LBGTQ rights in Denmark - www.jackie-evancho.dk

Gender recognition :
Legal change of gender is allowed in Denmark without a medical expert statement and without surgey. In fact this has been legal in Denmark since 1929.

Illness :
The Danish Parlament decided to remove transgender gender identity from the National Board of Health's list of mental illnesses in 2016. The change came into effect on 1'st of january 2017. In fact Denmark was the first country in the world to do this.

Marriage and partnership :
Two persons of the same sex can marry in Denmark. Marriage is gender neutral according to Danish Law. Marriage between two persons of the same sex entitles them to the same rights as heterosexual married couples. One can get married either in the civil registry offices (a non-religious ceremony carried out by the municipality) or in the Church of Denmark (Protestant) provided at least one partner is member of the church. Denmark also broke the heteronormative mold in 1989, when it became the first country in the world ever to officially recognize state-sanctioned same-sex partnerships in 1989.

Better rights for rainbow families :
In recent years, progress has occurred regarding rainbow families in Denmark. For instance, the Danish Parliament passed a law in 2022, which imply that Lesbian couples no longer must prove how their child was conceived. And the female partner of the pregnant woman will automatically become the co-mother and thus legal parent of the child. In addition, new rules for parental leave for rainbow families have been passed. From January 2024, the regulations provide for flexible arrangements for LGBT+ families, where up to four parents – the two legal and the two social parents – can share a part of the parental leave. Denmark is the first country in the world, where dividing parental leave between families in that way is possible. It is a historic recognition of rainbow families that you can now share the parental leave between more than two parents.

Hate crime :
It is illegal to physically or verbally assault anyone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is considered a more serious offence if an assault or harassment is carried out because of the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. In 2021, the Danish Parliament passed legislation, which strengthened the protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics within and outside the labor market. Assaults can be reported to the police, and the perpetrators will be prosecuted.

Discrimination :
It is illegal to discriminate anyone on ground of their sexual orientation or gender identity within the labour market. It is also illegal to discriminate anyone on the ground of their gender (and gender identity) regarding access to goods and services. Discrimination may be reported to the Board of Equal reatment. Public authorities are required to treat everybody equal within the law, also regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Family reunification :
Family reunification may be granted to spouses, registered partners or cohabiting partners, regardless of their sex or gender. There are certain requirements regarding for example housing and means of subsistence. Also, if you have children, a foreign national under the age of 18 whose parents are living permanently in Denmark can be granted a residence permit, provided that certain requirements are met.

Military service :
LBGTQ soldiers can serve without hindrance in all branches of the Danish Defence. Discrimination against LBGTQ soldiers in recruitment, placement and promotion is prohibited in Denmark. Infact LGBTQ people has been allowed to serve openly in military since 1978.

Activism :
Copenhagen Pride is an annual LBGTQ pride event held in August in Copenhagen, Denmark. About 40,000 people marched in the 2019 Copenhagen Pride parade, and a further 320,000 people attended the event and were out in the streets to experience it. Copenhagen Pride is the largest and most famous celebration of diversity and human rights in Denmark.

LGBTQ students looking to study in Denmark :
In addition to consistently being rated as the happiest country in the world, Denmark is also known as one of the most LGBTQ friendly countries in the world. In Denmark you can feel comfortable in your own skin, find a thriving, active LBGTQ community, and be out and proud of your gender identity and sexual orientation.

Public opinion :
A 2015 Eurobarometer found that 87% of Danes thought that same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe. Additionally, in that same poll, 90% thought that LBGT people should have the same rights as heterosexuals, and 88% agreed that there is nothing wrong about a sexual relationship between two people of the same sex.

Webmasters own personal opinion :
It would be fantastic if we could have a world and a society of equal opportunities for all regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, and where this is embodied in human rights, which is accepted and respected by all.

~ Bo - Webmaster