LGBTQ rights in Belarus
LGBTQ rights in Belarus | |
|---|---|
| Legal status |
|
| Gender identity | Yes |
| Military | No (LGBTQ persons barred from the Belarusian military on the grounds that homosexuality is a psychiatric disorder) |
| Discrimination protections | No |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | No recognition of same-sex relationships |
| Restrictions | Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned since 1994 |
| Adoption | No |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in Belarus face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. Although same-sex sexual activity is legal in Belarus, gay and lesbian rights in the country are otherwise severely limited and homosexuality remains highly stigmatized in Belarusian society. Households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. Belarus provides no anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, nor does it prohibit hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Many Belarusian people believe that homosexuality is a psychiatric illness, and many LGBTQ persons in Belarus tend to hide their sexual orientation in public. Those who are "out" face harassment, violence and physical abuse.