– in Europe (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union (light green) – [Legend]
Status
Legal (1935–1940; 1992–present) Age of consent equalized in 2002 (see below)
Gender identity
Right to change legal gender since 1992; no sterilization or surgery required since 1997
Military
LGBT people allowed to serve openly
Discrimination protections
Sexual orientation protections in employment; implicit gender identity protections in all areas (see below)
Family rights
Recognition of relationships
Cohabitation agreement since 2016 Same-sex marriage since 2024
Adoption
Full adoption rights since 2024
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Estonia have advanced significantly over the course of the last few decades, especially since the turn of the 21st century. Among the countries which after World War II were controlled by the former Soviet Union, independent Estonia is now considered to be one of the most liberal when it comes to LGBT rights.[1] There is a notable age gap, as younger people tend to be more tolerant and liberal, while older people tend to be more socially conservative.[2]
Both male and female forms of same-sex sexual activity are legal in Estonia, with the age of consent having been equalized in 2002. Transgender people have been allowed to change their legal gender since 1992. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited in employment, discrimination on the basis of gender identity is implicitly prohibited by law in all areas. A LGBT+ Community Support Group was formed in the Riigikogu in May 2023, with openly gay[3] Social Democrat Eduard Odinets as its chairman.[4][5]
Since 1 January 2016, same-sex couples may register their relationship as a cohabitation agreement, which gives them the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. A marriage equality bill was passed on 20 June 2023, which made same-sex couples able to marry and jointly adopt. The law took effect on 1 January 2024.[6][7][8] A lesbian couple were the first ones to be officially married the following day.[9] Estonia is the first formerly Soviet-occupied state as well as the only Baltic country to have legalized same-sex marriage.
According to ILGA-Europe's 2023 Rainbow Europe Index, Estonia ranks 25th among 49 countries in Europe on LGBT rights legislation.[1] This is lower than the neighbouring countries of Finland or Sweden, but higher than the two neighbouring Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania, and significantly higher than Russia. A 2023 opinion survey found that 75% of the Estonian population supported an anti-discrimination law covering LGBT people, 53% supported same-sex marriage, 71% supported civil partnerships for same-sex couples, and 61% believed that someone who was born a man could identify as a woman (and vice versa).[10]
^ abCite error: The named reference rainboweurope was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"'What the new generation wants' Estonia becomes the first Baltic country to cross the marriage equality finish line". Meduza. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
^Tuul, Marta. "Eduard Odinets tegeleb asjadega, millesse ise usub, emotsionaalselt ja energiliselt. Armastus on võrdne!". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 January 2024.
^"LGBT+ Community Support Group". Riigikogu. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
^"Riigikogus moodustati LGBT+ kogukonna toetusrühm". Riigikogu (in Estonian). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
^Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Ajalooline otsus: Eesti seadustas samasooliste abielu". ERR News (in Estonian). 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
^"REPORTAAŽ ÕNNEPALEEST | Esimene samasooline paar sõuab abieluranda: "Tunne on natukene sürreaalne, aga nüüd on abielu olemas!"". Õhtuleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
^"Avaliku arvamuse uuring LGBT teemadel (2023)" (PDF). Eesti Inimõiguste Keskus (in Estonian).
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