A story about gay Bhutan is a modest one. There is no visible gay presence, no venues and one organization called Rainbow Bhutan that gently offers education and compassion to inquiring minds in this mountainous society. It is a story of slow determination and courageous commitment that has arisen from the personal lives of a few local Bhutanese gay people.
Bhutan is located in the Himalayas. It used to be one of the most isolated nations in the world, but developments including direct international flights, internet, mobile phone networks, and cable television have increasingly opened the doors. Yet, Bhutan has balanced modernization with its ancient culture and traditions under the guiding philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). On 14 December 2005, the King announced that he would be abdicating immediately. Bhutan has now entered a new era of democracy, starting with its first national parliamentary elections in December 2007 and March 2008. Homosexuality is illegal in Bhutan in the penal code (for now, but legislation is being considered to reverse that). There are reportedly no known cases of anyone having ever been charged with this misdemeanor. Little is known about gay life in Bhutan since it has not been studied seriously. But in contrast to other Asian countries it has not been villified.
Name: Bhutan
Population: 2124000
Capital: Thimphu - Pop. 100000
Area: 47000 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Dzongkha
Religion: Buddhism
Status of Homosexuality: Illegal (not enforced)
Telephone Country Code: 975
Bhutan Photo Gallery
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Gay Bhutan: How gay are Bhutanese gays?
Homosexuality is graded as a petty misdemeanor; no one has ever been prosecuted for the act but it’s still taboo. Still a Taboo Homosexuality is still a taboo topic in modern Bhutan. Whenever there is talk of the subject most people ask, “Are there gays in Bhutan?” Many Bhutanese people have puzzled looks on