Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Paro Taktsang, a sacred Vajrayana Himalayan Buddhist site and icon of Bhutan (Pexels)
Gay sex in Bhutan has been decriminalised in a sitting of both houses of Parliament.
The Lower House of the Buddhist kingdom – which is on the eastern edge of the Himalayans – first moved to make the amendment last year.
Yesterday, however, both voted in favour of amending articles 213 and 214 of the Penal Code which criminalized “unnatural sex.” While not specifically mentioning homosexuality, the articles were widely interpreted as prohibiting gay sex.
The King of Bhutan still needs to approve and sign the amendment for it to become law, but lawmaker Ugyen Wangdi told Reuters: “Homosexuality will not be considered as unnatural sex now.”
The amendment passed with a vote of 63 of the total 69 members of Parliament.
While not repealing the provision entirely, the amendment clarifies that “homosexuality between adults shall not be considered unnatural sex.”
“Today, Bhutan chose to tell a different story”
Executive Director of OutRight Action International, Jessica Stern, commented: “For too long, the human rights of LGBTIQ people have not been recognized. Today, Bhutan chose to tell a different story and create a different future for itself.
“The decriminalization of homosexuality in Bhutan is a huge achievement. It is both a testament to the perseverance of the LGBTIQ movement in Bhutan and a source of inspiration for LGBTIQ movements across the continent and the world where such laws are still in effect.”
The majority-Buddhist nation is home to 800,000 people.
Once official in Bhutan, the total number of countries still criminalising same-sex relations will decrease to 66. Other countries to decriminalise homosexuality in recent years include Gabon and Botswana.
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