Male same-sex sexual activity is illegal, punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. The law is rarely enforced, but arrests still do happen, having occurred in and There are no legal restrictions against lesbian sex in the country. Historically, gay men had certain societal roles. They would take on traditional female roles such as cooking and would participate with women in traditional festivals. However, some tribes were observed to have practiced ritual homosexuality, such as the Etoro , Kaluli , and Sambia peoples.
The Australian criminal law, originally derived from the Queensland Criminal Code created during British colonization, was extended to Papua New Guinea. Despite the Australian states starting to decriminalize same-sex sexual activity in , Papua New Guinea retained this provision due to gaining independence in the same year, resulting in the continued criminalization of such activity there.
The words "lesbian", "gay", "bisexual" and "transgender" tend to carry heavy stigma in Papua New Guinea. Similarly, the Sambia people recognise a traditional third gender: kwolu-aatmwol literally male thing transforming into female thing.
In Motu , the word gelegele refers to a gay man. Anal sex and oral sex between persons of the opposite sex is also illegal. Those caught engaging in anal sex or oral sex whether heterosexual or homosexual can be punished with up to fourteen years' imprisonment.
Other same-sex sexual acts can be punished with up to three years' imprisonment. Former MP Dame Carol Kidu in described gay Papua New Guineans as being forced to live lives of secrecy, and called unsuccessfully on the Government to decriminalise homosexuality. According to an ILGA report, arrests occurred in and In , a man was charged and pled guilty to "indecent acts" between males and received a suspended sentence and being ordered to undergo community service and mandatory counseling.
