Laos

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

7.06 million

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

There are no nationwide surveys looking at Sexual and Gender minorities in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Loas). It is very difficult to assess the current state of acceptance and violence that LGBT people face because of government interference. Thus, while there were no legal impediments to LGBTQ organizational activities, the government discouraged those activities. The first LGBTQ Pride event in Laos was held as recent as June 2012with only 100 people—illustrating increased tolerance within the last 10 years.

Laos' 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?	Yes
Gender	Does Not Apply
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)	Does Not Apply

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Bowring, A., van Gemert, C., Vongsaiya, K., Hughes, C., Sihavong, A., Phimphachanh, C., . . . Hellard, M. (2014). Identifying risk: A comparison of risk between heterosexual-identifying bisexual men and other bisexual men in Vientiane, Laos. AIDS Education and Prevention,26(2), 109-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2014.26.2.109

Bowring, A. L., van Gemert, C., Vongsaiya, K., Hughes, C., Sihavong, A., Phimphachanh, C., . . . Hellard, M. (2014). Setting the scene: Locations for meeting sex partners among behaviorally bisexual men in Vientiane, Laos, and opportunities for health promotion. AIDS Education and Prevention, 26(6), 538-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2014.26.6.538

Bowring, A.L., Pasomsouk, N., Higgs, P., Sychareun, V., Hellard, M., & Power, R (2015). Factors Influences Access to Sexual Health Care Among Behaviorally Bisexual Men in Vientiane, Laos: A Qualitative Exploration. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 27(8): 820-834. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/10.1177/1010539515612909

Bowring, A. L., Pasomsouk, N., Hughes, C., van Gemert, C., Higgs, P., Sychareun, V., . . . Power, R. (2017). "We might get some free beers": Experience and motivation for transactional sex among behaviorally bisexual men in Vientiane, Laos.Archives of Sexual Behavior,46(4), 1047-1059. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0705-7

Koirala, S., Deuba, K., Nampaisan, O., Marrone, G., & Ekstrom, A.M. (2017). Faciliatiors and barriers for retention in HIV care between testing and treatment in Asia—A study in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Lao, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam. PLoS ONE, 12(5): e0176914. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176914

Longfield, K., Panyanoubong, X., Chen, J., & Kays, M.G. (2011). Increasing safer sexual behavior among Lao kathoey through an integrated marketing approach. BMC Public Health, 11: 872. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-11-872

Sychareun, V., Santavasy, B., Chalnivong, N., Fischer, A., Thomson, N., Power, R., & Durham, J. (2018). Methamphetamine-type stimulant use in Lao PDR: qualitative findings from users aged 15-25 years in VientianeCapital and Vientiane Province. Harm Reduction Journal, 15(17). https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-018-0222-1

Winter, S., & Serge, D. (2009). Transpeople, Hormones, and Health Risks in Southeast Asia: A Laos Study. International Journal of Sexual Health, 21(1). https://doi.org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/10.1080/19317610802554141