LGBT+ Rights in Switzerland

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LGBT+ RIGHTS IN SWITZERLAND

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You may have heard about Switzerland for its high quality chocolate, the delicious cheese and the great mountain range used for skiing. Switzerland is an incredibly safe country to live in and I really love it there. But how much progress have we made when it comes to the LGBTQ+ Community?

You may not have known, but Switzerland was actually one of the last European countries to allow women to vote.

It was introduced on March 16th 1971 after the successful vote on the 7th of February. Although one of the cantons (that’s what our "states" are called) only introduced it on the 29th of April 1990.

So, you could say that we are pretty slow when it comes to equal rights.

In general, the LGBTQ+ rights in Switzerland are relatively progressive by European Standards, although there is a lack of full legal equality.

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Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Rights

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Same-sex relationships legal status

Since 1942 Same-sex sexual acts between adults have been legal, with an age of consent of 16 for both heterosexual and homosexual sex since 1992. There has been legal recognition for same-sex relationship since 2007, so as a same sex couple you can a partnership.

Same sex marriage, full t adoption and IVF access are still banned as of 2018.

Adoption and parenting

Single Parents, regardless of sexuality, may adopt children.

2016 a bill legalizing stepchild adoption for same-sex couples was approved, the law then came into effect on the 1st of January 2018.

Blood donation

Due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, gay and bisexual men were banned from donating blood in 1980.

The Swiss Red Cross asked for the ban to be lifted in June 1016, after that a new rule allowed gay and bisexual men to donate blood and stem cells, however, only if they didn’t have any sexual intercourse with other men during the last 12 months before the donation.

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Transgender Rights

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Gender identity/expression

A legal procedure for the registration of sex changes following sex reassignment surgery was outlined in 1993. In addition to that, since 2010 authorities have followed a practice of registration of sex changes without any requirement of surgery. Any other gender expressions aside from male or female can’t be ed.

Name change

A change of the first name can be proposed without changing the sex registration. The costs for a name change are usually about 300 swiss francs (=303.52 US Dollars) Depending on where you live, you might have to show a confirmation for being transgender, other places demand that you’re going through hormone treatment.

Teenagers also have the right to legally change their name, there is no minimum age, you only need power of judgement. The parents do not have to agree with the name change.

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Public Opinion

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In 2016 a poll by the gay-rights organisation Pink Cross showed, that 69% of the Swiss population ed the idea of same-sex marriage, 25% were against it and 6% was undecided.

According to the same poll, 50% of Swiss citizens ed full t adoption for same-sex couples, while 39% were opposed and 11% were undecided.

In 2017 a poll found that 72% of Swiss population ed same-sex marriage, with 25% opposed.

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Personal Experience

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I myself am Trangender FTM and have lived in Switzerland almost my whole life.

However, I had the luck to be born in a very accepting environment and since my outing I have never directly experienced any hate. My family and friends still love me and even though they still misgender me sometimes, it's been mostly great.

But not everyone living here has that luck and I have friends that had it harder then me when they came out. Hate exists in every country, no matter where we live we will probably still experience it. But I believe that one day, we will all be equal.

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