LGBT rights in the Post-Soviet states

LGBT rights in the former Soviet Union Soviet Union

Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal (illegal for males in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)
Gender identity/expression Legal in Estonia
Military service Legal in Armenia (varies), Belarus (varies), Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine (varies)
Discrimination protections Legal in Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 No (excluding Estonia)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the former Soviet Union face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Since 1 January 2016, in Estonia, same-sex couples have recognition called a cohabitation agreement that gives the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples (with the exemption of marriage and Joint adoption).

Summary table

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB allowed to serve openly in military? Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Russia Russia Male legal since 1993
Female always legal[1][2]		 (Constitutional ban proposed)[3] (Requires sterilisation for change[4])
Ukraine Ukraine Legal since 1991
+ UN decl. sign.[2]		 Constitutionally banned since 1996[5] LGBT individuals may adopt.[6] / Policies depend on the regional commissioners.[7] Bans some anti-gay discrimination[8] (Requires sterilisation for change[4])
Belarus Belarus Legal since 1994[2] Constitutionally banned since 1994 [9] / Banned from military service during peacetime, but during wartime homosexuals are permitted to enlist as partially able.[10] LGBT activism/expression deemed terrorism[11]
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Male illegal
Penalty: up to 3-year prison sentence
Female always legal[2]
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Legal since 1998[2] [12] [13]
Georgia (country) Georgia Legal since 2000
+ UN decl. sign.[2]		 (Constitutional ban proposed)[14][15] Bans all anti-gay discrimination[16] (Requires sterilisation for change[4])
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Legal since 2000[2] [17] (Requires sterilisation for change[4])
Lithuania Lithuania Legal since 1993
+ UN decl. sign.[2]		 (Pending)[18] Constitutionally banned since 1992[19] Only married couples can adopt.[20] Bans all anti-gay discriminationnn[21][22] Gender change is legal since 2003.[23]
Moldova Moldova Legal since 1995
+ UN decl. sign.[2]		 Constitutionally banned since 1994[24] Bans some anti-gay discrimination [21] (Requires sterilisation for change[4])
Latvia Latvia Legal since 1992
+ UN decl. sign.[2]		 Constitutionally banned since 2006[25] LGBT individuals may adopt.[26] Bans some anti-gay discrimination[21] Documents are amended accordingly, no medical intervention required.[27]
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Legal since 1998[2] [13]
Tajikistan Tajikistan Legal since 1998[2] [13]
Armenia Armenia Legal since 2003
+ UN decl. sign.[2]		 Constitutionally banned since 2015[28][29] / No explicit ban. However, LGBT persons have been reportedly discharged because of their sexual orientation.[30]
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Male illegal
Penalty: up to 2-year prison sentence
Female always legal[2]
Estonia Estonia Legal since 1992
+ UN decl. sign.[2]		 Cohabitation agreement since 2016[31] / Marriage performed abroad recognised since 2016[32] / Step-child adoption since 2016. Couples where both partners are infertile may also jointly adopt non-biological children since 2016 Bans all anti-gay discrimination[21] Gender reassignment legal.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Russian Gay History". middlebury.edu.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "State Sponsored Homophobia 2016: A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition" (PDF). International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Campaign started to declare gay marriage unconstitutional". RT. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trans Rights Europe Map, 2016.
  5. ↑ Legal Report: Ukraine, COWI (2010)
  6. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/country-information/learn-about-a-country/ukraine.html
  7. ↑ http://fortruss.blogspot.ch/2015/06/ukrainian-military-to-issue-draft.html
  8. ↑ http://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-politics/1912891-ukraines-parliament-passes-anti-discrimination-law.html
  9. ↑ Prof. Dr. Axel Tschentscher, LL-M. "Belarus - Constitution". Servat.unibe.ch. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
  10. ↑ "Belarus: Attitude towards homosexuals and lesbians in Belarus; state protection available to non-heterosexuals in Belarus with special attention to Minsk (2000-2005)". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 17 January 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Comment: With all eyes on anti-gay Russia, there are three countries with a shocking need for coverage". pinknews.co.uk.
  12. ↑ "Kazakhstan Says No to Gays in Military". Eurasianet. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 Masci, David (February 11, 2014). "Gay rights in Russia and the former Soviet republics". Pew Research Center. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Govt Offers Setting Constitutional Bar to Same-Sex Marriage". Civil.ge. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Georgia to Consider a Ban on Same-Sex Marriage". Eurasianet.org. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "სსიპ ”საქართველოს საკანონმდებლო მაცნე”". სსიპ ”საქართველოს საკანონმდებლო მაცნე”.
  17. ↑ "File:Lgbt azerbaijan.jpg". wikimedia.org.
  18. ↑ Čachovskis, K. (March 25, 2015). "9 MPs register bill on same-sex partnership". DELFI. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ "CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA".
  20. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/country-information/learn-about-a-country/lithuania.html
  21. 1 2 3 4 "ILGA-Europe" (PDF). ilga-europe.org.
  22. ↑ (in Croatian)"Zakon o suzbijanju diskriminacije". Narodne-novine.nn.hr. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  23. ↑ (in Lithuanian) Lietuvos Respublikos Civilinis kodeksas (Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania
  24. ↑ "The Constitution of Moldova" (PDF). The Government of Moldova. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "President Signs Anti-Gay Constitutional Amendment". UK Gay News. December 21, 2005. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  26. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/country-information/learn-about-a-country/latvia.html
  27. ↑ (in Latvian) Cik viegli pārvērsties no Ievas par Ādamu?
  28. ↑ Referendum in Armenia brings constitutional reforms
  29. ↑ Armenia Central Electoral Commission announces constitutional referendum final results
  30. ↑ "Armenia: Gays live with threats of violence, abuse". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  31. ↑ (in Estonian) "Kooseluseadus". Riigikogu. 9 October 2014.
  32. ↑


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