LGBT rights in Sweden
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Sweden are regarded as some of the most progressive in Europe and the world. Same-sex sexual activity was legalized in 1944 and the age of consent was equalized to that of heterosexual activity in 1972. Sweden also became the first country in the world to allow transgender people to change their legal gender post-sex reassignment surgery in 1972, whilst transvestism was declassified as an illness in 2009. Legislation allowing legal gender changes without hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery was passed in 2013.
LGBT rights in Sweden | |
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Location of Sweden (dark green) – in Europe (light green & dark grey) | |
| Status | Legal since 1944, age of consent equalized in 1972 |
| Gender identity | Right to change legal gender since 1972; no sterilization or surgery required since 2013 |
| Military | LGBT people are allowed to serve openly |
| Discrimination protections | Sexual orientation and gender identity/expression protections (see below) |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | Same-sex marriage since 2009 |
| Adoption | Full adoption rights since 2003 |
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After allowing same-sex couples to register for partnership benefits in 1995, Sweden became the seventh country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been banned since 1987 and on the basis of gender identity and expression since 2010. Gay and lesbian couples can petition to adopt since 2003, and lesbian couples have had equal access to IVF and assisted insemination since 2005. Sweden has been recognized as one of the most socially liberal European countries, with recent polls indicating that a large majority of Swedes support LGBT rights and same-sex marriage. Polling from the 2019 Eurobarometer showed that 98 per cent of Swedes believed gay and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual people, the highest in the European Union, and 92 per cent supported same-sex marriage.