LGBT rights in Europe: Important Things to Know

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LGBT Rights in Europe: Important Things to Know

The LGBT+ community has made incredible progress over the past several decades, and Europe has been at the forefront of making those changes happen. Finding acceptance and recognition, legal rights, and people who can stand up and fight for their needs has been a long and difficult journey and while progress has been made, there is still much to be done to ensure the rights of LGBT+ people are upheld and equal rights around the world. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at LGBT+ rights in Europe, outlining the important facts you need to know.

A History of European LGBT+ Rights

The LGBT+ community has long been marginalized and discriminated against in many areas of Europe and around the world. In Europe the recognition of the rights of LGBT+ people began in the late 1800s, with the decriminalization of homosexuality in many countries in Europe including France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany. There have since been numerous advancements in LGBT+ rights in Europe, particularly in the last hundred years. The first LGBT+ support group was founded in 1927 in Germany, followed in the 1940s and 50s by other LGBT+ organizations. In 1988, Denmark became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex partnerships. Throughout the rest of Europe, more and more countries have passed laws and regulations that protect LGBT+ rights and reduce discrimination. The European Union itself has taken action on LGBT+ rights, declaring itself a “zone of freedom and non-discrimination” and has passed several laws to ensure LGBT+ rights in Europe.

Current Status of LGBT+ Rights in Europe

While much work remains to be done in the fight for LGBT+ rights, Europe has made great strides in the last two decades. All members of the European Union, except Slovakia and Poland, have recognized same-sex couples since 2005. Same-sex marriage is legal in fifteen EU countries and several countries in Europe outside the EU allow civil unions or similar legal arrangements. As of 2020, 21 countries in Europe allow transgender individuals to legally change their gender with the majority of countries having no legal recognition for non-binary individuals. LGBT+parents can access legal recognition in twenty EU countries, although adoption continues to be a major challenge for same-sex couples.

LGBT+ Discrimination Laws

Fortunately, most European countries have laws in place designed to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Most recently, in 2019 the European Union passed a comprehensive set of legislation on non-discrimination and equal treatment of LGBT+ persons in EU countries. This legislation includes safeguards to ensure equal access to education, healthcare, goods and services, employment, housing, and social benefits. In addition, there are now laws in many countries that specifically criminalize hate speech and hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

LGBT+ Rights in Different Countries

While Europe has made great strides in the recognition and protection of LGBT+ rights, there is still a great deal of variation between countries. In some countries, such as Malta, the Netherlands, and Norway, LGBT+ people have the same rights as heterosexual couples in terms of adoption, marriage, and civil rights. In other countries such as Poland, same-sex marriage is not legally recognized, and there are no laws in place to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination. In addition, many countries have varying laws governing particular rights such as adoption, surrogacy, and public displays of same-sex affection.

The fight for LGBT+ rights in Europe is far from over. While there has been much progress in the last few decades, there are still many challenges that remain in terms of legal recognition and equal rights for LGBT+ people. It is important that we continue to demand the recognition of the rights of all LGBT+ individuals in Europe and around the world. Only then will we be able to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity and that all rights are fully protected and respected.

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