LGBT rights in Bulgaria

Last updated

LGBT rights in Bulgaria
EU-Bulgaria.svg
Status Legal from 1858 (as part of the Ottoman Empire) to 1879
Legal since 1968,
age of consent equalized in 2002
Gender identity Transgender individuals not allowed to change their legal gender due to a supreme court ruling in 2023 [1] [2]
Military Homosexual men, women, and bisexual people are allowed to serve
Discrimination protections Protections in all areas since 2004 and 2015 ( see below )
Family rights
Recognition of relationships No recognition of same-sex relationships
RestrictionsSame-sex marriage constitutionally banned
Adoption Single LGBT individuals can adopt

LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) in Bulgaria face significant challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex relationships are legal in Bulgaria, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been banned since 2004, with discrimination based on "gender change" being outlawed since 2015.[ citation needed ] In July 2019, a Bulgarian court recognized a same-sex marriage performed in France in a landmark ruling. [3] For 2020, Bulgaria was ranked 37 of 49 European countries for LGBT rights protection by ILGA-Europe. [4] Like most countries in Central and Eastern Europe, post-Communist Bulgaria holds socially conservative attitudes when it comes to such matters as homosexuality and transgender people. [5]

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

Before the Liberation

Homosexuality was legalized in 1858 in all parts of the Ottoman Empire. After the Liberation of Bulgaria, however, homosexuality was recriminalized with the adoption of a new constitution in 1879.

1878–1968

Following the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, the country's Penal Code came into force on 1 May 1896, and homosexual acts between males over 16 years of age became punishable by at least six months of imprisonment. [6] The Penal Code of 13 March 1951 increased the penalty to up to three years in jail. [7] The revised Penal Code of 1 May 1968 removed the sections outlawing homosexual acts.

July 1964 trial

In July 1964, 26 men were arrested and accused of having "perverted homosexual relationships". Some of the arrested were the famous actor Georgi Partsalev and one of the most loved Bulgarian singers, Emil Dimitrov. [8] Experts say that the process was a masquerade for the public so that "people will understand how decadent the Western culture is". In the 1960s, there were a couple of other similar cases which again involved some of Bulgaria's elite. Later in 1966, when revising the Penal Code, a group of "experts" decided that homosexual acts would no longer be considered a crime because lesbians and gays "are ill people, who shouldn't be punished because of the sufferings they are already going through (due to their illness)". [8] On 1 May 1968, the Penal Code was revised, and homosexuality became legal.

Since 2002, the age of consent has been 14, regardless of the sexes of the consenting parties.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

In September 2023, the European court of human rights says that Bulgaria not recognising same-sex couples is an "infringement of human rights". This case is subject to appeals and awaiting a government response. [9] [10] Since 1991, Article 46 of the Bulgarian Constitution has defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, therefore explicitly banning same-sex marriage. The Constitution does not ban civil unions or other forms of relationship recognition. [11]

In 2012, on the question if same-sex couples will soon have further rights like the right to marry or adopt children, now-former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said: "for something [like this] to happen, society needs to become ready for it." [12] There have been several debates on whether to recognise civil unions or registered partnerships, which would grant same-sex couples some of the rights and benefits of marriage, including the right to inherit, to make medical decisions, to own property together; all of which are currently denied to same-sex couples.

In 2017, a Bulgarian same-sex couple, who married in the United Kingdom, filed a lawsuit in order to have their marriage recognised. [13] The Sofia Administrative Court rejected their case in January 2018. [14] However, lawyers from the Bulgarian LGBT organisation Deystvie (Действие) appealed against this decision. Deystvie has begun public collecting signatures in favor of their appeal. [15]

Citing Coman and Others v General Inspectorate for Immigration and Ministry of the Interior , a case originating from Romania in which the European Court of Justice ruled that same-sex couples must be granted full residency rights in all EU countries, a Sofia court granted a same-sex couple the right to live in Bulgaria on 29 June 2018. The couple, an Australian woman and her French wife, had married in France in 2016, but were denied residency in Bulgaria a year later when they attempted to move there. [16]

Adoption and parenting

Same-sex couples are banned from adopting in Bulgaria. However, single individuals regardless of sexual orientation are allowed to adopt, though requests from single men are rarely accepted. Lesbian couples do not have access to IVF and artificial insemination, as it is only available to married opposite-sex couples. Nevertheless, since 2004, single lesbian women have had access to IVF. [17]

In 2021 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) heard a case involving a baby born to a lesbian couple (one Bulgarian and the other a British citizen) in Spain. The baby was not entitled to either British or Spanish citizenship so the couple applied for Bulgarian citizenship for their child. Because the Bulgarian authorities refused to issue a birth certificate, the child was denied the benefits of European citizenship, became stateless, and has not been able to leave Spain. [18] [19] In December 2021, the ECJ ruled against Bulgaria in the case, finding that the country had to issue an ID card based on the parentage established by Spain so that the child could exercise her right to European citizenship. [20]

Discrimination protections

Since 1 January 2004, the Protection Against Discrimination Act of 2003 (Bulgarian : Закон за защита от дискриминация) has prohibited discrimination and hate speech on the basis of sexual orientation in all areas (employment, the provision of goods and services, education, military service, health services, etc.). [21] Under the law, sexual orientation is defined as "heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual orientation".

In 2015, the National Assembly amended the definition of "sex" in the law to include cases of gender change. [22] Transgender people who have not undergone a legal gender change could use "gender" from the list of protected grounds. Gender expression and gender identity are not explicitly mentioned in the revised Act. [23]

Hate crimes

Hate crimes against LGBT people are not uncommon in Bulgaria, and are often ignored and go uninvestigated by authorities. In 2008, a 25-year-old student was brutally killed in a park in Sofia because he was perceived to be gay. During the investigation, a man testified that the two suspects were part of a group intending to "cleanse" the park of gays. [24] On 27 September 2020, children as young as 14 or 15 were assaulted in Plovdiv, as part of an anti-LGBT "cleansing action" apparently done by ultra fans of Botev. [25]

In January 2014, the Government committed itself to outlaw hate crimes against LGBT people. [26] However, following parliamentary elections in October 2014, the newly established Government has been silent on the issue. [24] As of 2020, Bulgaria's Penal Code still does not protect LGBT people from hate crimes. [27] [28] [25]

On 28 July 2023, the National Assembly adopted a Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Criminal Code, which provides for heavier penalties for crimes committed on the basis of the victim's sexual orientation. [29]

Gender identity and expression

The Bulgarian Personal Documents Act (Bulgarian : Закон за българските лични документи), which came into effect on 1 April 1999, was the first law in Bulgaria regulating sex changes, it however has seen been overruled by the Supreme Court of Cassation. [17] [30] There is no official data on the number of Bulgarians who have legally changed their gender. When a person undergoes sex reassignment surgery, they where able to change their passport, driver's license, personal identity document, birth certificate and uniform civil number to match their new sex. In 2016, however, three transgender women were allowed to change gender without undergoing surgery. [31]

A 2015 Eurobarometer survey found that only 29% of Bulgarians agreed with the statement that transgender people should be able to change their civil documents in order to match their actual gender identity. [32]

After the Constitutional Court's verdict on the Istanbul Convention, in which the court condemned attempts to introduce legislation for legal gender recognition, a transgender woman's application to change gender was rejected by a regional court. [33]

An interpretative decision published by the Bulgarian Supreme Court of Cassation on 20 February 2023 states that "the only meaning of the term sex should be its biological one", and that "the [Bulgarian] Constitution and the entire legal system are based on the binary existence of humankind", thus effectively prohibiting the change of legal gender on a biological basis. [34] (lit. translation)

Intersex rights

There is no data of the number of intersex babies born in the country. [35] The standard procedure in a case of an intersex child birth is the removal of the male genitalia due to the fact that it is an easier operation than the one removing the female genitalia. The parents are rarely informed of the damages this could later cause to the child's gender identity. [35] There are no laws concerning intersex people.

Military service

Bulgaria's Protection Against Discrimination Act of 2003 protects individuals from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in relation to recruitment to the military. [36]

Blood donation

Gay and bisexual men are not explicitly banned from donating blood in Bulgaria. However, the blood donor application form, required prior to any blood donation, does not ask the applicant to disclose that information, rather requires them to confirm that they did not partake in practices (sexual included) that increase the risk of HIV or other STIs. The consent form is detailed in an ordinance issued by Bulgaria's Ministry of Healthcare on 19 July 2004. [37]

Party positions on potential same-sex marriage/partnership law

PartyIn favourSeats in the National AssemblyPosition
We Continue the Change Partially35Coalition
GERB–SDS No69Coalition
DPS Partially36Opposition
BSP for Bulgaria No24Opposition
There Is Such a People No11Opposition
Democratic Bulgaria Yes26Coalition
Revival No37Opposition
Stand Up.BG! We are coming! Partially0Extraparliamentary
IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement No0Extraparliamentary

Support for same-sex marriage legislation on a political level is limited to positions of individual party members (in parties who support partially the LGBTQ rights).

In light of the elections for the 47th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria on 14 November 2021, the Organizational Committee of Sofia Pride analyzed the election platforms of all major parties' running candidates for MPs. In the Committee's words, 'LGBTQ+ people continue to be unrepresented in the party headquarters' visions and ideas for the country'. [38]

Public opinion

A 2002 Pew Global Attitudes Project survey recorded that 63% of Bulgarians were "openly homophobic" and against LGBT people, and the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes Project survey recorded that acceptance of the LGBT community had risen to 39%. [39]

A 2006 European Union poll showed that 15% of Bulgarians supported same-sex marriage, with 65% opposed to it. [40] [41] In 2015, those numbers remained almost the same, with 17% supporting same-sex marriage and 68% being opposed. [42]

According to a survey in 2007 by Skala, a sociological agency, 42.4% of Bulgarians would not like having a homosexual friend or colleague. 46% answered that it would be unacceptable if their own child was gay or lesbian. [43] A Eurobarometer survey from 2015 showed that only 9% of Bulgarian parents would accept their child being in a same-sex relationship. [44]

According to a 2008 survey, conducted in 15 schools throughout Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, 10.5% of students identified as bisexual, whereas 1.8% identified as gay and 87.7% as straight. Of these students, 15% said they would not want a gay friend and 29% said they would categorically refuse to sit next to a gay classmate. 5% said they would bully gay classmates, while 39% said they would protect them from bullying. [45]

A survey from 2012 showed the number of people who would not like having a homosexual colleague had dropped to 38%. The survey also showed that Bulgarians were more tolerant toward lesbians than gay men. 26% of the respondents would not hire a lesbian. [46]

A Pew Research Center published in May 2017 suggested that 18% of Bulgarians were in favor of same-sex marriage, while 79% opposed it. Support was higher among Orthodox Christians (19%) and 18–34 year olds (26%), in contrast to Muslims (12%) and people aged 35 and over (15%). [47] While just 27% believe there is nothing wrong with same-sex relationships, a 2015 Eurobarometer survey reported that 51% supported equal rights. [48]

A GLOBSEC survey conducted in March 2023 showed that 21% of Bulgarians supported same-sex marriage, while 69% were opposed. [49]

The 2023 Eurobarometer found that 17% of Bulgarians thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, and 21% agreed that "there is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex". [50]

Living conditions

Most of gay life in Bulgaria is primarily set in Sofia. There are gay establishments in Plovdiv, Varna and Blagoevgrad. Outside of the big cities, the subject is a taboo and rarely welcomed or admitted to be relevant or real. As this is still a highly controversial subject in Bulgaria, accurate data cannot be obtained due to the unwillingness of some or most persons who identify as LGBT to freely affirm themselves as such out of fear of public persecution, scrutiny or harassment.

In December 2018, billboards promoting tolerance towards same-sex couples, put up in various Bulgarian cities such as Varna and Burgas, were vandalised. [51] [52]

During the 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests, there was a rise in anti-LGBT rhetoric and discrimination, as right-wing and far-right groups and organizations attempted to put the topic of gender (through the anti-LGBT trope of gender ideology) at the forefront over the COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria and the protests themselves. Gender became a slur for non-binary people or any person perceived to be LGBT. Nonetheless, acceptance of LGBT people among the more educated, middle-class Bulgarians has increased, as the efforts of LGBT-rights organizations were paying off, such as the biggest LGBT pride in the country's history, the first LGBT exhibition (the Balkan Pride) outside Sofia, and the recognition of a same-sex marriage between an Australian and French citizen in a Bulgarian court. [5]

Pride parades

Sofia Pride in 2019 Sofia Pride 2019.png
Sofia Pride in 2019

The only pride parade to take place so far in Bulgaria is Sofia Pride. The first parade took place in 2008 and drew about 150 participants, who were attacked with petrol bombs, rocks and glass bottles. More than 60 hooligans were arrested. [53] The pride parades in the following years went on peacefully and started drawing more participants as well as the support of political parties, local businesses and embassies. In 2017, the parade was attended by more than 3,000 participants and was supported by 18 diplomatic missions. The pride week also included a film program and an art festival. [54] In 2019, around 6,000 attendees marched in the gay pride parade. It was supported by 25 diplomats and representatives of international organizations and foundations. [55] [56]

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church strongly opposes freedom of assembly for LGBT people and any form of manifestation like pride parades, calling them a "sinful demonstration" and the "sin of sodomy". [57] Before the 2012 Sofia Pride, a priest from Sliven said in a newspaper interview that "gays should be beaten with stones". [58] National Resistance, a far-right group, has advocated using brooms and shovels to attack people at pride parades. [59]

Parties such as the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the Greens, Bulgarian Left and DSB have supported the parade organizers' right to hold the pride parade. However, in 2014, only the Greens and Bulgarian Left sent statements of support to the parade. [60] [61] Georgi Kadiev, the former Bulgarian Socialist Party mayoral candidate for Sofia, participated in support of the pride parade in 2011. [62] Some parties, such as the far-right nationalist Ataka party, strongly oppose the pride parades, protesting against them, as well as homosexuality more broadly. [61] [63]

LGBT rights organizations

There are several LGBT organizations in Bulgaria:

Pazardzhik case

In November 2009, the District Council of Pazardzhik voted in favor of an amendment forbidding the "public demonstration of sexual or any other orientation." [65] LGBT organizations attacked the decision of the council, arguing it was discriminatory. [66] In October 2010, the district's Administrative Court struck down the resolution, citing procedural errors in its passing. [67] The court's decision was affirmed on appeal by the Supreme Administrative Court in July 2011. [68]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes check.svg (Since 1968)
Equal age of consent (14) Yes check.svg (Since 2002)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment Yes check.svg (Since 2004)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services Yes check.svg (Since 2004)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas, including indirect discrimination and hate speech Yes check.svg (Since 2004)
Anti-discrimination laws concerning gender identity Yes check.svg (Since 2015)
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation Yes check.svg (Since 2023)
Hate crime laws include gender identity X mark.svg
Same-sex marriage X mark.svg (Constitutional ban since 1991)
Recognition of same-sex couples X mark.svg
Adoption by single LGBT individuals Yes check.svg [ when? ]
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples X mark.svg
Joint adoption by same-sex couples X mark.svg
Lesbians, gays and bisexuals allowed to serve openly in the military Yes check.svg (Since 2006)
Right to change legal gender X mark.svg (de facto since 2017, de jure since 2023) [69] [70] [71]
Access to IVF for lesbian couples X mark.svg (Only for married couples and single women)
Automatic parenthood for both spouses after birth X mark.svg
Conversion therapy banned on minors X mark.svg
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples X mark.svg (Banned regardless of sexual orientation) [72]
MSMs allowed to donate blood Yes check.svg [ when? ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in the Czech Republic</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Czech Republic are granted some protections, but may still face legal difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT residents. In 2006, the country legalized registered partnerships for same-sex couples, and a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was being considered by the Parliament of the Czech Republic before its dissolution for the 2021 Czech legislative election, when it died in the committee stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Hungary</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Hungary face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Homosexuality is legal in Hungary for both men and women. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sex is banned in the country. However, households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for all of the same legal rights available to heterosexual married couples. Registered partnership for same-sex couples was legalised in 2009, but same-sex marriage remains banned. The Hungarian government has passed legislation that restricts the civil rights of LGBT Hungarians – such as ending legal recognition of transgender Hungarians and banning LGBT content and displays for minors. This trend continues under the Fidesz government of Viktor Orbán. In June 2021, Hungary passed an anti-LGBT law on banning "homosexual and transexual propaganda" effective since 1 July. The law has been condemned by seventeen member states of the European Union. In July 2020, the European Commission started legal action against Hungary and Poland for violations of fundamental rights of LGBTQI people, stating: "Europe will never allow parts of our society to be stigmatized."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Serbia</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Serbia face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Serbia, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is banned in areas such as employment, education, media, and the provision of goods and services, amongst others. Nevertheless, households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Ukraine</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Ukraine face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT individuals; historically, the prevailing social and political attitudes have been intolerant of LGBT people, and strong evidence suggests this attitude remains in parts of the wider society. Since the fall of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's independence in 1991, the Ukrainian LGBT community has gradually become more visible and more organized politically, organizing several LGBT events in Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Kryvyi Rih.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Austria</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Austria have advanced significantly in the 21st century, and are now among the most advanced in Europe. Both male and female forms of same-sex sexual activity are legal in Austria. Registered partnerships were introduced in 2010, giving same-sex couples some of the rights of marriage. Stepchild adoption was legalised in 2013, while full joint adoption was legalised by the Constitutional Court of Austria in 2016. On 5 December 2017, the Austrian Constitutional Court decided to legalise same-sex marriage, and the ruling went into effect on 1 January 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Bosnia and Herzegovina may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female forms of same-sex sexual activity are legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Romania</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Romania may face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Attitudes in Romania are generally conservative, with regard to the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens. Nevertheless, the country has made significant changes in LGBT rights legislation since 2000. In the past two decades, it fully decriminalised homosexuality, introduced and enforced wide-ranging anti-discrimination laws, equalised the age of consent and introduced laws against homophobic hate crimes. Furthermore, LGBT communities have become more visible in recent years, as a result of events such as Bucharest's annual pride parade and Cluj-Napoca's Gay Film Nights festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Sweden</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Sweden are regarded as some of the most progressive in Europe and the world. Same-sex sexual activity was legalized in 1944 and the age of consent was equalized to that of heterosexual activity in 1972. Sweden also became the first country in the world to allow transgender people to change their legal gender post-sex reassignment surgery in 1972, whilst transvestism was declassified as an illness in 2009. Legislation allowing legal gender changes without hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery was passed in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Denmark</span>

Danish lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights are some of the most extensive in the world. In 2023, ILGA-Europe ranked Denmark as the third most LGBT-supportive country in Europe. Polls consistently show that same-sex marriage support is nearly universal amongst the Danish population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Cyprus</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Cyprus have evolved in recent years, but LGBT people still face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female expressions of same-sex sexual activity were decriminalised in 1998, and civil unions which grant several of the rights and benefits of marriage have been legal since December 2015. Conversion therapy was banned in Cyprus in May 2023. However, adoption rights in Cyprus are reserved for heterosexual couples only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Greece</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Greece are regarded as the most advanced in Southeast Europe and among all the neighboring countries. Public opinion on homosexuality in Greece is generally regarded as culturally liberal, with civil partnerships being legally recognised since 2015 and same-sex marriage since 16 February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Latvia</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Latvia have expanded substantially in recent years, although LGBT people still face various challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female types of same-sex sexual activity are legal in Latvia, but households headed by same-sex couples are ineligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. Since May 2022, same-sex couples have been recognized as "family" by the Administrative District Court, which gives them some of the legal protections available to married (opposite-sex) couples; as of 2023 November, around 40 couples have been registered via this procedure. Nevertheless, same-sex couples are unable to marry or jointly adopt, and registering civil partnerships without court litigation remains impossible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Lithuania</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Lithuania face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female expressions of same-sex sexual activity are legal in Lithuania, but neither civil same-sex partnership nor same-sex marriages are available, meaning that there is no legal recognition of same-sex couples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Malta</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Malta rank among the highest in the world. Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the rights of the LGBT community received more awareness and same-sex sexual activity was legalized on 29 January 1973. The prohibition was already dormant by the 1890s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Moldova</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Moldova face legal and social challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same rights and benefits as households headed by opposite-sex couples. Same-sex unions are not recognized in the country, so consequently same-sex couples have little to no legal protection. Nevertheless, Moldova bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace, and same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Portugal</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Portugal are among the most advanced in the world; having improved substantially in the 21st century. After a long period of oppression during the Estado Novo, Portuguese society has become increasingly accepting of homosexuality, which was decriminalized in 1982, eight years after the Carnation Revolution. Portugal has wide-ranging anti-discrimination laws and is one of the few countries in the world to contain a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation in its Constitution. On 5 June 2010, the state became the eighth in the world to recognize same-sex marriage. On 1 March 2011, a gender identity law, said to be one of the most advanced in the world, was passed to simplify the process of sex and name change for transgender people. Same-sex couples have been permitted to adopt since 1 March 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Slovenia</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Slovenia have significantly evolved over time, and are considered among the most advanced of the former communist countries. Slovenia was the first post-communist country to have legalised same-sex marriage, and anti-discrimination laws regarding sexual orientation and gender identity have existed nationwide since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Namibia</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Namibia have limited legal protections. Sexual contact between men is criminalised within Namibia, although this law is generally unenforced. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is banned in Namibia but not for gender identity.

Bulgaria does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions. Though these issues have been discussed frequently over the past few years, no law on the matter has passed the National Assembly. In September 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ordered the government to establish a legal framework recognizing same-sex unions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in North Macedonia</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in North Macedonia face discrimination and some legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity have been legal in North Macedonia since 1996, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.

References

  1. ↑ "Тълкувателно решение 2/2020 - гр. София, 20.02.2023 г." (PDF). Върховен касационен съд.
  2. ↑ "Bulgarian Supreme Court Rules Against Transgender People's Rights". BalkanInsight.
  3. ↑ "Bulgaria court recognises same-sex marriage in landmark ruling". PinkNews. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  4. ↑ "Rainbow Europe". Rainbow Europe. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  5. 1 2 Nikolova, Milana (14 September 2020). "Bulgaria once led the way on LGBT+ rights in emerging Europe. Not any more". Emerging Europe. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Bulgarian Penalty Code of 1896".
  7. ↑ "Наказателен кодекс от 1951 г. ( Особена част – Престъпления против личността / Престъпления против личната собственост )". September 8, 2009.
  8. 1 2 "СЕКСОЛОГЪТ ТОДОР БОСТАНДЖИЕВ: ЦОЛА ДРАГОЙЧЕВА МОЛИ ТАТО ДА НЕ ГОНИ ГЕЙОВЕТЕ" [Sexologist Todor Bostandjiev: Tsola Dragoycheva pray Tato do not evict gays] (in Bulgarian). Blitz. August 30, 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Court Rules Bulgaria Must Recognize Same-Sex Relationships | Human Rights Watch". 8 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "European Court pressures Bulgaria to recognise gay relationships".
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "Бойко не наднича под юргани" [Boyko does not stare under the quilts]. BGVesti (in Bulgarian). b2b media. May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013.
  13. ↑ Woman sues Bulgarian authorities for recognition of same-sex marriage Archived 2018-09-13 at the Wayback Machine The Sofia Globe, 5 December 2017
  14. ↑ "The Court did not Recognize a Marriage Between Bulgarian Women in the UK". novinite.com. 12 January 2018.
  15. ↑ "Права за еднополовите партньори и техните семейства". deystvie (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  16. ↑ Bulgarian Court Backs Same-sex Couple's EU Residence Rights, VOA News, 4 July 2018
  17. 1 2 "Rainbow Europe". rainbow-europe.org.
  18. ↑ "Same-sex couple takes baby citizenship fight to top EU court". France 24. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  19. ↑ "Court of Justice of the EU". deystvie. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  20. ↑ "Court of Justice: Member States obliged to issue ID card for EU citizens whose parents are a same-sex marriage". EU Law Live. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "Lex.bg – Закони, правилници, конституция, кодекси, държавен вестник, правилници по прилагане". www.lex.bg.
  22. ↑ "Закон за изменение и допълнение на Закона за защита от дискриминация – Указ №49" [Law amending and supplementing the Protection against Discrimination Act – Decree №49]. State Gazette (in Bulgarian).
  23. ↑ "Laws being revised by Bulgaria's Justice Ministry; on 09.04.2012 is the new Criminal Code project". Archived from the original on June 1, 2012.
  24. 1 2 Bulgaria must investigate and prosecute hate crimes to end climate of fear Amnesty International, February 2015
  25. 1 2 Todorov, Svetoslav (2 October 2020). "Plovdiv Attacks Highlight Bulgaria's Unsolved Homophobia Problem". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  26. ↑ "Преди обед, bTV: Първи детайли около София Прайд 2012" [Interview about the organization of Sofia Pride 2012 and the fight for gay rights in Bulgaria] (in Bulgarian). May 9, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  27. ↑ "Open letter from Bulgarian NGOs on Bulgaria's candidacy to host the European Medicines Agency | News | Български хелзинкски комитет". www.bghelsinki.org.
  28. ↑ "Lex.bg – Закони, правилници, конституция, кодекси, държавен вестник, правилници по прилагане". www.lex.bg.
  29. ↑ "Victory for LGBTI people: SC added sexual orientation as a protected sign in the NC". Darik. Darik. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  30. ↑ "Тълкувателно решение 2/2020 - гр. София, 20.02.2023 г." (PDF). Върховен касационен съд.
  31. ↑ "Una pareja de mujeres lleva por primera vez ante los tribunales de Bulgaria el derecho al matrimonio igualitario". dosmanzanas – La web de noticias LGTB.
  32. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2016-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Eurobarometer survey results; pages 66-67
  33. ↑ ""Annual Review 2018"" (PDF). ILGA . December 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  34. ↑ "Тълкувателно решение 2/2020 - гр. София, 20.02.2023 г." (PDF). Върховен касационен съд.
  35. 1 2 "Смяна на пола в България – дискусия в Червената къща" [Discussion about transsexuality and intersex in Bulgaria] (in Bulgarian). November 22, 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  36. ↑ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "Refworld – Bulgaria: Situation of homosexuals; protection available to victims of harassment or violence; organizations offering assistance or support to sexual minorities (March 2005 – August 2006)". Refworld.
  37. ↑ "НАРЕДБА № 29 ОТ 19 ЮЛИ 2004 Г. ЗА УСЛОВИЯТА И РЕДА ЗА СЪСТАВЯНЕ, ОБРАБОТВАНЕ, СЪХРАНЯВАНЕ И ПРЕДОСТАВЯНЕ НА ИНФОРМАЦИЯТА ОТ РЕГИСТЪРА ПО ЧЛ. 36 ОТ ЗАКОНА ЗА КРЪВТА, КРЪВОДАРЯВАНЕТО И КРЪВОПРЕЛИВАНЕТО И ЗА ФОРМИТЕ НА ДОКУМЕНТАЦИЯТА" (PDF).
  38. ↑ "Предизборна декларация на София прайд 2021". София Прайд (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  39. ↑ "WORLD PUBLICS WELCOME GLOBAL TRADE – BUT NOT IMMIGRATION" (PDF). October 4, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 8, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  40. ↑ "EUROBAROMETER 66 FIRST RESULTS" (PDF). TNS. European Commission. December 2006. p. 80. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  41. ↑ "Eight EU Countries Back Same-Sex Marriage". angusreid. December 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008.
  42. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2016-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  43. ↑ "The social situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Bulgaria" (PDF). March 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  44. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2016-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Eurobarameter results; page 55
  45. ↑ "Един от десет ученици е бисексуален". Plovdiv24.bg. June 30, 2008.
  46. ↑ Angelova, Polina (January 10, 2012). "Българинът не ще гейове и роми за колеги!" [The Bulgarian will not be gay and Romani for colleagues!]. Razkritia (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on August 13, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe". Pew Research Center. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  48. ↑ Heath, Ryan (18 May 2017). "Who cares about gay pride in Sofia?". Politico. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  49. ↑ "GLOBSEC Trends 2023" (PDF). GLOBSEC. 2023. p. 75.
  50. ↑ "Discrimination in the EU_sp535_volumeA.xlsx [QB15_2] and [QB15_3]" (xls). data.europa.eu. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  51. ↑ "Controversy in Bulgaria over billboards promoting tolerance towards same-sex couples". The Sofia Globe. 14 December 2018.
  52. ↑ Lotto Persio, Sofia (14 December 2018). "Bulgaria: Bullboards featuring LGBT couples vandalised". PinkNews.
  53. ↑ About 60 arrested at Bulgaria's first gay parade Reuters
  54. ↑ Марков, Марко. "3000 КРАСИВИ ХОРА ОЦВЕТИХА СОФИЯ В ЦВЕТОВЕТЕ НА ДЪГАТА – HUGE.BG".
  55. ↑ "Thousands turn out for Sofia Pride 2019". The Sofia Globe. 9 June 2019.
  56. ↑ Dimitrov, Martin (9 June 2019). "Love is the Theme at Twelfth Sofia Pride". BalkanInsight.
  57. ↑ "Светият Синод атакува предстоящия гей парад в София" [The Holy Synod attacks the upcoming gay parade in Sofia]. Actualno.com (in Bulgarian). June 22, 2010. Archived from the original on July 21, 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  58. ↑ "Отец зове: Пребийте гейовете с камъни" [Father calls: Beat the gays with stones]. vsekiden.com (in Bulgarian). June 12, 2012. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  59. ↑ Sofia LGBT Pride Should Showcase a Tolerant Bulgaria Human Rights Watch, 5 June 2017
  60. ↑ "Костов подкрепи гей-парада" [Kostov supported the gay parade] (in Bulgarian). BNews. June 24, 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  61. 1 2 "ILGA-Europe". Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  62. ↑ "Bulgaria's Sofia Pride Gay Parade Goes Smoothly, Only 'Family NGO' Protests". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. June 18, 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  63. ↑ "7th Sofia Pride march blocked by Bulgarian nationalist protesters". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  64. ↑ "'Човек на годината' 2017" [Human of the Year 2017]. Human of the Year.org (in Bulgarian). Sofia, Bulgaria: Bulgarian Helsinki Committee. 2017. pp.  Awardees, Pisankaneva. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  65. ↑ "ОБЩИНСКИ СЪВЕТ Пазарджик: РЕШЕНИЕ №211". Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  66. ↑ "Гейове и лесбийки лепят устите си в знак на протест" [Gays and lesbians stick their mouths in protest]. DarikNews.bg (in Bulgarian). March 2, 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  67. ↑ "Административният съд в Пазарджик отмени чл.14, който дискриминира гейовете" [The Administrative Court in Pazardjik repealed Article 14, which discriminated against gays]. DarikNews.bg (in Bulgarian). November 9, 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  68. ↑ "Поредна гилотина за вече мъртвия Член 14" [Another guillotine for the already dead Article 14]. Младежка ЛГБТ организация "Действие" (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  69. ↑ "Annual Review 2018: Bulgaria" (PDF). ILGA Europe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  70. ↑ "Trans Rights Index: Europe & Central Asia 2021" (PDF). TGEU. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  71. ↑ "Тълкувателно решение 2/2020 - гр. София, 20.02.2023 г." (PDF). Върховен касационен съд.
  72. ↑ "SURROGACY IN BULGARIA". Archived from the original on 2018-04-29. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.