Mauritius

In 2023, the Supreme Court of Mauritius issued a judgment repealing Section 250, effectively decriminalizing same-sex sexual conduct, demonstrating advances in equality for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, with less evident progress for trans or intersex people. Mauritius does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions, but the Equal Opportunities Act of 2008 and the Workers’ Rights Act of 2019 both protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Mauritius allows for the registration of intersex children as “undetermined” at birth under the 2021 Civil Status Act. However, nonconsensual and medically unnecessary procedures on intersex infants are not explicitly prohibited by law.

Pride has been celebrated in the country since 2005, although it has also faced counter-protesters. During the 2024 national elections, political actors did not positively engage with LGBTIQ issues, and a few engaged in anti-LGBTIQ hate speech. Ehsan Juman, a candidate for parliament, sought to portray sexual and gender diversity as a “Western deviation” in a public gathering for supporters of the opposition Alliance du Changement coalition.