Study Brief: Examination of LGBT People's Lived Experiences and Public Perceptions in Rwanda

Abstract

This study brief condenses findings from a study on the lived experiences of LGBT people and public perceptions of sexual and gender minorities in Rwanda, conducted by the Health Development Initiative and the African Population and Health Research Center. Rwanda has taken relatively progressive stances internationally on sexual orientation and gender identity and has never enacted legislation criminalizing homosexuality, distinguishing it from many neighboring countries. However, the underlying study found that LGBT individuals in Rwanda continue to experience considerable stigma and discrimination in daily life, with roughly two-thirds of survey participants reporting at least one form of discrimination, most often in religious or cultural settings and in seeking housing, alongside substantial barriers to accessing food, social, health, and financial services. The brief distills these survey and qualitative findings into an accessible format for policymakers, civil society organizations, and advocates working to translate Rwanda's favorable legal environment into improved lived experiences for LGBT people.