Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 2016 Discrimination protections No Adoption No | Military service Has no military Recognition of
relationships No | |
 | ||
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people living in Nauru face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT persons. Same-sex sexual activity is legal since May 2016, but there are no legal recognition of same-sex unions, protections against discrimination, or other protections.
History
Same-sex sexual activity was criminalised in 1921 when the island adopted the Criminal Code of Queensland (the Criminal Code 1899), which was retained following Nauruan independence in 1968.
In January 2011, Mathew Batsiua, Minister for Health, Justice and Sports, stated that the decriminalisation of "homosexual activity between consenting adults" was "under active consideration". In October 2011, the government pledged to decriminalise same-sex sexual acts.
According to the United States Department of State, there were no reports in 2012 of prosecutions directed at LGBT persons.
In May 2016, the Parliament of Nauru passed the Crimes Act 2016 which repealed the Criminal Code 1899 and therefore legalised same-sex sexual activity.