Same-sex sexual activity is legal for both men and women in Ivory Coast , but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
Ivory Coast has occasionally been described as more tolerant of LGBT rights, when compared to other countries in the region. Consensual same-sex sexual acts between adults in private are legal and have never been criminalized within Ivory Coast, [ 2 ] due in part to Ivory Coast being a former French colony and not inheriting sodomy laws from France, unlike many former British colonies around the world.
As for public same-sex sexual acts, Article of the Penal Code states this: [ 4 ] [ Note 1 ]. Whoever commits a public breach of decency will be punished with imprisonment for three months to two years and a fine of 50, to , francs. If the public breach of decency consists of an act that is indecent or contrary to nature with an individual of the same sex, the term of imprisonment will be from six months to two years and the fine will be from 50, to , francs.
The penalties may be doubled if the crime is committed against a minor or in the presence of a minor of 18 years of age. Furthermore, as per Articles and of the Penal Code, the age of consent is unequal, being set at 18 for homosexual couples and at 15 for heterosexual ones. According to the U. Department of State , "gay and lesbian individuals and couples are not legally recognized as eligible to adopt".
There is no legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. However, in March , while attending the United Nations Human Right Council Universal Periodic Review , the representative of Ivory Coast stated that they would begin, "to take measures to ensure non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity", but that they would not start "awareness-raising programs" because it was not a "current priority".
