LGBT Rights in Flemish Region, Belgium

Flemish Region is governed by federal Belgium law. Learn more

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 (3-month deferral)
Conversion Therapy: ✔ Banned
Age of Consent: ✔ Equal

Public Opinion

Flemish Region is missing public opinion data.

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History

Homosexual activity in Flemish Region

Homosexual activity in Flemish Region is legal.

Current status
Since Sep 3, 1944

Legal

Belgium was liberated in September of 1944. Belgian civil law reverted back to pre-war laws.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

May 28, 1940–Sep 3, 1944

Illegal (death penalty as punishment)

Belgium was under German occupation during World War II and thus Paragraph 175 was in effect.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

1795–May 28, 1940

Legal

Legalized under French rule and the Napoleonic Code.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Same-sex marriage in Flemish Region

Same-sex marriage in Flemish Region is legal.

Current status
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.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Jan 1, 2000–Jun 1, 2003

Other type of partnership

Statutory Cohabitation grants specific rights to cohabiting persons. Although not specifically intended for LGBT couples it was open for same sex couples.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Flemish Region

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Flemish Region is no censorship.

Current status

No censorship

In Belgium, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Right to change legal gender in Flemish Region

Right to change legal gender in Flemish Region is legal, surgery not required.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2018

Legal, surgery not required

Surgery no longer necessary to change legal gender.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

2007–Jan 1, 2018

Legal, but requires surgery

Transgender people in Belgium are required to undergo gender reassignment surgery in order to change their gender on state documents.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Flemish Region

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Flemish Region 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.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

LGBT discrimination in Flemish Region

LGBT discrimination in Flemish Region is illegal.

Current status
Since 2003

Illegal

Details · Accurate? Yes No

LGBT employment discrimination in Flemish Region

LGBT employment discrimination in Flemish Region is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since 2003

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Details · Accurate? Yes No

LGBT housing discrimination in Flemish Region

LGBT housing discrimination in Flemish Region is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2003

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Same-sex adoption in Flemish Region

Same-sex adoption in Flemish Region is legal.

Current status
Since Apr 21, 2006

Legal

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Serving openly in military in Flemish Region

Serving openly in military in Flemish Region is legal.

Current status

Legal

Unsure of date. Gay and lesbian soldiers are not guaranteed promotions through the military for fear of possible blackmail.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Blood donations by MSMs in Flemish Region

Blood donations by MSMs in Flemish Region is banned (3-month deferral).

Current status
Since Jul 1, 2023

Banned (3-month deferral)

Starting July 1 2023, MSM who would like to donate blood face a 4-month deferral period.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Apr 28, 2017–Jul 1, 2023

Banned (1-year deferral)

Blanket ban replaced by a 1 year deferral period.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

1977–Apr 27, 2017

Banned (indefinite deferral)

MSMs were not eligible to donate blood.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Conversion therapy in Flemish Region

Conversion therapy in Flemish Region is banned.

Current status
Since Jul 22, 2023

Banned

Parliament voted to ban conversion therapy

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Until Jul 22, 2023

Not banned

Not banned. A conversion therapy ban was announced in 2022, but no law is in effect as of now.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Equal age of consent in Flemish Region

Equal age of consent in Flemish Region is equal.

Current status
Since 1985

Equal

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Equality Index ?

N/A

There is not enough information on Flemish Region for an Equality Index to be assigned. Please contribute LGBTQ+ rights information or survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Flemish Region to help improve its accuracy.

Top Contributors

bradcoffey106 11 contributions
Ausyk 3 contributions
beeurd 2 contributions
equaldex 1 contribution
Samanthos 1 contribution
Samuel_NOT_Samuele 1 contribution
murrayhawthorne 1 contribution

Flemish Region LGBT Organizations

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LGBT Rights in Flemish Region region

Public Opinion

Flemish Region is missing public opinion data.

History

Homosexual activity in Flemish Region

Same-sex marriage in Flemish Region

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Flemish Region

Right to change legal gender in Flemish Region

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Flemish Region

LGBT discrimination in Flemish Region

LGBT employment discrimination in Flemish Region

LGBT housing discrimination in Flemish Region

Same-sex adoption in Flemish Region

Serving openly in military in Flemish Region

Blood donations by MSMs in Flemish Region

Conversion therapy in Flemish Region

Equal age of consent in Flemish Region

Top Contributors

Flemish Region LGBT Organizations

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