Brunei Darussalam

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

428,962

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

N/A

Homosexuality is illegal in Brunei. Brunei has “drawn a storm of criticism and calls for the boycott of its luxury hotels around the world after implementing Islamic laws that would allow death by stoning for adultery and homosexuality” (Devi, 2019). The sultanate currently has a moratorium in effect on death penalty. Moreover, there is a dearth in research literature regarding SGMs in Brunei. This is perhaps due to the small size of the country or the stringent laws and pervasive stigma that keeps SGM community from sharing their experiences or identifying themselves as LGBTQ+ out of fear.

Brunei Darussalam's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION
Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
No
Civil Unions
No
Joint Adoption
No
Second Parent Adoption
No
PROTECTION
Employment Nondiscrimination Laws
No
Broad Protections
No
Criminalization of Violence
No
Ban of Conversion Therapy
No
CRIMINALIZATION
Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?
No
Gender
Male Only
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)
10

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Devi, S. (2019). World Report International outrage over Brunei’s discriminatory laws. https://dl.uswr.ac.ir/bitstream/Hannan/80064/1/2019%20Lancet%20Volume%20393%20Issue%2010180%20April%20%2830%29.pdf