What's life like for LGBTQ people in Morocco? Let's take a look at some of the key equality indicators.

Is it legal to be gay in Morocco?

No.

Same-sex sexual activity is criminalised under Morocco’s penal code. It can be punished by 6 months  to  3 years imprisonment. Additional fines can also be imposed.

The laws seem to be enforced fairly sporadically and inconsistently by the authorities.

Is there anti-discrimination legislation in place to protect gay men in Morocco?

No. There’s no legislative protection from discrimination or harassment based on sexuality.

Is there marriage equality in Morocco?

No. There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

What’s life like for gay men who live in Morocco?

It is illegal to be gay in Morocco.

Being gay is seen as a sign of immorality, contravening the traditions of Islam that shape life in Morocco.

The laws against same-sex sexual activity are enforced sporadically, with local people generally treated more harshly than foreign nationals.

Morocco’s government actively discourages any tolerance, education, or advocacy regarding LGBTQ rights.

Is Morocco safe for gay men to visit on vacation?

Morocco has long been a popular destination for queer travellers, but if you’re considering a visit to Morocco, you need to proceed with extreme caution.

There has generally been more tolerance of foreign gay men in popular destinations such as Marrakesh, however this often takes the form of prostitution by local people looking to make some money from visiting foreign nationals.

Plenty of gay men have visited Morroco without incident, however gay tourists are sometimes targeted for robbery or extortion and that can get tricky – this is a country where being gay can land you in prison.

A run in with the local authorities can be problematic for foreign nationals, but life-threatening for people who live there.

If you’re visiting Morocco, and hooking up with local guys, you can be placing them in material danger.