Recognition of
relationships No | ||
 | ||
Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 1962 as part of Czechoslovakia,
age of consent equalized in 1990 Gender identity/expression Allowed to change legal gender. Military service Gays and lesbians allowed to serve Discrimination protections Sexual orientation protection since 2002
(see below) Restrictions: Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned. | ||
Lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Slovakia face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Slovakia, but households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
Contents
- Law regarding same sex sexual activity
- Recognition of same sex relationships
- Discrimination protections
- Living conditions
- Public opinion
- References
Slovakia, unlike its neighbour, the Czech Republic, is more conservative on issues dealing with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Same-sex sexual activity was legalized in 1962. The age of consent was equalized with the heterosexual age of 15 in 1990.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
There is no legal recognition of same-sex unions in Slovakia. On 4 June 2014, the Slovak parliament approved a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, with 102 deputies for and 18 deputies against the legislation.
Discrimination protections
An Anti-Discrimination Act was adopted in 2004, in requirement with European Union protocols on anti-discrimination in its member states. The Act, broadened in 2008, makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in a wide variety of areas, including employment, education, housing, social care and the provision of goods and services.
In May 2013, the Criminal Code was amended to include sexual orientation as a ground for hate crimes, allowing penalty enhancements where a crime is motivated by homophobia.
Living conditions
Slovakia's first gay pride event took place on 22 May 2010 in Bratislava. A crowd of about a thousand were confronted by anti-gay right-wing groups. While the National and Bratislava's municipal police forces kept the two sides apart, several anti-protesters were able to infiltrate Pride and throw stones at speakers and dispearse tear gas into the crowd. Pride demonstrators had to cancel their march through the city center, but were able to cross the Danube under police protection. Twenty-nine persons were arrested. Gay Pride has since improved its security measures and it has been supported by many foreign embassies.
There is a reasonable gay scene in Slovakia with about ten bars and clubs in Bratislava.
Public opinion
A Pew Global Attitudes Project survey recorded that 66% of Slovaks believe that homosexuality should be accepted by society. A European Union poll shows 19% of Slovaks support same-sex marriage, however, a more recent survey shows that more than 50.4% of Slovaks would vote in favor of registered partnerships.