Back معاملة المثليين في لاتفيا Arabic Правы ЛГБТ у Латвіі Byelorussian LGBT práva v Lotyšsku Czech Homosexualität in Lettland German Diversidad sexual en Letonia Spanish Droits LGBT en Lettonie French זכויות להט"ב בלטביה HE Diritti LGBT in Lettonia Italian LGBT tiesības Latvijā Latvian/Lettish Sytuacja prawna i społeczna osób LGBT na Łotwie Polish
LGBT rights in Latvia | |
|---|---|
 Location of Latvia (dark green) – in Europe (light green & dark grey) | |
| Status | Legal since 1992 |
| Gender identity | Transgender people allowed to change gender, require surgery |
| Military | Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly |
| Discrimination protections | Sexual orientation protections in employment (see below) |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | Judicial recognition since 2022; Civil partnerships since July 2024[1] |
| Restrictions | Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned |
| Adoption | No joint adoption by same-sex couples |
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.[1][2][3] 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. In November 2023 a registered partnership law was codified into law. These partnerships are available to both same and different sex couples - however since July 1, 2024 the implemented registered partnership law has the same rights and obligations as married couples - with the exception of the title of marriage, any adoption or inheritance rights and obligations.[4]
The democratization process in Latvia has allowed lesbians and gays to establish organizations and infrastructural elements such as bars, clubs, stores, libraries, etc. Cultural, educational and other events can be held. However LGBT people in Latvia continue to face widespread discrimination in society.[5][clarification needed] In November 2014, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs came out via Twitter, becoming the first openly LGBT elected official in the country.[6] In July 2023, Rinkēvičs was promoted to become president of Latvia. In 2023, ILGA-Europe ranked Latvia 24th out of 27 European Union countries for the protection of LGBT rights.[7] Latvia is the only Baltic country and Northern European country which does not fully ban all anti-gay discrimination.
- ^ a b "Saeima pieņem neprecēto pāru partnerības regulējumu; opozīcija mēģinās sarīkot referendumu". LSM.lv. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Hansford, Amelia. "Latvia legalises same-sex civil partnerships in historic first". PinkNews. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Latvia slides down in LGBT+ rights index". Eng.lsm.lv. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Court recognizes another same-sex couple as legitimate family". Baltic Times. 8 July 2022.
- ^ Tapinsh, Aleks (4 June 2007). "Homophobic Attitudes Remain Entrenched". Transitions Online. Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
- ^ Birnbaum, Michael (6 November 2014). "Gay rights in eastern Europe just took a big step forward". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Country Ranking". Rainbow Europe. May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
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