LGBT rights in Tonga

LGBT rights in Tonga
Tonga
Status	Male illegal, female legal
Penalty	Up to 10 years imprisonment (not enforced, legalisation proposed)
Discrimination protections	None
Family rights
Recognition of relationships	No recognition of same-sex relationships
Adoption	No

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Tonga face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Male homosexuality is illegal in Tonga, with a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, but the law is not enforced.^[1]

Tongan society is very socially conservative and highly religious. Tonga strictly observes the Sabbath. On Sundays, any recreational activities undertaken outside of island resorts may be seen as provocative. The Tongan Government requires all religious references on broadcast media to conform to mainstream Christian beliefs.^[2] The mixture of conservative values and colonial-era laws has resulted in a climate of fear, discrimination and homophobia for LGBT people. Along with Kiribati, Tonga is the only Polynesian country that has not signed or expressed support for the 2011 "joint statement on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity" at the United Nations, which condemns violence and discrimination against LGBT people.^[3]

Many gay and lesbian Tongans emigrate to Australia or New Zealand in order to live a more open life that they may not get to experience in their native land.^{[citation needed]}