The Australian Volunteers Program strives to provide a safe, supportive and equitable environment for LGBTQIA+ volunteers, approved accompanying dependents, partner organisations and all program staff. The Australian Volunteers Program has supported queer volunteers in all program countries and has ongoing connections with community organisations in many countries and regions in which the program operates.
This guide introduces a snapshot of the local context for queer and gender diverse people. LGBTQIA+ program participants must be aware of the country context before undertaking an assignment. If you are an LGBTQIA+ volunteer, you will need to:
- do your own research and understand what the local law says you can and can't do when in-country
- follow the local laws, even if you disagree with them
- be aware of the legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people in your destinations
- consider if you’re comfortable living and working in a place where you may not be able to live as openly as you can in some parts of Australia.
Language
Terminology may differ across urban and rural contexts, provinces or ethnic and cultural groups. Information sourced online can be outdated or inaccurate. For current and accurate information, please confirm with an appropriate civil society organisation (CSO) or ask your in-country team.
Legal and policy context
Consensual same-sex sexual acts were decriminalised in Bhutan in 2021. Sodomy and other forms of ‘unnatural sex’ had only been recognised as petty misdemeanours since 2004, when the country adopted a penal code as part of its transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Its new legal framework was modelled on those of other countries in the region, most notably India, which at the time maintained colonial-era provisions linked to LGBTQIA+ people. In the seventeen years in which homosexuality was criminalised, no prosecutions were recorded.
As early as 2013, Bhutanese members of parliament signalled a willingness to amend Sections 213 and 214 of the penal code to align with its broader democratisation efforts. Uniquely, the impetus for decriminalisation came from within government more than civil society, with law reform spearheaded by Finance Minister Namgay Tshering.
Discrimination
There are no specific legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people in Bhutan. Activists believe that legal safeguards are necessary to counter myths and misconceptions and to realise the full dignity of LGBTQIA+ people. As well as calls for anti-discrimination legislation linked to employment, education, housing and the provision of services, LGBTQIA+ activists have called for same-sex marriages to be recognised to ensure equal access to pensions, insurance claims and other relationship-based rights.
Activists have also called for more consistent and transparent approaches to legal gender recognition. While there are a handful of cases where gender markers have been amended on citizenship cards, this process is currently blocked by the state due to the lack of a clear policy framework.
Despite a lack of progress on formalising LGBTQIA+ rights, the Bhutanese government has signalled its openness and commitment to addressing these issues. For example, the most recent versions of the National Gender Equality Policy and the National Strategy and Framework of Action on the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence explicitly reference LGBTQIA+ people and recognises the important contribution of CSOs and advocacy groups.
The national government has also engaged with UN bodies and international agencies to promote equal access for LGBTQIA+ people within various domains, including healthcare, education, social inclusion and economic development.
Cultural and societal attitudes
Buddhism, which is practised by three-quarters of the population, does not expressly condemn homosexuality. However, some followers use Buddhist ideas of reincarnation to claim that LGBTQIA+ people are a result of inappropriate sexual activities in previous lives. However, some Buddhist leaders have spoken positively about diversity and inclusion.
Non-Buddhist LGBTQIA+ people may face additional social, cultural, and legal barriers to inclusion. Despite freedom of religion being enshrined in the constitution, religious minorities in Bhutan report intimidation and discrimination, often perpetrated by the state.
A binary understanding of gender remains prevalent. Many LGBTQIA+ people report being pressured to fulfil cultural expectations and conform to traditional roles, such as marriage and parenthood. Transgender and gender-nonconforming people are more likely to face harassment, ostracisation and violence.
However, younger LGBRQIA+ people are reporting higher rates of acceptance, especially among friends and family. Tashi Choden Chombal, a lesbian woman, was crowned Miss Bhutan in 2022 and competed in the Miss Universe pageant. Tashi has become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. Another milestone was the inclusion of specific terms for LGBTQIA+ identities in Dzongkha, the official language of Bhutan, to promote understanding and acceptance. Despite these positive developments, LGBTQIA+ Bhutanese continue to encounter discrimination in public and private settings, particularly in homes, schools, workplaces and health facilities.
Health and wellbeing
Bhutan holds a positive attitude toward sex and family planning, especially in contrast to neighbouring states. The government makes condoms free as part of its family planning program and to curtail sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). While general health services are open to LGBTQIA+ people, staff are generally not trained to attend to their specific needs. Fear of discrimination and stigmatisation prevents men who have sex with men and transgender women from accessing HIV and allied health services. CSOs deliver education, community support and a public face for those living with HIV/AIDS. RENEW, a CSO providing holistic services to survivors of gender-based violence, has established a help desk to act as a referral point for inclusive and affirming service.
A 2025 study highlighted the need for affirming mental health services for LGBTQIA+ people, especially for children and youth. The report found high levels of anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicidal ideation among this population, driven by stigma, harassment, bullying, ostracisation and familial rejection.
While it is legally possible for people who do not identify with their sex assigned at birth to obtain identification stipulating the gender they identify with, this approval is on a case-by-case basis.
Media
LGBTQIA+ advocates and allies have worked with the media to ensure they report more accurately on the stories of queer Bhutan. The LGBTQIA+ community can call out biased or discriminatory reporting in the media.
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts such as LGBT Bhutan and LGBTQ Bhutan are popular. Privacy remains important for LGBTQIA+ people, with Instagram and WhatsApp commonly used.
Queer Voices of Bhutan has played an important role in advocacy and outreach since 2018. The platform allows LGBTQIA+ Bhutanese to share experiences, organise events, disseminate information, address popular misconceptions and advocate for positive social change. Similar initiatives, such as Queer Talks, discusses LGBTQIA+ lives in Bhutan.
In recent years, mainstream news platforms, including the national broadcaster BBS, have featured LGBTQIA+ content more prominently, drawing attention to the challenges faced and the contributions made by LGBTQIA+ people. This content often challenges stereotypes and encourages social acceptance.
Research and contributions provided by John Marnell, African Centre for Migration and Society.
The Pride Guides were developed in 2022 and updated in 2025 by consultants and experts based in countries in which the program operates.
