LGBT rights in Andorra

LGBT rights in Andorra
Location of  LGBT rights in Andorra  (green)

in Europe  (dark grey)  –  [Legend]

Same-sex sexual intercourse legal status Legal since 1791[1][2]
Gender identity/expression –
Military service Has no army
Discrimination protections Sexual orientation protections since 2005
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 Stable unions since 2005; Civil unions since 2014
Adoption Full adoption rights since 2014

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Andorra may face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.

Civil unions, which grant all benefits of marriage, have been recognized since 2014. Additionally, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is constitutionally banned.

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

The law prohibiting same-sex sexual activity was abolished in 1791.[1]

The age of consent is equal at 16, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender.[3]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Since 2005, same-sex couples can register their partnership under the name "Stable Union of a Couple".[4] On 2 June 2014, following an earlier announcement,[5] the ruling Democrats for Andorra party introduced a bill to establish civil unions.[6] After months of consultation, the proposed civil unions would be equal to marriage in everything but name as the word "marriage" was one of the biggest causes of the Democrats for Andorra voting no on the failed same-sex marriage law. The law for civil unions would also give same-sex couples joint adoption rights.[7][8] On 27 November 2014, the bill passed on a vote of 20 to 3 with several abstentions. On 24 December 2014, the bill was published in the official journal, following promulgation by co-prince François Hollande as the signature of one of the two co-princes was needed. It took effect on 25 December 2014.[9][10]

Local LGBT rights groups, headed by Carles Perea, have denounced the 2014 civil union law as discriminatory and still full of legal deficiencies. The groups have proposed legal action to obtain the right to marry.[11]

Adoption and family planning

In Andorra, before 2014, same-sex couples were not allowed to adopt [12][13][14] because the adoption law only recognised this possibility for heterosexual couples.[12] This was changed when a civil union law granting full adoption rights was passed in November 2014 and came into force on 25 December 2014.[9][10]

Discrimination protections

LGBT flag map of Andorra

Andorra prohibits discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation since 2005.[15][16][17]

In December 2008, the Constitutional Court ruled that sexual orientation is included in the prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Constitution under the category "any other ground".[18]

Reports of discrimination against LGBT people are extremely rare. In 2000, a young gay man was murdered in the country due to his sexual orientation, resulting in public outcry. In addition, there are a few cases of parents expelling their children from their homes because of their sexual orientation. However, in general, Andorran society tends to be very tolerant of homosexuality and same-sex relationships, and acceptance is high.[19]

Blood donation

Men who have sex with men (MSM) can donate blood to the Blood and Tissues Bank of Catalonia, and to the Établissement Français du Sang in France after a one-year deferral period.[4][20][21]

Immigration equality

Andorra provides equal treatment to all citizens with respect to immigration and family unification, regardless of sexual orientation.

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1791)
Equal age of consent
Anti-discrimination laws for sexual orientation (Since 2005)
Anti-discrimination laws for gender identity or expression
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation (Since 2005)
Hate crime laws include gender identity or expression
Same-sex marriages
Recognition of same-sex couples (Since 2005)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2014)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2014)
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military Has no military
Right to change legal gender
Access to IVF for lesbians
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples (Banned for heterosexual couples as well)
MSMs allowed to donate blood (Since 2011)

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Aengus Carroll; Lucas Ramón Mendos (May 2017). State-Sponsored Homophobia 2017—A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition (PDF) (12 ed.). Geneva: International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. p. 32. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Where is it illegal to be gay?
  3. ↑ Spartacus International Gay Guide, page 1216. Bruno Gmunder Verlag, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "Laws: Andorra". GayLawNet.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  5. ↑ (in Catalan) DA regularà les adopcions per part de parelles homosexuals
  6. ↑ (in Catalan) Proposició de llei qualificada de les unions civils i de modificació de la Llei qualificada del matrimoni de 30 de juny de 1995 i de la Llei 14/2004, de 3 de novembre, qualificada de modificació de la Llei qualificada de matrimoni
  7. ↑ (in Catalan) Adopció igual per a tots
  8. ↑ (in Catalan) Enllestida la llei d’unions civils amb el procés d’adopció dels matrimonis
  9. 1 2 (in Catalan) Llei 34/2014, del 27 de novembre, qualificada de les unions civils i de modificació de la Llei qualificada del matrimoni, de 30 de juny de 1995
  10. 1 2 (in Catalan) Demà entren en vigor lleis importants, com la d'unions civils o la 'regla d´or'
  11. ↑ (in Spanish) Andorra rechaza llamar “matrimonio” a las uniones de parejas del mismo sexo
  12. 1 2 (in Catalan) Llei 29/1996, Llei qualificada de l'adopció i de les altres formes de protecció del menor desemparat
  13. ↑ ILGA Europe, Andorra Archived 14 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ (in Catalan) El cap de govern d'Andorra desmenteix ara que les parelles homosexuals puguin adoptar Vilaweb
  15. ↑ Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity - Legal Report: Andorra
  16. ↑ (in Catalan) Llei 9/2005, del 21 de febrer, qualificada del Codi penal
  17. ↑ (in Catalan) Llei 35/2008, del 18 de desembre, del Codi de relacions laborals
  18. ↑ (in Catalan) SENTÈNCIA DEL 3 DE DESEMBRE DEL 2008
  19. ↑ Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Sociological Report: Andorra
  20. ↑ (in Catalan) "Som com som celebra l'acord amb el banc de sang català". Diari d'Andorra. March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  21. ↑ Andorran gays now can donate blood
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