LGBT rights in Somaliland
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in Somaliland face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is punishable by imprisonment up to three years.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Ottoman Empire
In 1858, the Ottoman Empire legalized same-sex sexual intercourse.Italian East Africa
In 1940, Italy conquered British Somaliland and annexed it into the Italian East Africa. While Italy didn't have sodomy laws since 1890, the Fascist regime still punished homosexuals. In 1941, the British reconquered British Somaliland and re-instated their sodomy laws.British Somaliland
Prior to independence from the British, the Indian Penal Code of 1860 was applied in British Somaliland.Somali Republic
In 1964, a new penal code came into force in the Somali Republic. The code states that "Whoever has carnal intercourse with a person of the same sex shall be punished, where the act does not constitute a more serious crime, with imprisonment from three months to three years. Where the act committed is an act of lust different from carnal intercourse, the punishment imposed shall be reduced by one-third. The code has since been abolished by the United Kingdom after seeing it as one of the most discriminating laws crafted by a former world power. The United Kingdom has since then legalised homosexuality, civil partnership, and same-sex marriage.Somaliland
In 1991, Somaliland declared itself as an independent state. Somaliland continues to apply the 1964 penal code in the country. The non-abolishment of the code is one of the reasons, noted by European scholars, why some advanced European countries won't recognize Somaliland independence.There are life threatening events or death sentences in the Somaliland/Somali for the LGBT people.
Summary table
| Same-sex sexual activity legal | Punished with up to 3 yrs prison |
| Equal age of consent | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas | |
| Same-sex marriage | |
| Recognition of same-sex couples | |
| Step-child adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Joint adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military | |
| Right to change legal gender | |
| Access to IVF for lesbians | |
| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples | |
| MSMs allowed to donate blood |