….that consensual, adult same-sex sexual behavior is a crime in eight countries in South and Southeast Asia – Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka?

Sex Law

…that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code reads:  ‘Unnatural Offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine’?

…that similar to India, Section 377 exists in the Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Singapore criminal codes?

…that Section 377A of the Malaysian Criminal Code reads: ‘Outrages on Decency. Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years’?

…that Section 377B of the Malaysian Criminal Code calls for a maximum of 20 years in prison and caning?

…that while there are no specific statutes dealing with same sex relationships in Vietnam, according to the Marriage and Family Law of 2000, same sex marriages are forbidden under Article 10?

…that Section 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code reads: ‘Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine’?  In 1995, an amendment titled 365A broadened the ambit of acts considered criminal under the law – the term ‘man’ was changed to ‘person’ and ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’ became act of ‘gross indecency with any person.’ Thus, a provision which did not apply to lesbians was actually expanded to include lesbians in the wake of this reform, rather than ceasing to apply to gay men.

…that while there are no specific statues regarding same sex relationships in Indonesia, Article 292 of the Indonesian Criminal Code reads, ‘Anyone who is a person of age, who commits an act of obscenity with another person who belongs to the same sex, who is recognized or should be presumed that he/she is not of age, is threatened with a penalty of maximum 5 years in jail’?

....that although there is no law against sodomy in China, up until ten years ago, the Chinese law included a provision for ‘hooligans’ – and that an explanation in the law included sodomy?