LGBTQ rights in Albania

LGBTQ rights in Albania
Location of Albania (green)

in Europe (dark grey)  –  [Legend]

StatusLegal since 1995, age of consent equalized in 2001
Gender identityNo
MilitaryGays and lesbians are allowed to serve since 2008
Discrimination protectionsSexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics protections
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsNo recognition of same-sex couples
AdoptionSingle people allowed to adopt

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Albania face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, although LGBT people are protected under comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation.[1] Both male and female same-sex sexual activities have been legal in Albania since 1995, but households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples, with same-sex unions not being recognized in the country in any form.

Albania, as a whole, is considered to be rather conservative, especially in public reactions regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ) rights and visibility of LGBT people; however, anti-discrimination legislation have made ILGA-Europe regard Albania as one of a very few countries in Europe which explicitly bans discrimination on the grounds of gender identity.[1] Albania has ratified Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; moreover, Albania was a signatory to the 2007 UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.[2][3]

In 2015, the association ILGA-Europe ranked Albania 19th in terms of LGBT rights out of 49 observed European countries.[4] Meanwhile, on the latest report in 2022, lack of progress caused Albania to be ranked the 28th country in Europe, among 49 countries observed.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Albania protects LGBT people from discrimination". ILGA-Europe. 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Albania page in LGBT Europe". ILGA-Europe. 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  3. ^ [UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity Wikisource: "UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity", presented to the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 2008]
  4. ^ "Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe" (PDF). ilga-europe.org. ILGA-Europe. 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Rainbow Europe". www.rainbow-europe.org. Retrieved 20 May 2022.