Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people living in Bahrain face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents.

[11] Although no law explicitly criminalizes same-sex relations, authorities have used broadly-phrased penal code provisions against "indecency" and "immorality" or "debauchery" (Arabic: فجور, romanized: fujoor) to target these minorities.

The government used this provision against individuals suspected of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) or of" cross-dressing".According to an article published by Al-Bilad in 2022, which discussed a recent debate in Bahrain about homosexuality, sparked by an incident where a private school mistakenly distributed material perceived as promoting it.

[opinion][20] Penalties for convictions under the morality or indecency provisions are prison sentences ranging from 3 months to 2 years, fines of up to 200 Bahraini dinars, deportation for non-Bahrainis, or a combination.

[7] The Al-Menbar Islamic Society is one of the more successful political factions within the Parliament, it has pushed for more conservative social policies, including a crackdown on LGBTQ people.

[34][35] However, it has been suggested that concern for hosting 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and fears for controversy in a case that football fans would have been screened, made officials backtrack the plans and insist that it was a mere proposal.

[40][41] On December 6, 2021, the Shura Council of Bahrain publicly reinforced the country's conservative stance on sexual orientation and gender identity by declaring that homosexuality is contrary to human values and religious principles.

This statement aligns with Bahrain's legal framework, which emphasizes personal freedoms while prohibiting behaviours considered immoral, as outlined in the Constitution and the National Action Charter.

[43][44] The incident sparked a significant debate on social media and other platforms, raising questions about cultural norms, societal reactions, and the treatment of minority groups in Bahrain.

In 2009, two Asian foreigners were sentenced to six months in jail, with hard labour and later deportation, for offering to have sex with undercover police offices in exchange for money at a male barbershop.

[citation needed] In June 2021, the United States Embassy in Bahrain faced public criticism following its decision to raise the rainbow flag in recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month.

[59][60] In June 2022, coinciding with pride month again, the US Embassy raised a rainbow flag and celebrated pride on their social media accounts, which instigated BNA and all local government allied newspapers (including Al-Ayam; a self-identified liberal newspaper) to publish several articles (in Arabic) condemning, attacking homosexuals (and labeling them as "Shawadh" lit: 'paraphilic', 'perverted' or 'deviants'), and attacking the US Embassy itself, and claiming that "all religions" are against homosexuality, in addition to pseudoscientific Anti-Gay propaganda by saying no one is born gay and portraying monkeypox as a "Gay Plague".

[3][47][61] In contrast, while a Sunni woman who accused Shia Muslims of being responsible for the spread of COVID-19 was arrested,[62] hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community remains widespread, with no legal consequences for those who engage in such rhetoric.

[65][66] In November 15, 2022, a Bahraini YouTube talk show Speaker bh hosted an episode about homosexuals titled "Arabic: الشذوذ الجنسي ( المثليين ), lit.

[19] Al-Jodar argued that Western societies, having lost touch with traditional values, are "attempting to export these ideas to the Arab world under the guise of personal freedom" (despite the fact homosexuality existed in the Middle East before modern Gay Rights).

[19] Al-Jodar's rhetoric mirrors common arguments in Bahrain, where LGBTQ+ identities are frequently portrayed as foreign to the country's social fabric and religious principles.

[19] His views also reflect broader societal attitudes in Bahrain, where public expressions of support for LGBTQ+ rights often face significant backlash, particularly from conservative and religious groups.

Despite growing awareness of LGBTQ+ issues globally, public opinion in Bahrain remains largely hostile, with social media platforms often serving as outlets for criticism against LGBTQ+ rights, especially during Pride Month.

[69] In February 2024, Ibrahim Al-Nahham, a Bahraini journalist working for Al-Bilad, published an article titled "Homosexuality and the Sinister Plot" (المثلية الجنسية والمخطط الآثم), expressing conservative attitudes towards LGBTQ individuals.

He expressed concerns about global media "promoting same-sex relationships", arguing that such portrayals undermine traditional Arab-Islamic values and encourage what he described as "deviant" behaviours.

The article called for the Bahraini parliament to take firm action by criminalizing homosexual acts and same-sex marriage to safeguard societal norms and protect future generations.

[70] On August 3, 2024, the newspaper Albilad posted an illustration drawn by caricature artist Tariq Al-Bahhar on their website and on Instagram depicting a roll of toilet paper with the colours of the Gay pride flag, accompanied by the caption "المكان الصحيح" ('the correct place').

In the early part of the twenty-first century, the Bahraini press has begun to address sexual orientation, gender identity, and the AIDS-HIV pandemic as they apply to the island.

[11] The US Department of State reports there are no approved LGBTQ-related organisations and deems it unlikely they could form, or "openly convene events publicly supportive of the LGBTQI+ community" in the face of currently prevailing societal norms.

[6] In 2023, r/BahrainLGBT subreddit reportedly got shutdown brigaded after Islamist MP Mohammed Al-Hussaini incited against a proposed "peaceful protest" planned by the LGBTQ community of Bahrain.

[citation needed] A user expressed a sentiment mocking the inconsistency in Bahrain's legal stance, highlighting that while practices such as prostitution and alcohol consumption are permitted, homosexuality remains strictly prohibited.

The government used this provision against individuals suspected of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) or of "cross-dressing".أعادت حادثة توزيع إحدى المدارس الخاصة قصة تروج الشذوذ الجنسي لطلابها - والتي ذكرت وزارة التربية والتعليم أنها تمت عن طريق الخطأ - قضية الشذوذ الجنسي إلى السطح، إذ رفع مجلس النواب في جلسته الاستثنائية الخميس الماضي مقترحًا برغبة بصفة الاستعجال بفتح تحقيق في هذه الحادثة.

The amendment introduces two articles, the first stipulating imprisonment for no more than five years and fines between 3,000 and 5,000 Bahraini Dinars (or either penalty) for: 1- Raising a flag, symbol, or sign representing homosexuality.

The second article imposes a fine between 10,000 and 50,000 Bahraini Dinars on legal entities if such acts are committed under their authority or with the knowledge of their managers, owners, or board members.

The court will also order the confiscation of funds, equipment, tools, or documents used or intended for use in committing the crime, without affecting the rights of third parties acting in good faith.