Is Bora Bora Gay Friendly? What Gay Couples Should Know

Same-sex marriage has been legal in French Polynesia since 2013. Here is what that means for gay couples planning a stay in Bora Bora.

Bora Bora is welcoming to gay couples, and the law reflects it. Same-sex relationships have never been criminalised in French Polynesia, and same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013 under French law.

The short answer is yes. Bora Bora is a resort island, so the experience is private and centred on the lagoon, and there is no gay scene to speak of. For couples who want a quiet overwater stay, that is the appeal.

The Legal Position in French Polynesia

French Polynesia is an overseas territory of France, and French law applies. In 2013 France extended its marriage law to its overseas territories, which made same-sex marriage legal in Bora Bora and the rest of French Polynesia. Same-sex relationships have never been criminalised there. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is illegal, same-sex couples can adopt, and legal gender change is available.

What Everyday Life Feels Like for Same-Sex Couples

Local culture includes the mahu, a Tahitian term for men who live as women, and mahu are commonly accepted in Tahitian society. French Polynesia is also a Christian society, and modest public behaviour is the local norm for couples of any kind. Within the resorts, where most visitors spend their stay, same-sex couples are received without distinction.

What to Expect at the Resorts

Out Of Office’s experts have carefully selected a number of resorts, and each is known to welcome same-sex couples as standard. Le Bora Bora sits on Motu Tevairoa with direct views of Mount Otemanu, and The Westin has overwater bungalows, some with private plunge pools, as well as beachside villas.

Days in Bora Bora are built around the lagoon, whether on a private catamaran or from a villa deck. There is no nightlife to speak of, so the island suits couples who want a quiet stay. Out Of Office specialists match couples to a resort by the kind of villa and setting they prefer.

Celebrating a Milestone in Bora Bora

Bora Bora suits honeymoons and weddings as well as ordinary holidays. Same-sex couples can marry legally in French Polynesia in accordance with the French Civil Code, with the process laid out in the guide to getting legally married in Bora Bora. Couples planning a honeymoon can look at gay honeymoons in Bora Bora, and those still choosing between destinations can weigh Maldives or Bora Bora side by side.

Getting There and Pairing Bora Bora With Other Islands

There is no nonstop flight from the US to Bora Bora. Travellers fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Papeete on Tahiti, which takes about eight hours, and connect to Bora Bora on an inter-island flight.
Bora Bora is usually one stop among several. The Tahiti, Taha’a, and Bora Bora Escape opens with a night on Tahiti before moving on to Taha’a and Bora Bora, while the Bora Bora Snorkelling and Reef Trip begins on Mo’orea.

Trans and Non-Binary Travellers

French Polynesia follows French law on legal gender change, which is available without restrictions. Gender-affirming care and non-binary recognition are less clearly documented, and travellers with specific requirements should speak with a specialist before booking. A visitor’s passport remains governed by the rules of their home country.

Plan Your Bora Bora Trip With Out Of Office

Couples can start with the overview of tailor-made Bora Bora itineraries or with gay honeymoons in French Polynesia that span several islands. To start planning, contact a specialist with your dates and the islands you have in mind.