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

Is homosexuality legal in Rwanda?

Yes. The age of consent is 18, regardless of sexuality.

However, LGBTQ people are often harassed and persecuted under public morality laws.

Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Rwanda?

No.Is there Marriage Equality in Rwanda?

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

What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Rwanda?

Rwanda is a socially conservative country. Homosexuality is a taboo subject.

Homophobia is systemic. LGBTQ people conceal their sexuality.

What’s the history of homosexuality in Rwanda?

In the old Kingdom of Rwanda, same-sex sexual activity between men was common among young Hutus and Tutsis.

Among the Tutsi people, it was traditional for boys to live apart from the rest of the village for an extended period of time, while they were training to be warriors. During this period, it was common for long-lasting emotional and sexual relationships to be established. There are also reports of Tutsi boys training at court being made sexually available to guests. Within the Tutsi language there are a number of terms that describe sexual activity between men.

Traditional approaches to same-sex sexual activity were displaced by the arrival of Christianity with the European colonisation.