Gay papua new guinea

Young Pioneer Tours

Gay explore in Papua Modern Guinea is feasible for the Diverse community, but should be done with care and consideration with regards to the local laws and customs taken into place.

Is homosexuality legal in Papua New Guinea?

Despite how buddy-buddy PNG is with the west, male to male same sex relations are technically illegal, with transgressors facing up to 14 years in prison. In reality the law is rarely enforced, but social experience in this religious society is very low.

Some contain stated that anti-homosexual feelings are connected to modern colonialism, rather than “traditional Papuan values”, but this is a very broad declaration and ignores the fact of how many different tribes are active in modern Papua Fresh Guinea

One example often quoted is the Semen Tribe of PNG.

You can examine about journalist journey to Bougainville here.

Gay travel in Papua New Guinea dangers and annoyances

Travelling alone, or in the streets of Port Moresby is generally considered dangerous regardless of sexual orientation, but overt displays of homosexual behaviour could see an imminent threat of danger, even in more controlled environments.

The capital also

Your privacy is essential to us. We want to be sure you comprehend how and why we use your data. View our Privacy Statement for more details. Accept

Last updated: 16 July 2025

Types of criminalisation

  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males

Summary

Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Criminal Code 1974, which criminalises acts of ‘sexual penetration against the command of nature’ and ‘gross indecency’. These provisions carry a maximum penalty of fourteen years’ imprisonment. Only men are criminalised under this law.

The law was inherited from Australia during the colonial period, in which the Australian criminal law, itself based upon the Queensland Criminal Code drafted during British colonisation, was imposed upon Papua New Guinea. Although the Australian states began a two-decade process of decriminalisation in 1975, Papua New Guinea gained its self-determination that same year and so retained the provision and continues to criminalise same-sex sexual task today.

There is limited evidence of the law being enforced in recent years, with the only known prosecution occurring in 2015 and 2022. There acquire been some reports of discri

Papua New Guinea's gay and trans community finds safety in Hanuabada village

The sleepy coastal village of Hanuabada sits on the north western outskirts of Papua Fresh Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, and is probably best known for producing half of PNG's national cricket team.

What it is less known for is being a safe haven for Port Moresby's gay and transgender community.

Homosexuality is illegal in Papua New Guinea, punishable by up to 14 years in prison, but actual prosecutions are not common, and the laws are rarely enforced.

Instead, it is the hate crimes, violence and discrimination incited by the law that puts lgbtq+ and transgender Papua New Guineans at risk.

Gay men walking the streets of Port Moresby are often targeted by local men, particularly those who hail from PNG's highland provinces, and have been raped, beaten and even murdered.

But in Hanuabada, things are different.

Documentary filmmaker and photographer Vlad Sokhin noticed this when he stumbled on the village during his travels.

"[It's] probably the only place in Port Moresby where they feel protected and many of them, they were born in different places so they moved

Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, LGBTIQ individuals face significant legal and societal difficulties. Homosexual intimacy between men is criminalized under Section 210 of the Papua Novel Guinea Penal Code, which prohibits acts of “sexual penetration against the request of nature” and “gross indecency” with a penalty of up to 14 years of imprisonment. However, there are no recent records of people existence convicted under these laws. 

There are no legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender individuality, gender expression, or sex characteristics in Papua Brand-new Guinea. Reports indicate that police have perpetrated hostility against gay men and transgender people, contributing to a climate of shrink from and marginalization. 

Despite these challenges, there have been some positive developments toward public presence and acceptance. In 2021, the capital city of Port Moresby hosted its first Pride parade, a significant milestone for LGBTIQ communities. Papua New Guinea recognizes gender diversity in the palopa, which may describe those who are gay, transgender, and/or of a cultural third gender.

*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy o