Macao

Macao operates as a Special Administrative Region of China under "one country, two systems", with a Portuguese-legacy legal system distinct from the mainland. Same-sex relations have been legal since 1996 and the age of consent stands at 14 across orientations. Labour Relations Law 7/2008 (article 6/2) bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, with fines of up to MOP$50,000 per affected worker; comparable protections exist in Personal Data Law 8/2005 and Ombudsman Law 4/2012. In 2013 the legislature rejected a bill recognizing same-sex couples (1 in favour, 17 against, 4 abstentions), and since 2015 a Law Reform Committee has been studying gender marker reforms that remain pending. No marriage, civil union, adoption or legal gender change. Casino tourism hub · civic culture where "gay culture remains mostly invisible" · active groups: Macau LGBT Rights Concern Group and Rainbow of Macau.