| LGBT rights in European Union | |
|---|---|
European Union
|
|
| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Never criminalised in EU law. Last state criminalisation repealed in 1998. |
| Military service | Allowed to serve openly in every state except Cyprus. |
| Discrimination protections | Outlawed in employment with further protections in some member states' law |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
Same-sex marriage in 10/28 states Same-sex civil union in 16/28 states No recognition of same-sex couples in 9/28 states |
|
Restrictions:
|
Same-sex marriage constitutional ban in 7/28 states. |
| Adoption | Joint adoption in 11/28 states Step-child adoption in 16/28 states |
LGBT rights in the European Union are protected under the European Union's (EU) treaties and law. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in all EU states and discrimination in employment has been banned since 2000. However EU states have different laws when it comes to any greater protection, same-sex civil union, same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.
Contents
Treaty protections[edit]
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union makes in Articles 10 and 19 provisions for combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. These provisions were enacted by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999.[1][2]
Furthermore, Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights asserts that "any discrimination based on any ground such as [...] sexual orientation shall be prohibited." The Charter was agreed in 2000 and became legally binding in 2009.[1][2][3]
Legislative protection[edit]
Following the inclusion of the Treaty of Amsterdam's abovementioned provisions, the directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation was enacted in 2000. This framework directive compelled all EU states to adopt, within three years, anti-discrimination legislation in employment. That legislation had to include provisions to protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.[2]
In practice, this protects EU citizens from being refused a job, or from being fired, because of their sexual orientation. It also protects them from being harassed by a work colleague due to their sexual orientation. It does not cover being refused medical services or treatment, refusal of being given a double room in a hotel, protection from bullying in a school and refusal of social security schemes (e.g. survivors’ pensions and financial assistance to carers). Protection under EU law in these circumstances is however granted on the grounds of race or gender.[4]
Proposed directive[edit]
A proposed European anti-discrimination law would outlaw discrimination in the areas of social protection, social advantages, education and access to supply of goods, on the basis of religious belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation.[5] However the directive has been stalled in the Council, despite strong support from the European Parliament.[6]
Transgender rights[edit]
EU law currently takes a different approach to transgender issues. Despite the European Parliament adopting a resolution on transsexuals’ rights as early as 1989, transgender identity is not incorporated into any EU funding and was not mentioned in the law establishing the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) as sexual orientation was. However, the case law of the European Court of Justice provides some protection by interpreting discrimination on the basis of 'sex' to also refer to people who have had 'gender reassignment'. Thus all EU sex discrimination law applies to transgender people.[2] In 2002, the 1976 equal treatment directive was revised to include discrimination based on gender identity.[7]
Other actions[edit]
Between 2001 and 2006, a Community Action Programme to Combat Discrimination involved the expenditure of €100 million to fight discrimination in a number of areas, including sexual orientation.[7]
In 2009 the European Commission has acted to tone down a law in Lithuania that included homophobic language and also aimed to support the gay pride parade in the country and others under threat of banning.[2]
Foreign relations[edit]
In June 2010, the Council of the European Union adopted a non-binding toolkit to promote LGBT people's human rights.[8][9]
In June 2013, the Council upgraded it to binding LGBTI Guidelines instructing EU diplomats around the world to defend the human rights of LGBTI people.[10][11]
Same-sex unions[edit]
Same-sex marriage has been legalised in Belgium, Denmark, Finland (effective from 1 March 2017), France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (except Gibraltar and Northern Ireland). Same-sex civil unions have been legalised in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia (effective from 1 January 2016), Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. In Denmark and Sweden civil unions were legal from 1989 and 1995 to 2012 and 2009, respectively. However existing civil unions are still recognised.
Austria, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy and Slovenia are considering legalisation of same-sex marriage. Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Romania are considering the legalisation of some other form of registered partnership for same-sex couples. Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia have constitutionally defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
European Union law requires those member states that legalised same-sex partnerships to recognise each other's partnerships for the purpose of freedom of movement.[12] The European Parliament has however approved a report calling for mutual recognition.[13][14]
According to EU Court of Justice case law based on the Employment Equality Framework Directive, employees in a civil partnership with a same-sex partner must be granted the same benefits as those granted to their colleagues upon their marriage, where marriage is not possible for same-sex couples. The Court established this principle in 2008 in the case of Tadao Maruko v. Versorgungswerk der deutschen Bühnen with regards to a German registered life partnership. In December 2013, the Court confirmed this in the case of Frédéric Hay v. Crédit agricole mutuel (C-267/12) with regards to a French civil solidarity pact, which is significantly inferior to marriage than a German registered life partnership.[15][16]
State laws on sexual orientation[edit]
- For detail, see: LGBT rights in Europe#Legislation by country or territory
Openly gay people are allowed to serve in the military of every country except Cyprus, however this is contrary to European law and is rarely enforced.
| LGBT rights in: | Civil union | Marriage | Adoption | Anti-discrimination laws | Hate crime/speech laws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria |
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2010)[17] | No (Pending)[18][19] | Biological step-child adoption; (Joint adoption ordered by constitutional court as of 2015)[20] | All[21] | Yes[21] |
 Belgium |
Yes (Legal Cohabitation since 2000)[22] | Yes (Since 2003)[23] | Yes (Since 2006)[24] | All[21] | Yes |
 Bulgaria |
No | Constitutional ban[25] | No | All[21] | No |
 Croatia |
Yes (Life Partnership since 2014)[26] | Constitutional ban[27] | Partner-guardianship (de facto step-child adoption) (Since 2014) | All[21] | Yes |
 Cyprus |
No (Pending)[28] | No | No | All[29] | Yes[30] |
 Czech Republic |
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2006)[31] | No | No(Step-child adoption pending) | All | No |
 Denmark |
(Registered Partnership from 1989 to 2012; certain partnerships are still recognised) | Yes (Since 2012)[32] | Yes (Since 2010) | All[21] | Yes |
 Estonia |
Yes (Cohabitation Agreement from 2016)[33] | No | Step-child adoption (From 2016) | All[21] | Yes[21] |
 Finland |
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2002)[34] | Yes (From 2017)[35] | Yes (From 2017) | All[21] | Yes[21] |
 France |
Yes (Civil Solidarity Pact since 1999)[36] | Yes (Since 2013)[37] | Yes (Since 2013) | All[21] | Yes |
 Germany |
Yes (Registered Life Partnership since 2001)[38] | No (Pending)[39][40][41] | Step-child adoption;[38] (Joint adoption pending) | Some[21] | No |
 Greece |
No (Pending)[42] | No | No | All | Yes |
 Hungary |
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2009)[43] | No (Pending)[44][45] Constitutional ban |
No (Pending) | All[21] | Yes[21] |
 Ireland |
Yes (Civil Partnership since 2011)[46] | No (Pending)[47] | Yes (Since 2015) | All[21] | Yes |
 Italy |
No (Pending)[48] | No (Pending)[49][50][51] | No (Step-child adoption pending) | Some | No |
 Latvia |
No | Constitutional ban[52] | No | Some | No |
 Lithuania |
No | Constitutional ban[53] | No | All[21] | Yes[21] |
 Luxembourg |
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2004)[54] | Yes (Since 2015)[55] | Yes (Since 2015) | All[56] | Yes[57] |
 Malta |
Yes (Civil Union since 2014)[58] | Recognition of marriage celebrated abroad (Since 2014)[59][60] | Yes (Since 2014)[58] | All[61] | Yes[21] |
 Netherlands |
Yes (Registered Partnership since 1998) | Yes (Since 2001)[62] | Yes | All[21] | Yes |
 Poland |
No[63] | Constitutional ban[64] | No | Some | No |
 Portugal |
No | Yes (Since 2010)[65] | No | All[21] | Yes |
 Romania |
No (Pending)[66][67] | No | No | All[21] | Yes |
 Slovakia |
No | Constitutional ban[68] | No | All[21] | Yes[69] |
 Slovenia |
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2006)[70] | No (Pending) [71] | Step-child adoption; (Joint adoption pending) | All[21] | Yes[21] |
 Spain |
Yes | Yes (Since 2005)[72] | Yes | All[21] | Yes |
 Sweden |
(Registered Partnership from 1995 to 2009; certain partnerships are still recognised) | Yes (Since 2009)[73] | Yes (Since 2002) | All[21] | Yes |
 United Kingdom (incl. British Overseas Territory of  Gibraltar) |
Yes (Civil Partnership since 2005; in Gibraltar since 2014)[74][75] | Yes/No (Since 2014 in England and Wales and Scotland; not in Northern Ireland and Gibraltar)[76][77] | Yes (Since 2005 in England and Wales, 2009 in Scotland, 2013 in Northern Ireland and 2014 in Gibraltar) | All[21][78] | Yes |
Due to the Cyprus dispute placing Northern Cyprus outside the Republic of Cyprus' control, EU law is suspended in the area governed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
| LGBT rights in: | Civil union | Marriage | Adoption | Anti-discrimination laws | Hate crime/speech laws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Northern Cyprus |
No | No | No | All | Yes |
Public opinion[edit]
Below is the share of respondents per country who agreed with the following statements in the 2015 Special Eurobarometer on discrimination.[79] The last column is the change from the 2006 Eurobarometer where respondents were presented the slightly different statement "Homosexual marriages should be allowed throughout Europe".[80]
| Member state | "Gay and lesbian people should have the same rights as heterosexual people" |
"There is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex" |
"Same sex marriages should be allowed throughout Europe" |
Change from 2006 on last statement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 European Union |
71% | 67% | 61% | +17 |
| Austria |
70% | 67% | 62% | +13 |
 Belgium |
81% | 82% | 77% | +15 |
| Bulgaria |
51% | 27% | 17% | +2 |
| Croatia |
48% | 39% | 37% | n/a[81] |
| Cyprus |
62% | 40% | 37% | +23 |
| Czech Republic |
62% | 60% | 57% | +5 |
| Denmark |
90% | 88% | 87% | +18 |
| Estonia |
44% | 40% | 31% | +10 |
| Finland |
74% | 71% | 66% | +21 |
| France |
81% | 83% | 71% | +23 |
| Germany |
70% | 74% | 66% | +14 |
| Greece |
62% | 42% | 33% | +18 |
| Hungary |
49% | 44% | 39% | +21 |
| Ireland |
87% | 82% | 80% | +49 |
| Italy |
72% | 61% | 55% | +24 |
| Latvia |
42% | 23% | 19% | +7 |
| Lithuania |
44% | 30% | 24% | +7 |
| Luxembourg |
75% | 80% | 75% | +17 |
| Malta |
77% | 71% | 65% | +47 |
| Netherlands |
96% | 91% | 91% | +9 |
| Poland |
37% | 37% | 28% | +11 |
| Portugal |
71% | 59% | 61% | +32 |
| Romania |
36% | 24% | 21% | +10 |
| Slovakia |
36% | 33% | 24% | +5 |
| Slovenia |
54% | 55% | 54% | +23 |
| Spain |
90% | 87% | 84% | +28 |
| Sweden |
95% | 93% | 90% | +19 |
| United Kingdom |
84% | 75% | 71% | +25 |
See also[edit]
- LGBT rights in Europe
- LGBT adoption in Europe
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe
- Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- European Union Fundamental Rights Agency
References[edit]
- ^ a b Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, European Union 2009
- ^ a b c d e Perspective: what has the EU done for LGBT rights?, Café Babel 17/05/10
- ^ CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, European Union 2000
- ^ "ILGA-Europe". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Why ILGA-Europe supports the proposed Anti-Discrimination Directive, ILGA-Europe
- ^ European Parliament renews call for anti-discrimination laws for LGBT people, LGBTQ Nation
- ^ a b "ILGA-Europe". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "MEPs welcome new toolkit to defend LGBT people’s human rights". The European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights. 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Toolkit to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 17 June 2010.
- ^ "EU foreign affairs ministers adopt ground-breaking global LGBTI policy". The European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights. 24 June 2013.
- ^ "Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual and intersex (LGBTI) persons" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 24 June 2013.
- ^ DIRECTIVE 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely
- ^ Report on civil law, commercial law, family law and private international law aspects of the Action Plan Implementing the Stockholm Programme, European Parliament
- ^ EU-Wide Recognition of Member States’ Gay Marriage, Civil Partnership a Step Closer, WGLB
- ^ "Same-sex civil partners cannot be denied employment benefits reserved to marriage". ILGA-Europe. 13 December 2013.
- ^ "PRESS RELEASE No 159/13" (PDF). Court of Justice of the European Union. 12 December 2013.
- ^ (German) Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Eingetragene Partnerschaft-Gesetz
- ^ (German) Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, Änderung (49/A)
- ^ (German)Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, Änderung (498/A)
- ^ "2403 d.B. (XXIV. GP) - Adoptionsrechts-Änderungsgesetz 2013". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "ILGA-Europe". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ (German) Gesetz zur Einführung des gesetzlichen Zusammenwohnens
- ^ (Dutch) Wet tot openstelling van het huwelijk voor personen van hetzelfde geslacht en tot wijziging van een aantal bepalingen van het Burgerlijk Wetboek
- ^ "LOI - WET". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria - Constitution". National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
Matrimony shall be a free union between a man and a woman.
- ^ (Croatian) Zakon o životnom partnerstvu osoba istog spola
- ^ "Ustav Republike Hrvatske" (PDF) (in Croatian). Ustavni sud Republike Hrvatske. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ "ILGA-Europe". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "Cyprus: Penal code amended to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity". PinkNews. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ "House votes to criminalise homophobia". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ (Czech) 115/2006 Sb. o registrovaném partnerství a o změně některých souvisejících zákonů
- ^ (Danish) Lov om ændring af lov om ægteskabs indgåelse og opløsning, lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger og retsplejeloven og om ophævelse af lov om registreret partnerskab
- ^ "Riigikogu". Riigikogu. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ (Swedish) Lag om registrerat partnerskap
- ^ (Swedish) Lag om ändring av äktenskapslagen
- ^ (French) Loi n° 99-944 du 15 novembre 1999 relative au pacte civil de solidarité
- ^ (French) LOI n° 2013-404 du 17 mai 2013 ouvrant le mariage aux couples de personnes de même sexe
- ^ a b (German) Gesetz über die Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft
- ^ (German) Gesetz zur Einführung des Rechts auf Eheschließung für Personen gleichen Geschlechts (18/8)
- ^ (German)Gesetz zur Einführung des Rechts auf Eheschließung für Personen gleichen Geschlechts (273/15)
- ^ (German)Gesetz zur Abschaffung des Eheverbots für gleichgeschlechtliche Paare (18/5098)
- ^ "Μόλις ανακοινώθηκε το Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης και για ομόφυλα ζευγάρια". LiFO. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ (Hungarian) 2009. évi XXIX. törvény a bejegyzett élettársi kapcsolatról, az ezzel összefüggő, valamint az élettársi viszony igazolásának megkönnyítéséhez szükséges egyes törvények módosításáról
- ^ (Hungarian) T/5423 Magyarország Alaptörvényének 6. módosítása
- ^ (Hungarian)T/5424 Az azonos neműek házasságkötéséhez szükséges jogi feltételek megteremtéséről
- ^ "Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Marriage Bill 2015
- ^ (Italian) Atto Senato n. 2081
- ^ (Italian) Atto Senato n. 15
- ^ (Italian) Atto Senato n. 204
- ^ (Italian) Atto Senato n. 393
- ^ http://www.saeima.lv/Likumdosana_eng/likumdosana_satversme.html
- ^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA".
- ^ (French) Loi du 9 juillet 2004 relative aux effets légaux de certains partenariats
- ^ "Chambre des Députés du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ (French) Mémorial A n° 207 de 2006
- ^ "Legislationline". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ a b ACT No. IX of 2014
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ AN ACT to amend the Constitution of Malta
- ^ (Dutch) Wet openstelling huwelijk
- ^ "Związki partnerskie - nie w tej kadencji" (in Polish). polityka.pl. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "The Constitution of the Republic of Poland". Sejm RP. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
Marriage, being a union of a man and a woman, as well as the family, motherhood and parenthood, shall be placed under the protection and care of the Republic of Poland.
- ^ (Portuguese) Lei n.º 9/2010 de 31 de Maio
- ^ "URMARIREA PROCESULUI LEGISLATIV". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "Parteneriatul civil, respins de Senat. Condiţia pe care au pus-o senatorii care susţin legalizarea uniunilor între persoane de acelaşi sex". Gandul.info. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Radoslav, Tomek (4 June 2014). "Slovak Lawmakers Approve Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
- ^ "ILGA-Europe". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ (Slovene) 2840. Zakon o registraciji istospolne partnerske skupnosti
- ^ (Slovene)Zakon o spremembah in dopolnitvah Zakona o zakonski zvezi in družinskih razmerjih
- ^ (Spanish) Ley 13/2005, de 1 de julio, por la que se modifica el Código Civil en materia de derecho a contraer matrimonio
- ^ (Swedish)Lag (2009:253) om ändring i äktenskapsbalken
- ^ "Civil Partnership Act 2004". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2014
- ^ "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014
- ^ Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4)
- ^ "Special Eurobarometer 437: Discrimination in the EU in 2015" (PDF). European Commission. October 2015.
- ^ "Eurobarometer 66: Public opinion in the European Union" (PDF). European Commission. December 2006.
- ^ Croatia, which became a EU member state in 2013, was not included in the 2006 Eurobarometer
External links[edit]
- The European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights
- LGBT, European Union Fundamental Rights Agency
- European Union and LGBT rights, ILGA-Europe
