Blog 3: Sexual Orientation or Gender Roles

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 Although the United States and Morocco differ greatly in their laws on LGBTQ+ individuals, both countries show that legal status alone does not determine social acceptance. In Morocco, homosexuality is illegal under the Penal Code and can be punished with a maximum of 3 years in jail . This law is strict and several citizens and foreigners have been detained for practicing homosexuality (Human Dignity Trust, 2026). Because of its strict enforcement, homosexual couples are forced into secrecy. Thus, there is little social acceptance of homosexual couples in Morocco.

In contrast, the United States legalized gay marriages in 2015, but sexual orientation has been under legal protected from discrimination by Title VII since 1964 which prevents discrimination in employement. The supreme court further clarified this in 2020 in the Bostock v. Clayton County case (Cole, 2020). Although there is more legal protection in America, homosexual couples are still on the receiving end of discrimination and violence. In America, LGBTQ couples are 9 times more likely than non-LGBTQ couples to be targeted by hate crimes (Meyer & Flores, 2015). Thus, although the legal structures differ between these two countries, there is still a lack of safety for homosexual couples. 

Cole, J. P. (2020, June 17). Supreme Court rules Title VII bars discrimination against gay and transgender employees: Potential implications (CRS Legal Sidebar No. LSB10496). Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB10496

Human Dignity Trust. (2026, April). Morocco. https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/morocco/

Meyer, I. H., & Flores, A. R. (2025, February). Anti-LGBT victimization in the United States: Results from the National Crime Victimization Survey (2022–2023). Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/anti-lgbt-victimization-us/



Comments

  1. Levi ThomasMay 28, 2026 at 11:32 AM

    I find this subject interesting largely because of the stark contrast in legal freedoms for queer individuals in both Morocco and the United States. I was aware of the criminalization of homosexuality within Morocco, but I was unaware that the maximum sentencing was three years, nor was I aware that foreigners were also detained for practicing homosexuality. This comes as quite a shock to me as quer individuals from across the world find themselves at risk of both hate crimes and legal repercussions within Morocco. As a queer person myself, I find this especially troubling, as despite not facing or even coming near any form of prejudice or discrimination during this trip, knowing that there was a legal structure that targets this community I am a part of, and it remains deeply unsettling. Though this culture of embedded homophobia poses a risk to LGBTQ+ individuals, there are meaningful resistance movements that advocate for queer rights and social and political change. The impacts of the 2011 Arab Spring movement saw an advent of social movements representing feminist politics, reproductive rights, freedom of religion, and advocacy for sexual and gender minorities (Alouazen, 2025). Even after the Arab Spring came and went, these social media-fueled advocacy groups remained a stalwart force for raising awareness and advocating for progressive change and improved legal protections for queer individuals.


    Alouazen, S. (2025). Emergence, resilience, and tensions: A decade of LGBTQ activism in Morocco. Arab Reform Initiative. https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/emergence-resilience-and-tensions-a-decade-of-lgbtq-activism-in-morocco/

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  2. Lauren IorioMay 31, 2026 at 8:54 AM

    I am not surprised to hear that homosexuality is illegal in Morocco, but the fact that foreigners can be detained for practicing homosexuality is alarming to me. Through growing up in the United States, attending diverse public schools my entire life, and having friends who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I never thought that homosexuals should be treated differently. With my experience with the LGBTQ+ community, I have always been aware of how the LGBTQ community has been negatively treated in the United States. It never crossed my mind that there are still many countries in the world that deem homosexuality as illegal. Maybe it is because I have more liberal ideals, but it is still disturbing the lack of recognition and respect for the LGBTQ+ community in foreign countries.

    I believe this trip opened up my eyes to the amount of freedom and rights Americans have compared to many other countries. Despite being considered conservative when compared to the United States, Morocco is known as one of the most progressive countries in its region, with women guaranteed equal civil, political, and social rights as men according to the 2011 Constitution. With this new equality in Morocco, do you think it is possible for the country to accept homosexuality? Or is this idea far too radical?

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