LGBT rights in Luxembourg

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Luxembourg enjoy similar rights to non-LGBT people.[1] Partnerships, which grant many of the benefits of marriage, have been recognised since 2004. In June 2014, the Luxembourgish Parliament passed a law enabling same-sex marriage and adoption rights, which took effect on 1 January 2015. Additionally, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and "change of sex" in employment, healthcare and the provision of goods and services is outlawed, and transgender people are allowed to change their legal gender on the basis of self-determination.

Location of Luxembourg (dark green)

 in Europe (light green & dark grey)
 in the European Union (light green)   [Legend]

StatusLegal since 1794,
equal age of consent
Gender identityTransgender people allowed to change legal gender without surgery
MilitaryGays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly
Discrimination protectionsSexual orientation and "change of sex" protected (see below)
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsPartnership since 2004;
Same-sex marriage since 2015
AdoptionStepchild and joint adoption since 2015

Luxembourger society is noted as tolerant of homosexuality and same-sex relationships. Polling in 2019 from the Eurobarometer found that 87% of Luxembourgers believed gay, lesbian and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual people, one of the highest in the European Union.[2]

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in 1794 (when the country was a French possession). Article 372 of the Penal Code sets the age of consent to 16, regardless of sexual orientation or gender. This was increased to 18 for same-sex sexual activity in 1971 by the addition of article 372 to the Penal Code, which was repealed in 1992.[3]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Partnerships have been available in Luxembourg since 2004. Partnerships, called partenariat in French and Partnerschaft in Luxembourgish and German, are based on the French PACS model. The law which permits these unions was enacted on 1 November 2004.[4]

In 2009, the Government of Luxembourg announced its intention to legalise same-sex marriage. However, after much delay, a final vote was not held until June 2014, when it passed by 56 votes to 4 and took effect on 1 January 2015.

Adoption and family planning

After a parliamentary vote in June 2014, a law granting full adoption rights to same-sex couples came into effect on 1 January 2015. Additionally, lesbian couples can access IVF and medically assisted insemination treatments.

A same-sex parenting case has been tested through the courts. After their twin boys were born in California via surrogacy, a same-sex couple sought citizenship for their children. In May 2017, Justice Minister Félix Braz granted Luxembourgish citizenship to one of the boys, but in December refused to grant citizenship to the other child. The couple filed suit. In January 2019, the Administrative Court of Luxembourg reversed the decision of the Minister of Justice. The judges considered that the complaint was well founded. As both parents are recorded on California birth documents, the judges concluded that Braz was wrong to grant citizenship to one child and to deny citizenship to the other—even if one of the applicants is not the biological father.[5][6]

Discrimination protections

Luxembourgish law prohibits discrimination (both direct and indirect) based on sexual orientation and "change of sex" (within the definition of sex) in employment, education, social security, healthcare, and the provision of goods and services.[7][8] In addition, hate crime legislation also refers to these characteristics and they are recognised as aggravating factors.[9] Article 1 of the anti-discrimination law, commonly referred to as the Law of 28 november 2006 on equal treatment (French: Loi du 28 novembre 2006 sur l'égalité de traitement; Luxembourgish: Gesetz vum 28. November 2006 zu der Gläichbehandlung; German: Gleichbehandlungsgesetz vom 28. November 2006), reads as follows:

Any direct or indirect discrimination based on religion or religious convictions, disability, age, sexual orientation, membership or non-membership, true or perceived, to a race or ethnicity is forbidden.

Luxembourgish nationals are allowed to serve in the Armed Forces regardless of sexual orientation.

As part of its LGBT Action Plan 2018–2023, Luxembourg has pledged to ensure inclusive educational opportunities for LGBT students, combat violence, harassment and discrimination, guarantee equal treatment in access to health care services and employment, and assure the equality of transgender and intersex individuals.[10][11]

Transgender rights

In the past, Luxembourg legally required transgender people to undergo surgery, sterilization and divorce before a change of gender on identification documents. However, on 12 May 2017, the Council of Government approved a bill to regulate the procedure of legal sex changes.[12] An adult person would need to submit an application to the Ministry of Justice to change their legal sex. No surgery, sterilization, divorce or other medical treatment would be required. Minors would be able to apply for a sex change with the consent of their legal guardians.[13][14][15] On 31 May, the bill was submitted to the Parliament,[16] and was approved in a 57–3 vote on 25 July 2018.[17][18][19] On 27 July 2018, the Council of State gave its consent to skip the second vote.[20] It was promulgated by the Grand Duke on 10 August and published in the official journal on 12 September. The law took effect on 16 September 2018.[21]

Blood donation

In Luxembourg, men who have sex with men (MSM) are not allowed to donate blood. In February 2016, Health Minister Lydia Mutsch was investigating the possibility of repealing the blanket ban.[22]

LGBT rights movement in Luxembourg

The 2011 Gaymat Festival in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg's main LGBT rights group is Pink Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Rosa Lëtzebuerg). It was founded on 26 June 1996 and had 220 members by 2004.[23] Its aims are to promote the civil rights of LGBT people, to fight against discrimination, to work in terms of social, cultural and legal matters for full equality, and to organise social and cultural activities.[24] It organizes annual pride demonstrations, known as the Gaymat Festival. Intersex & Transgender Luxembourg (ITGL) campaigns for transgender and intersex rights.[25]

Public opinion

A Eurobarometer survey published in December 2006 showed that 58% of Luxembourgers surveyed supported same-sex marriage and 39% supported adoption by same-sex couples. The EU-wide average in this survey was 44% and 33%, respectively.[26] Support for same-sex marriage had increased to 75% by 2015 according to the same pollster.[27]

The 2019 Eurobarometer showed that 87% of Luxembourgers believed gay and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual people, and 85% supported same-sex marriage.[2]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1794)
Equal age of consent (Except between 1971 and 1992)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment (Since 2006)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services (Since 2006)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) (Since 2006)
Anti-discrimination laws concerning gender identity (Under "change of sex")
Same-sex marriage (Since 2015)
Recognition of same-sex couples (Since 2004)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2015)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2015)
Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly in the military
Right to change legal gender [18]
Conversion therapy banned on minors
Access to IVF for lesbian couples
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples (Banned regardless of sexual orientation)
MSMs allowed to donate blood [28]

See also

References

  1. "Rainbow Europe - Luxembourg".
  2. "Eurobarometer on Discrimination 2019: The social acceptance of LGBTI people in the EU". TNS. European Commission. p. 2. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  3. "Rapport du Groupe européen d'Experts dans le domaine de la Lutte contre la Discrimination fondée sur l'Orientation sexuelle" (PDF).
  4. "Loi du 9 juillet 2004 relative aux effets légaux de certains partenariats".
  5. Luxembourg Administrative Court, judgment of 19 December 2018 (in French)
  6. "L'enfant aurait le droit d'être Luxembourgeois". L'Essentiel (in French). 4 January 2019.
  7. "Loi du 28 novembre 2006 portant 1. transposition de la directive 2000/43/CE du Conseil du 29 juin 2000 relative à la mise en oeuvre du principe de l'égalité de traitement entre les personnes sans distinction de race ou d'origine ethnique; 2. transposition de la directive 2000/78/CE du Conseil du 27 novembre 2000 portant création d'un cadre général en faveur de l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 3. modification du Code du travail et portant introduction dans le Livre II d'un nouveau titre V relatif à l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 4. modification des articles 454 et 455 du Code pénal; 5. modification de la loi du 12 septembre 2003 relative aux personnes handicapées. - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  8. "Loi du 3 juin 2016 portant modification: 1. des articles L. 126-1, L. 241-1 et L. 426-14 du Code du travail; 2. de l'article 9 de la loi modifiée du 28 novembre 2006 portant 1. transposition de la directive 2000/43/CE du Conseil du 29 juin 2000 relative à la mise en oeuvre du principe de l'égalité de traitement entre les personnes sans distinction de race ou d'origine ethnique; 2. transposition de la directive 2000/78/CE du Conseil du 27 novembre 2000 portant création d'un cadre général en faveur de l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 3. modification du Code du travail et portant introduction dans le Livre II d'un nouveau Titre V relatif à l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail; 4. modification des articles 454 et 455 du Code pénal; 5. modification de la loi du 12 septembre 2003 relative aux personnes handicapées; 3. de l'article 1er de la loi du 13 mai 2008 relative à l'égalité de traitement entre hommes et femmes; 4. de l'article 1ter de la loi modifiée du 16 avril 1979 fixant le statut général des fonctionnaires del'Etat; 5. de l'article 1ter de la loi modifiée du 24 décembre 1985 fixant le statut général des fonctionnaires communaux; 6. de l'article 454 du Code pénal. - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  9. "Code pénal - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  10. "Agressions LGBTphobes: un durcissement des sanctions attendu". Le Quotidien (in French). 18 June 2019.
  11. "Plan d'action national pour la promotion des droits des personnes LGBTI". Ministère de la Famille, de l'Intégration et à la Grande Région (in French).
  12. "Résumé des travaux du 12 mai 2017". Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  13. "Projet de loi relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénoms à l'état civil et portant modification du Code civil" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  14. "Changement de sexe et de prénom: La procédure va être simplifiée à l'état civil". 5minutes.rtl.lu.
  15. "Personnes transgenres et intersexes : l'état civil laissera le choix de l'identité | Le Quotidien".
  16. "Chambre des Députés du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg".
  17. "Chambre : Changement d'état civil simplifié pour les personnes transgenres | Le Quotidien".
  18. "Luxembourg makes status change for transgender people easier". luxtimes.lu.
  19. "In parliament: Progressive legislation to make changing gender easier". today.rtl.lu.
  20. "Projet de toi relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénoms à l'état civil et portant modification du Code civil - Dispense du second vote constitutionnel par le Conseil d'État (27.7.2018)".
  21. "Loi du 10 août 2018 relative à la modification de la mention du sexe et du ou des prénoms à l'état civil et portant modification du Code civil. - Legilux". legilux.public.lu.
  22. "Lydia Mutsch envisage la possibilité d'ouvrir le don de sang aux hommes homosexuels n'ayant pas eu de comportement à risque depuis au moins un an". europaforum.public.lu (in French). 11 February 2016.
  23. Rosa Lëtzebuerg a.s.b.l.
  24. (in French) Présentation de l'association Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  25. "Official website of Intersex & Transgender Luxembourg" (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  26. "Eight EU Countries Back Same-Sex Marriage: Angus Reid Global Monitor". 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007.
  27. "DISCRIMINATION IN THE EU IN 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  28. "Hiv: risicofactoren voor mannen". Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
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