Gay Mauritius

No — same-sex marriage is not currently recognised in Mauritius. Mauritius decriminalised sex between men on 4 October 2023, when the Supreme Court struck down Section 250 of the Criminal Code and held that the constitution's ban on sex discrimination includes sexual orientation; sex between women was never illegal. The 2008 Equal Opportunities Act already banned discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in employment, education, housing and services, though it does not cover gender identity. There is no marriage or civil union, same-sex couples cannot adopt, and trans people cannot change their gender marker, though a third 'undetermined' option exists for intersex newborns since 2021. Collectif Arc-en-Ciel has organised Pride since 2006; the 2018 march in Port Louis was cancelled after hundreds of death threats from religious extremists and replaced by a sit-in the prime minister supported. Acceptance is growing among younger Mauritians, with roughly half saying they would not mind an LGBTQ neighbour, while bullying in schools and discrimination in hospitals are still reported. Grand Baie, Flic en Flac and the east-coast resorts host same-sex couples as a matter of course.

The cities listed on this page have the most active LGBTQ+ scenes in Mauritius — typically the capital and the largest tourist cities. Each city page lists verified LGBTQ+ venues.

Many hotels in tourist areas of Mauritius welcome LGBTQ+ guests without explicit marketing. International chains in central districts are the safest choice; smaller boutique hotels vary. See each city page for verified LGBTQ+-friendly options.