Gay Guide Cambodia

In Cambodia, homosexuality is legal. The age of consent of 15 years applies to both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Prostitution with minors up to the age of 18 is punishable by law. It is advisable to have an ID shown by people you want to have sex with to prove they are not minors. In Cambodia, which is predominantly Buddhist, homosexuality is increasingly being discussed in the media, but is still subject to many taboos. In February 2004, the former King Norodom Sihanouk had stated on his website that he was impressed that same-sex couples in California have the right to get married, and if his people wished for the same in Cambodia, he would agree, because God loves "a great variety of tastes". The law, however, remained unchanged despite this royal declaration - the monarch has no executive power in the country. His utterance was not only well received by the public. The gay scene has developed rapidly in recent years. On the streets of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap it is no longer uncommon to see so-called kteuy (ladyboys), who often appear in travesty shows of the popular gay bars. The number of gay bars, hotels and saunas is growing each year. Local feature films with gay themes have been successfully produced in Cambodia. Since 2004, the gay community has met annually for Gay Pride Week, which takes place in May in Phnom Penh. The fantastic temples of Angkor and the beautiful beaches in the south are only two good reasons to visit Cambodia.