By Lila Seidman June 3, 2016 At the only gay bar in the most sparsely populated independent country in the world, Zorig Alima tells me he’s a “penis shaman.” The proprietor of d.d/h.z says he can confidently predict men’s penis sizes and sexual predilections. He gives my companion a disputable “reading,” and dashes away
After the breakdown of communist regimes in Eastern Europe in late 1989, Mongolia saw its own Democratic Revolution in early 1990, which led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992, and the – rather rough – transition to a market economy. Mongolia is the most sparsely populated independent country in the world with a population of around 2.9 million people. It is also the world’s second-largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan. The country contains very little arable land, as much of its area is covered by arid and unproductive steppes. Mongolia’s economy is centered on agriculture and mining. The country has rich mineral resources, and copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Homosexuality in Mongolia has virtually no presence, no venues and no activism. There are no laws specifically against homosexuality in Mongolia, however "satisfaction of immoral sexual needs" may still be illegal. Accurate information is hard to find. However, one 2008 report said: "There are two organizations which hold monthly parties for their hundreds of members. It is all very furtive. Unfortunately someone had a hidden camera at one party and the photos found their way on to the Internet. Now people are afraid of being outed."
Name: Mongolia
Population: 2662000
Capital: Ulaanbaatar - Pop. 812000
Area: 1566500 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Khalkha Mongol, Turkic, Russian
Religion: Tibetan Buddhist (50%), No religion (40%)
Status of Homosexuality: Legal but not accepted
Telephone Country Code: 976
Inside Mongolia’s Only Gay Bar, 2016/Jun/02
How many MSM with HIV are there in Ulaanbaatar?, 2016/May/31
Gay Mongolia: Discover Mongolia’s Only Gay Bar, 2015/Dec/01
Being LGBT in Asia: Mongolia Country Report, 2014/Oct/22
LGBT community celebrates Pride Month in Ulaanbaatar, 2014/Jun/20
Stunning Photos Explore Transgender Life In Mongolia, 2014/Mar/03
Sapphic Nomads: Two Santa Feans Explore Mongolia, 2012/Nov/12
Gay men murdered in Mongolia, 2011/Apr/08
Gay Mongolia News Reports 2011, 2011/Mar/20
An LGBT Centre in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2011/Mar/06
Gay Mongolia News Reports, 2009/Jan/01
From Genghis Khan to the cult of the cut sleeves, 2007/Aug/31