LGBT rights in Cambodia

LGBT rights in Cambodia
Cambodia
Status	Legal
Gender identity	No
Military	Unknown
Discrimination protections	No
Family rights
Recognition of relationships	Yes; "Declaration of Family Relationship"
Restrictions	Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned since 1993
Adoption	No

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Cambodia face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Although same-sex sexual activity is legal in Cambodia, it provides no anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people, nor does it prohibit hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

King Norodom Sihamoni supports the legalisation of same-sex marriage.^[1] After the Taiwanese Constitutional Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, many called on Cambodia to legalise same-sex marriage.^[2]

Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have a visible LGBT scene, with many bars, clubs and other venues catering to the LGBT community. Pride parades have been held in Cambodia since 2003, and have been gaining traction every year. However, while LGBT visitors tend to feel accepted, many LGBT Cambodians report societal discrimination, including forced opposite-sex marriages, discrimination at work and bullying at schools. Several human rights group, notably the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, CamASEAN and the Rainbow Community Kampuchea, work to reduce LGBT-related discrimination and raise awareness of LGBT people.^[3] Through their work, they have persuaded the Government to introduce new LGBT-inclusive education classes in all Cambodian schools and to offer same-sex couples limited legal recognition.