LGBT rights in South Africa

==Public opinion==
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Public opinion on same-sex marriage (2023) based on [[Ipsos]]<ref>{{https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2023-05/Ipsos%20LGBT%2B%20Pride%202023%20Global%20Survey%20Report%20-%20rev.pdf}}</ref>
| label1 =Same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally
| value1 =57
| color1 = #025
| label2 =Same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry legally but should be allowed to have some legal recognition
| value2 =10
| color2 = #06F
| label3 =Not sure
| value3 =14
| color3 =lightgrey
| label4 =Same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry
| value4 =19
| color4 =red
}}

A study conducted in 2015 by The Other Foundation and titled ''Progressive Prudes'' painted a more complex picture of public opinion in South Africa towards LGBT people. 55% indicated they would "accept" a gay family member and 51% stated their belief that "gay people should have the same human rights as all other citizens".<ref name="auto"/> The survey found that, by a 2:1 ratio, South Africans supported retaining existing constitutional protections towards gay people. Those who "strongly disagreed" with allowing equal civil marriage rights for same-sex couples declined to just 23%.<ref>[http://www.mambaonline.com/2016/09/09/south-africans-progressive-prudes-comes-homosexuality/ South Africans are “progressive prudes” when it comes to homosexuality] ''Mambaonline'', 9 September 2016</ref>

A large survey released by Afrobarometer in 2016 suggested South Africa had the second-most tolerant views towards gay neighbours in Africa, after [[Cape Verde]], with 67% of those surveyed reporting that they would either "strongly like, somewhat like or not care" if they lived next to a same-sex couple. This contrasted with the Africa-wide average of 21% and lows of just 3% in [[Senegal]] and 5% in [[Uganda]] and [[Niger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mambaonline.com/2016/03/02/survey-africans-tolerant-gay-people/ |title=Survey: Africans are generally very tolerant, but just not of gay people |publisher=MambaOnline |date=2016-03-02 |access-date=2017-08-26}}</ref>

According to a 2017 poll carried out by [[International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association|ILGA]], 67% of South Africans agreed that gay, lesbian and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as straight people, while 17% disagreed. Additionally, 72% agreed that they should be protected from workplace discrimination. 24% of South Africans, however, said that people who are in same-sex relationships should be charged as criminals, while a majority of 57% disagreed. As for transgender people, 72% agreed that they should have the same rights, 74% believed they should be protected from employment discrimination and 64% believed they should be allowed to change their legal gender.<ref>[http://ilga.org/what-we-do/ilga-riwi-global-attitudes-survey/ ILGA-RIWI Global Attitudes Survey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113180448/http://ilga.org/what-we-do/ilga-riwi-global-attitudes-survey/ |date=13 January 2018 }} ILGA, October 2017</ref> Additionally, according to that same poll, 9% of South Africans would try to "change" a male neighbour's sexual orientation if they discovered he was gay, while 72% would accept and support him. 8% would try to "change" a female neighbour's sexual orientation, while 76% would accept her as she is.

A May 2021 Ipsos poll showed that 71% of South Africans supported some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples (59% of South Africans supported same-sex marriage, 12% supported civil partnerships but not marriage) while 15% were opposed to all legal recognition for same-sex couples, and 14% were undecided. In addition, 18% of South Africans had already attended the wedding of a same-sex couple.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ipsos.com/en/lgbt-pride-2021-global-survey-points-generation-gap-around-gender-identity-and-sexual-attraction|title=LGBT+ Pride 2021 Global Survey pointa to a generation gap around gender identity and sexual attraction|work=Ipsos|date=9 June 2021|access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref>

There is increased support of LGBTQ rights from religious organisations, with 62% of Catholics in South Africa agreeing that homosexuality should be "accepted by society".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Diamant|first=Jeff|title=How Catholics around the world see same-sex marriage, homosexuality|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/11/02/how-catholics-around-the-world-see-same-sex-marriage-homosexuality/|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Pew Research Center|language=en-US}}</ref>