The parliament of Bhutan has approved a bill to legalize gay sex. A joint sitting of both houses of Bhutan’s parliament – the Gyelyong Tshokhang – voted 63 to 69 in favor of changing the law.
The isolated Asian country in the Himalayas had previously criminalized ‘unnatural sex’ under Sections 213 and 214 of its Penal Code.
The authorities have long interpreted that as a ban on homosexuality. Lawmaker Ugyen Wangdi, the vice chairperson of a joint panel considering the changes, told Reuters: ‘Homosexuality will not be considered as unnatural sex now.’ Meanwhile Tashi Tsheten, director of LGBT+ organization Rainbow Bhutan, said he was ‘thrilled and really happy’ by the ‘victory’ for LGBT+ people.