Full list of countries where homosexuality is outlawed:

36 of the 53 Commonwealth countries outlaw homosexuality. Here is the list of Commonwealth counties that have laws discriminating against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of their society. It is likely but by no means certain that the path of history will ultimately lead to these prejudices being removed and the laws aligning with those of the majority of open societies which currently are primarily the democracies of the west.

Some of the current discussion around this subject points the finger firmly at the United Kingdom for instigating many of the anti-homosexual laws during the colonial era. However, others believe with independence came opportunity to change and that history is no excuse for up-keeping laws that deny civil rights and personal freedom.

 

India is by a distance the most populated country in the Commonwealth with laws that discriminate against homosexuality and as such changing its laws to align with the likes of the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia would be an incredibly significant and have the biggest impact on individuals lives. Furthermore, it would set the agenda for the other countries in the list below whose laws unfairly treat same-sex relationships. This is a massive opportunity for the Commonwealth and for India to show leadership.

At a meeting of 53 Commonwealth leaders at the Commonwealth Summit in London in April 2018, Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, said that she “deeply regrets” Britain’s historical legacy of anti-gay laws across the Commonwealth.

The prime minister urged the Commonwealth nations to overhaul “outdated”, colonial-era legislation that treats more than 100 million lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people across the member countries as criminals.

May has in the past expressed her belief that the United Kingdom has a “special responsibility” to help change hearts and minds on anti-gay laws.

May received cheers when she said: “Nobody should face persecution or discrimination because of who they are or who they love.”

The List of Commonwealth Countries with laws against homosexuality

Botswana
Cameroon
Cook Islands (employment only)
Eswatini
Gambia
Ghana
Kenya
Malawi (not enforced)
Maldives
Mauritius (employment only)
Namibia (not enforced)
Nigeria (Death penalty in Northern Nigeria)
Sierra Leone (not enforced)
Swaziland
Uganda
Tanzania
Zambia
Bangladesh
Brunei Kingdom (Death penalty)
Malaysia
Pakistan
Singapore
Sri Lanka (functionally decriminalised with wide ranging discrimination protections)
Antigua and Barbuda (not enforced)
Barbados (not enforced)
Dominica (not enforced)
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica (not enforced)
St Lucia
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Kiribati (not enforced)
Papua New Guinea
Samoa (employment only)
Solomon islands
Tonga (not enforced)
Tuvalu (not enforced)

 

All Countries of the Commonwealth by Region