Country Overview
Algeria
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
View more for this country:
Laws against “public indecency” and “acts of homosexuality” criminalize same-sex sexual activity and contribute to antipathy toward LGBTIQ people in Algeria. Only 26 percent of Algerian respondents identified homosexuality as “acceptable” in a 2019 Arab Barometer study. Another study published in 2021 by the Williams Institute ranked Algeria 81st out of 175 countries for its average LGBTI acceptance scores. LGBTIQ people can face violence and discrimination in many areas of society, including health care.
The legal environment for LGBTQ individuals remains harsh, with arrests and prosecutions for acts related to homosexuality continuing in recent years. For example, in September 2023, judicial police arrested a man for allegedly promoting homosexuality online. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison, along with a fine of 10,000 Algerian dinars. Previously, in February 2020, two men were arrested for “acts of homosexuality” after sharing images of their wedding ceremony on social media. In July of the same year, 44 people were arrested for allegedly attending a same-sex marriage. In September 2020, these individuals were convicted under public indecency laws, with two men receiving two-year prison sentences and fines, while the others were handed one-year suspended sentences.
There is a strong and growing LGBTIQ civil society in Algeria that is working to protect LGBTIQ people and decriminalize same-sex sexual activity. However, government agencies have denied LGBTIQ groups official registration for supposedly violating “public morals.”
*Outright research indicates bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
View this regionAsia
Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.
View this regionSouthwest Asia and North Africa
In the Southwest Asia and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
Americas
Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
Pacific
Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
Global
View this region
Human Rights Research
Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.
Read Our Reports