LGBT rights in Montenegro

LGBT rights in Montenegro
Location of Montenegro (green) in Europe (dark grey)  –  [Legend]
Status	Legal since 1977; age of consent equalized in 1977
Gender identity	Transgender people allowed to change gender
Military	Gays, lesbians and bisexuals are allowed to serve
Discrimination protections	Sexual orientation and gender identity protections (see below)
Family rights
Recognition of relationships	Life partnership since 2021
Restrictions	Same-sex marriage banned by the Constitution since 2007
Adoption	No

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

Same-sex couples are unable to marry, and the Constitution of Montenegro bans same-sex marriage. Since 15 July 2021, same-sex couples may register their relationship as a Life Partnership, which gives them almost the same legal rights and protections available to opposite-sex married couples^{[citation needed]}, except adoption.

Discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity is banned in employment, the provision of goods and services, education and health services. Montenegro also possesses hate crime and hate speech laws which include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds of non-discrimination. The association ILGA-Europe has ranked Montenegro 8th out of 49 European countries in terms of LGBT rights legislation.^[1] Despite this, Montenegrin society has yet to reach a high level of acceptance, and discrimination against LGBT people often goes unreported.^[2]