- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (1-year deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
1795–May 28, 1940
Public Opinion
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
Ranked #4 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(7%) Against
Support (84%)
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
Ranked #7 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(21%) Disagree
Agree (72%)
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against sexual orientation (European Union) ?
Ranked #21 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(57%) Widespread
Rare (42%)
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against transgender people (European Union) ?
Ranked #16 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(49%) Widespread
Rare (46%)
Acceptance of same-sex relationships (European Union) ?
Ranked #10 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(17%) Disagree
Agree (82%)
Support for transgender people changing legal gender (European Union) ?
Ranked #13 out of 28 regions surveyed. (Source: Eurobarometer, May 2019)
(29%) No
Yes (70%)
Perceived Acceptance of Gay People ?
Ranked #6 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)
(12%) Not a good place
Good place (74%)
History
Homosexual activity in Belgium is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 3, 1944
Since Sep 3, 1944
Legal
Belgium was liberated in September of 1944. Belgian civil law reverted back to pre-war laws.
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Belgium was under German occupation during World War II and thus Paragraph 175 was in effect.
1795–May 28, 1940
Legal
Legalized under French rule and the Napoleonic Code.
Same-sex marriage in Belgium is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 1, 2003
Since Jun 1, 2003
Legal
Civil marriages for same sex couples were enabled by Article 143 of the Belgian Civil Code (Book I, Title V, Chapter I).
Statutory Cohabitation remains available for those who do not wish to enter into a civil marriage.
Statutory Cohabitation remains available for those who do not wish to enter into a civil marriage.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Belgium is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Belgium, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Belgium is legal, surgery not required.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2018
Since Jan 1, 2018
Legal, surgery not required
Surgery no longer necessary to change legal gender.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Belgium is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Belgium currently does not legally recognise non binary gender, however in 2019 the Constitutional Court ruled that current laws were unconstitutional. The government planned to introduce an "X" gender marker for ID cards in 2022. However, it was decided instead to remove gender markers from identity cards altogether. Thus, there is still not any legal recognition for non-binary individuals.
LGBT discrimination in Belgium is illegal.
Current status
Since 2003
Since 2003
Illegal
LGBT employment discrimination in Belgium is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since 2003
Since 2003
Sexual orientation and gender identity
LGBT housing discrimination in Belgium is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2003
Since Jan 1, 2003
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Same-sex adoption in Belgium is legal.
Current status
Since Apr 21, 2006
Since Apr 21, 2006
Legal
Serving openly in military in Belgium is legal.
Current status
Legal
Unsure of date. Gay and lesbian soldiers are not guaranteed promotions through the military for fear of possible blackmail.
Blood donations by MSMs in Belgium is banned (1-year deferral).
A new law will be going into effect soon.
Not yet in effect
Going into effect Jul 1, 2023
Going into effect Jul 1, 2023
Banned (3-month deferral)
Starting July 1 2023, MSM who would like to donate blood face a 4-month deferral period.
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blanket ban replaced by a 1 year deferral period.
Conversion therapy in Belgium is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Not banned. A conversion therapy ban was announced in 2022, but no law is in effect as of now.
Equal age of consent in Belgium is equal.
Current status
Since 1985
Since 1985
Equal
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Belgium.
- Oost-Vlaanderen
- Vlaams Brabant
- West-Vlaanderen
- Flemish Region (region)
- Wallonia (region)
- Brussels (Capital Region)
Top Contributors
- bradcoffey106 11 contributions
- Ausyk 3 contributions
- beeurd 2 contributions
- murrayhawthorne 1 contribution
- equaldex 1 contribution
- Samanthos 1 contribution
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Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Belgium?
- Is homosexuality legal in Belgium?
- Is gay marriage legal in Belgium?
Alternative names: België/Belgique (local name)