LGBT rights in Jordan

LGBT Jordanians may face discriminatory laws and social biases. Homosexual conduct between consenting adults in private is not, per se, illegal in Jordan. However, traditional Islamic morality views homosexuality and cross-dressing as sinful behavior; thus, many LGBT Jordanians remain discreet about their sexuality and there is no organized LGBT-rights movement in Jordan.

Criminal Laws

In 1951, a revision of the national criminal code decriminalized private, adult, non-commercial and consensual sodomy, with the age of consent set at 16..

Periodic government crackdowns on homosexuals tends to focus on male cruising, public displays of affection and prostitution. In 2008, Saad Manasir, Governor of Amman, pledged to continue with the crackdown until, "we eradicate any trace of male homosexuals in the society."

While legal, traditional Islamic morality deems it to be a sin and there have been reports of bias motivated crimes, including murder, directed at LGBT Jordanians. Often these crimes are vigilante honor killings directed at a family member whose "illicit" sexuality is seen as bringing shame to the family. In 1999, a Jordanian family living in the United States repeatedly beat their adult daughter and attempted to forcibly return her home after they discovered that she was gay.

This abuse does not appear to be official government policy, although the government seems reluctant to come to the aid of such an unpopular class of people. The Jordanian criminal code does provide lesser penalties for a man killing his wife or kin for engaging in "illicit" sexual relations,

Constitutional rights

The Jordain Constitution does not explicitly address the rights of LGBT citizens, but certain provisions could apply to its LGBT citizens.

Article 2 – Islam is the Official State Religion.

Article 7 – "Personal freedom shall be guaranteed."

The Constitution also stipulates the freedom of speech, press and freedom to create political parties and groups shall be peaceful and regulated by the law.

Media & Press

The National Press Law (aka "Press and Publication Law") was amended in 1998, and again in 2004. The initial document prohibited the depiction or endorsement of "sexual perversion", which, may have included homosexuality. The revised edition in 2004 has a few provisions of direct impact on LGBT rights in Jordan. First of all, the content ban on 'sexual perversion' is replaced with a general requirement that the press "respect the values of....the Arab and Islamic nation." and that that press must also avoid encroaching into people's private lives.

In 2007, the first gay-themed Jordanian publication arose, although it soon folded. A year later, "My Kali" started publication on-line.

Civil rights

In 1995, the Jordanian delegates opposed having the United Nations Conference of Women address the human rights of gay and bisexual women.

As of 2010, no law exists to protect Jordain citizens from harassment or discrimination on the account of sexual orientation or gender identity. No political party, interest group or member of the government has publicly shown any support for LGBT-rights.

Likewise, same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships are not legally recognized in Jordan. The government funded, National Center for Human Rights has not yet dealt with LGBT human right issues.

LGBT rights movement in Jordan

There are no known government-recognized LGBT community or human rights organizations, and no Jordanian political parties have expressed any support for LGBT legislation. The "Political Parties Law" of 1992, does not formally ban a LGBT-supportive political parties or organization from forming, although such a group would need, at least, fifty adult citizens expressing a public intent to organize.

Today, a handful of unofficial LGBT organizations exist online, such as the Yahoo club "Amman Rainbow" and a handful of Facebook groups, such as the group Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Amman Jordan. However, no real LGBT social club or political movement exists within Jordan itself.

Living conditions

While homosexuality and cross-dressing are not de jure illegal in Jordan, prevailing social attitudes are shaped by traditional Islamic morality, which views homosexuality and cross-dressing as signs of decadence and immorality.

Recent reports suggest, that although a large number LGBT are in the closet, and who often have to lead double lives, a new wave of younger LGBT are beginning to come out of the closet and are becoming more visible in the country, this resulted in establishing a vibrant LGBT community of filmmakers, journalists, writers, artists and other young professionals. with only a few young Jordanians of the upper class able to remain single. New official hangouts have sprung up, such as the RGB club in Jabal Amman, as well as several gay hangouts, such as Books@cafe also in Jabal Amman. It has been said that Jabal Amman represents Amman's smaller version of a Gay Village.

Today, there are many gay people who chose to be out, yet a big part of the gay community is always striving and looking for peers who are gay but adopting the " straight life style " such person is often referred to as being " straight acting " . according to sara el bast a well known psycho analysts ; such preference within the gay community ( preferring straight acting gays over gay people who are out of the closet ) is due to the shame most Jordanian gay individuals feel, they also often feel like they are doing something that is wrong, and often disgusting

In June 2006 the Government published the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the Official Gazette, which suggests that the Covenant has legal applicability in Jordan. The document could be used to advance LGBT rights.

In 2007, gay patrons of at the Marmara hotel in Amman were reportedly threaten by the two bouncers and told to leave and never return or else they would be beaten.

AIDS/HIV

The Ministry of Health has an AIDS-HIV prevention and education program, although as is the case in much of the Middle East, ignorance about the disease is common place and traditional mores can make it difficult to encourage such things as condoms. No educational program has been developed in Jordan for the LGBT community.