China, even though it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, still lacks considerable amounts of SGM data. This is most likely due to the fact that being LGBTI+ is heavily stigmatized in China. Additionally, there is limited data on the HIV/AIDS population in China (UNAIDS 2018).Currently, there are no laws that criminalize private same-sex activities (US Department of State Human Rights Report, 2019). There are also no current laws that ban conversion therapy; however, there are case-to-case bans. Unfortunately, a lot of Chinese people actively encourage conversion therapy. There are some organizations, such as the Beijing LGBT Center, that advocate for LGBTI persons; however, there have been instances where local governments have tried to shut down some groups (i.e. Guangzhou LGBT groups) (Outright International 2019).
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Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
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Civil Unions
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Joint Adoption
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Second Parent Adoption
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Employment Nondiscrimination Laws
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Broad Protections
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Criminalization of Violence
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Ban of Conversion Therapy
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*There are case-by-case bans, rather than an overall law. That being said, people actively encourage conversion therapy.
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Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?
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Gender
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Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)
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**The penalty can range from 2 months to 10 years.
Being LGBTI in China –A National Survey on Social Attitudes towards Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and GenderExpression. 2016. United Nations Development Programme. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjq7JLoreXpAhWCTd8KHVHqDL8QFjAKegQIARAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.undp.org%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fchina%2Fimg%2Fdemgov%2FPublication%2FUNDP-CH-PEG-Being%2520LGBT%2520in%2520China_EN.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3SRNKtR6_haaWXvnlL_F8r
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Hildebrandt, T. (2012) Development and Division: the effect of transnational linkages and local politics on LGBT activism in China, Journal of Contemporary China, 21:77, 845-862, DOI:10.1080/10670564.2012.684967. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10670564.2012.684967?casa_token=bcSKDREOYW4AAAAA%3AT3FDDBsU7m-a-eLAMpyEMtKU7Vq9PTw6yJd6ODxC9HpkssI_CUJh7dgU1cr4w-B0Zt7RCQxRJNHAhw
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Zhu, X., Gao, Y., Gillespie, A., Xin, Y., Qi, J., Ou, J., et al. (2019). Health care and mental wellbeing in the transgender and gender-diverse Chinese population.The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 7(5), 339 –341. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(19)30079-8/fulltext