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| LGBTQ rights in European Union | |
|---|---|
 European Union | |
| Status | Never criminalised in EU law. Last state criminalisation repealed in 1994. |
| Military | Allowed to serve openly in every state except Cyprus. |
| Discrimination protections | Outlawed in employment with further protections in member states' law |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | Available in 16/28 states. |
| Adoption | Available in 9/28 states. |
LGBT rights in the European Union are protected under the European Union's (EU) treaties and law. Homosexuality 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 marriage and LGBT adoption.
Treaty protections
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.
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.
Legislative protection
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.
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.
Proposed directive
A proposed European anti-discrimination law would outlaw discrimination in the areas of social protection, social advantages, education and access to supply of goods. This would be on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation. However the directive has been stalled in the Council, despite strong support from the European Parliament.
Transgender rights
Transgender protection is not covered in the same way in EU law. 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. In 2002, the 1976 equal treatment directive was revised to include discrimination based on gender identity.
Other actions
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.
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.
Foreign relations
In June 2010, the Council of the European Union adopted a non-binding toolkit to promote LGBT people's human rights.
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.
Same-sex unions
Further information: Recognition of same-sex unions in EuropeSame-sex marriage has been legalised in Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland). Civil unions have been legalised in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Some EU states are considering legalisation of same-sex marriage and/or some other form of partnership. Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have constitutionally defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
While the EU legislates to improve the free movement of persons, there is no provision for mutual recognition of same-sex partnerships. The European Parliament has however approved a report calling for mutual recognition and the Green Party of England and Wales campaigned for EU-wide same-sex marriage in 2009.
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 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 PACS, which is significantly inferior to marriage than a German partnership.
State laws on sexual orientation
- 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 law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria
|
 Yes (Registered Partnership since 2010)
|
 No (pending)
|
/ Biological step-child adoption only
|
Some | Yes
|
 Belgium
|
Yes (Statutory Cohabitation since 2000)
|
Yes (since 2003)
|
Yes (since 2006)
|
All | Yes
|
 Bulgaria
|
No
|
No, constitutional ban
|
Single gay persons may adopt | All | No
|
 Croatia
|
No (pending)
|
No, constitutional ban
|
Single gay persons may adopt (institution similar to biological step-child adoption proposed) | All | Yes
|
 Cyprus
|
No (proposed)
|
No
|
No
|
All | No
|
 Czech Republic
|
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2006)
|
No
|
Single gay persons may adopt | All | No
|
 Denmark
|
/ Yes/No (Registered Partnership from 1989 to 2012)
|
Yes (since 2012)
|
Yes (since 2010)
|
Some | Yes
|
 Estonia
|
No
|
No
|
Only married couples can adopt | Some | Yes
|
 Finland
|
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2002)
|
No (pending)
|
/ Step-child adoption only (joint adoption pending)
|
Some | Yes
|
 France
|
Yes (Civil Solidarity Pact since 1999)
|
Yes (since 2013)
|
Yes (since 2013)
|
Some | Yes
|
 Germany
|
Yes (Registered Life Partnership since 2001)
|
No (pending)
|
/ Step-child adoption only (joint adoption pending)
|
All | No
|
 Greece
|
No (proposed)
|
No
|
No
|
Some | Yes
|
 Hungary
|
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2009)
|
No, constitutional ban
|
No
|
All | Yes
|
 Ireland
|
Yes (Civil Partnership since 2011)
|
No (proposed)
|
Single gay persons may adopt. Step Child adoption under consideration. | All | Yes
|
 Italy
|
No (pending)
|
No (pending)
|
Only married couples can adopt | Some | No
|
 Latvia
|
No
|
No, constitutional ban
|
Only married couples can adopt | Some | No
|
 Lithuania
|
No
|
No, constitutional ban
|
Only married couples can adopt | All | Yes
|
 Luxembourg
|
Yes (Partnership since 2004)
|
No (pending)
|
Single gay persons may adopt (joint adoption pending) | Some | No
|
 Malta
|
No (pending)
|
No (recognition of overseas marriage pending)
|
No (pending)
|
Some | Yes
|
 Netherlands
|
Yes (Registered Partnership since 1998)
|
Yes (since 2001)
|
Yes
|
All | Yes
|
 Poland
|
No (pending)
|
No, constitutional ban
|
Single gay persons may adopt | Some | No
|
 Portugal
|
No
|
Yes (since 2010)
|
Single gay persons may adopt | All | Yes
|
 Romania
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
All | Yes
|
 Slovakia
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
All | Yes
|
 Slovenia
|
Yes (Registered Partnership since 2006)
|
No
|
No (proposed)
|
All | Yes
|
 Spain
|
No
|
Yes (since 2005)
|
Yes
|
All | Yes
|
 Sweden
|
/ Yes/No (Registered Partnership from 1995 to 2009)
|
Yes (since 2009)
|
Yes (since 2003)
|
All | Yes
|
 United Kingdom (incl. British Overseas Territory of  Gibraltar)
|
Yes (Civil Partnership since 2005; in Gibraltar since 2014)
|
/ (Since 2014 in England and Wales and Scotland; not in Northern Ireland and Gibraltar)
|
Yes (since 2002 in England and Wales, 2009 in Scotland and 2013 in Northern Ireland and Gibraltar)
|
All | Yes
|
Northern Cyprus
Further information: LGBT rights in Northern CyprusThe Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is not recognised by the European Union and is considered by it and all UN members except Turkey to be part of the Republic of Cyprus (and hence, the EU). However, due to the Cyprus dispute placing the territory outside the Republic of Cyprus' control, EU law is suspended in the area governed by the TRNC until the situation is resolved.
See also
- LGBT rights in Europe
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe
- Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- European Union Fundamental Rights Agency
References
- ^ Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, European Union 2009
- ^ 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
- What is the current legal situation in the EU?, ILGA Europe
- Why ILGA-Europe supports the proposed Anti-Discrimination Directive, ILGA Europe
- European Parliament renews call for anti-discrimination laws for LGBT people, LGBTQ Nation
- ^ European Union and LGBT rights, ILGA Europe
- "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's 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.
- 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
- Green Party calls for EU-wide gay marriage, Pink News
- "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.
- Austria: Reform needed after European Court adoption victory for lesbian couple
- ^ Rainbow Europe Country Index
- "Cyprus: Penal code amended to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- Law change criminalises homophobia
- Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4)
External links
- The European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights
- LGBT, European Union Fundamental Rights Agency
- European Union and LGBT rights, ILGA-Europe
