender identity/expression Transgender people allowed to change legal gender following surgery Discrimination protections No (hate crimes and hate speeches are outlawed) | ||
Homosexuality was decriminalized in Mongolia in 1961. Hate crimes and hate speeches on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are outlawed in the country. However, households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
Contents
- Legality of same sex sexual acts
- Recognition of same sex relationships
- Discrimination protections and hate crime laws
- Gender identityexpression
- Living conditions
- References
There are a couple of known LGBT-rights organizations active in Mongolia, most notably one called "Tavilan" (meaning "destiny").
Legality of same-sex sexual acts
In medieval times, engaging in homosexual activity was punishable by death.
Same-sex sexual acts were decriminalized in Mongolia in 1961. The age of consent is 16, regardless of sexual orientation.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
Marriage is not clearly defined by the Mongolian Constitution, which reads "Marriage is based on the equality and mutual consent of the spouses who have reached the age determined by law. The State protects the interests of the family, motherhood, and the child."
Discrimination protections and hate crime laws
Violence and discrimination against LGBT people in Mongolia are fairly common and often not reported to police. In 2001, a lesbian woman was raped, abducted and stabbed by two men. In 2009, an ultra-nationalist neo-Nazi group kidnapped three transgender women and sexually assaulted them. None of these crimes were reported to the police for fear of victimization. In February 2014, a gay man was sexually assaulted by a neo-Nazi group. Following public outcry from the LGBT community and civil society organizations, the Government of Mongolia announced in May 2014 that it would consider anti-discrimination legislation to protect LGBT people.
On 3 December 2015, the Mongolian Parliament adopted a new criminal code, which bans hate crimes and hate speeches on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Criminal Code uses the vague term "crimes of discrimination", which is described as meaning hate crimes and hate speeches. Mongolian LGBT groups announced that they will be training the police on what hate crimes are, how to recognize them and the kind of assistance hate crime victims require. The Criminal Code took effect on 1 September 2016.
Gender identity/expression
An amendment made in June 2009 to Article 20(1) of the Civil Registration Law allows transgender people to change their legal gender on birth certificates or citizen identification cards following sex reassignment surgery.
Hate crimes and hate speeches on the basis of gender identity are outlawed in the country.
Living conditions
As of present, LGBT-peoples lack visibility in Mongolia. While the country does not have much homophobia, as stated by westerners traveling to the country, there is also not much of a public acknowledgment of homosexuality.
In 2009, after more than 10 failed attempts, the Mongolian Government registered the LGBT Centre, a non-governmental organisation which advocates for the rights of LGBT people. Initially, the State Registration Agency refused to register the organization because it "conflicts with Mongolian customs and traditions and has the potential to set a wrong example for youth and adolescents."
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has been celebrated in Mongolia since 2011.