- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Public Opinion
Recent studies in Bulgaria indicate societal resistance to LGBTQ+ rights.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Bulgaria Surveys
Orthodox Christian Support for Church's Position of Refusing to Perform Same-Sex Marriage
(Pew Research Center, 2017)
History
Homosexual activity in Bulgaria is legal.
Same-sex marriage in Bulgaria is unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned.
Current status
Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned
Bulgaria does not recognise same-sex marriages including foreign ones.
Until 2018
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Same-sex marriage is constitutionally recognized under EU ruling. However, marriage is defined between a man and woman and it was a limited recognition of same-sex marriages. However, this was only for an amount of time until they removed this.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Bulgaria is no censorship.
Current status
Since 1990
Since 1990
No censorship
No official censorship since the fall of communism in 1991. Will likely be condemned if brought back
Until 1989
State-enforced
During the communist era in Bulgaria, which lasted from 1946 to 1989, the government promoted a highly controlled and regulated society, which extended to matters related to LGBT rights. Homosexuality was criminalized under Article 157 of the Bulgarian Penal Code, which remained in place until 1968.
During this time, discussions or expressions of LGBT-related topics were generally suppressed, and any attempt to advocate for LGBT rights could face censorship and persecution by the government. This was part of the broader censorship and control exerted by the communist regime over various aspects of society, including the media, literature, and public discourse.
During this time, discussions or expressions of LGBT-related topics were generally suppressed, and any attempt to advocate for LGBT rights could face censorship and persecution by the government. This was part of the broader censorship and control exerted by the communist regime over various aspects of society, including the media, literature, and public discourse.
Right to change legal gender in Bulgaria is illegal.
Current status
Since Feb 21, 2023
Since Feb 21, 2023
Illegal
The current law does not provide for the possibility for the court to allow the change of the data regarding the gender, name and uniform civil number in the acts of civil status of an applicant who claims to be transgender,” the decision states. Since February 21st 2023 by the supreme court of Bulgaria. However, there are still protections but limited protections.
Until Feb 21, 2023
Legal, but requires surgery
Requires sterilization. Ruled not legal by EU. Changes pending. Missing non binary options on documents.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Bulgaria is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Non-binary options missing
LGBT discrimination in Bulgaria is illegal.
Current status
Since 2023
Since 2023
Illegal
Discrimination in bulgaria is illegal. Recently Bulgaria has stepped up against anti lgbtq discrimination with new legislation
LGBT employment discrimination in Bulgaria is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Sep 30, 2003
Since Sep 30, 2003
Sexual orientation and gender identity
In 2015, the National Assembly amended the definition of "sex" in the law to include cases of gender change.[20] Transgender people who have not undergone a legal gender change could use "gender" from the list of protected grounds. Gender expression and gender identity are not explicitly mentioned in the revised Act.
For other mods please check sources if it is wrong please change it but check sources first as this seems it is correct. Cheers!
For other mods please check sources if it is wrong please change it but check sources first as this seems it is correct. Cheers!
LGBT housing discrimination in Bulgaria is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since 2023
Since 2023
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Bulgaria has recently been stepping up against lgbtq+ discrimination. Widely supported legislation
Same-sex adoption in Bulgaria is single only.
Current status
Single only
Same-sex couples are banned from adopting in Bulgaria. However, single individuals regardless of sexual orientation are allowed to adopt, though requests from single men are rarely accepted. Lesbian couples do not have access to IVF and artificial insemination, as it is only available to married opposite-sex couples. Nevertheless, since 2004, single lesbian women have had access to IVF.
Serving openly in military in Bulgaria is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
Current status
Since Aug 1, 2004
Since Aug 1, 2004
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Only 22 Countries allow transgender service Bulgaria is not one of them.
Blood donations by MSMs in Bulgaria is legal.
Current status
Legal
Gay and bisexual men are not explicitly banned from donating blood in Bulgaria. However, the blood donor application form, required prior to any blood donation, does not ask the applicant to disclose that information, rather requires them to confirm that they did not partake in practices (sexual included) that increase the risk of HIV or other STIs. The consent form is detailed in an ordinance issued by Bulgaria's Ministry of Healthcare on 19 July 2004.
Conversion therapy in Bulgaria is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy in Bulgaria is not banned. It is widely condemned however
Equal age of consent in Bulgaria is equal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2002
Since Jan 1, 2002
Equal
LGBT Rights by Region
View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Bulgaria.
Equality Rank
#111
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- Ausyk 5 contributions
- brennen 5 contributions
- Markissik 2 contributions
- Canadianstudent03 1 contribution
- equaldex 1 contribution
- Notdog1996 1 contribution
- vviet93 1 contribution
- Matryaksu 1 contribution
- Simo 1 contribution
Bulgaria LGBT Organizations
Share Region
LGBT Bulgaria Flag
Compare Bulgaria
Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Bulgaria?
- Is homosexuality legal in Bulgaria?
- Is gay marriage legal in Bulgaria?
Alternative names: Balgarija (local name)
