Pohjanmaa is governed by federal Finland law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but restricted for minors
- 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
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Same-sex marriage in Pohjanmaa is legal.
Current status
Since Mar 1, 2017
Legal
After various referendums that asked the Finnish public on gay marriage, they finally cleared the last referendum in the 22nd of February, and gay marriage was finally allowed since this date.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Pohjanmaa is no censorship.
Current status
Since 1999
No censorship
Since 1999, there have been no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics in Finland.
Imprisonment as punishment
In 1971, when decriminalising same-sex sexual activity, Finland added a clause banning the "incitement of homosexuality".
Right to change legal gender in Pohjanmaa is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Apr 3, 2023
Legal, no restrictions
A new legislation lifted the former requirements for gender-affirming surgery and sterilization in order to legally change one’s gender.
Recognition will be available for adults upon written application after a mandatory 30-day "period of reflection".
Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to change their gender status.
The new law comes in effect on April 3rd 2023.
Recognition will be available for adults upon written application after a mandatory 30-day "period of reflection".
Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to change their gender status.
The new law comes in effect on April 3rd 2023.
Legal, but requires surgery
The authorities shall recognise a person as belonging to the opposite sex to that recorded on the population register, provided they:
• Provides a medical report testifying that they permanently experience being a member of the opposite sex and that they live in the gender roles of those and that they have been sterilized or are otherwise incapable of having children
• They are an adult
• They are not married or in a registered partnership; unless the spouse or partner gives their consent in which case a marriage become a registered partnership and a registered partnership becomes a marriage
• They are a Finnish citizen or is resident in Finland
• Provides a medical report testifying that they permanently experience being a member of the opposite sex and that they live in the gender roles of those and that they have been sterilized or are otherwise incapable of having children
• They are an adult
• They are not married or in a registered partnership; unless the spouse or partner gives their consent in which case a marriage become a registered partnership and a registered partnership becomes a marriage
• They are a Finnish citizen or is resident in Finland
Gender-affirming care in Pohjanmaa is legal, but restricted for minors.
Current status
Since Jul 20, 2020
Legal, but restricted for minors
Starting in July, 2020 the Finnish Health Authority banned gender affirming surgeries for minors and started severely restricting any type of gender-affirming care for minors due to "the uncertainty of providing any irreversible “gender-affirming” interventions for those 25 and under, due to the lack of neurological maturity" among other reasons.
Legal
Before July 2020, minors and adults alike were allowed to access gender affirming care, including hormones and puberty blockers and surgery for adults.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Pohjanmaa is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Finland does not currently recognize non-binary identities.
LGBT discrimination in Pohjanmaa is illegal.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 2004
Illegal
LGBTQ+ people from Finland are protected from all types of discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Pohjanmaa is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Feb 1, 2004
Sexual orientation and gender identity
LGBT housing discrimination in Pohjanmaa is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Intersex infant surgery in Pohjanmaa is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
In June 2019, two of the legislative plans for the next four years released by the newly-elected Rinne Cabinet included a ban on surgery on intersex babies and the removal of compulsory sterilization for gender reassignment. However, his cabinet resigned before this legislation could be presented to parliament.
Serving openly in military in Pohjanmaa is legal.
Current status
Legal
Blood donations by MSMs in Pohjanmaa is legal.
Current status
Since Dec 4, 2023
Legal
Finland lifted the restrictions on MSMs donating blood on December 4th 2023.
"As a result of the change, deferral period practices related to sexual behaviour will be made consistent in blood donation and will be the same for everyone regardless of sex."
"As a result of the change, deferral period practices related to sexual behaviour will be made consistent in blood donation and will be the same for everyone regardless of sex."
Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
Since May 3, 2021, the deferral period has been reduced to four months.
Banned (1-year deferral)
Before May 3, 2021, Finland had a one year deferral period.
Until May 11, 2014
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Conversion therapy in Pohjanmaa is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy ban pending. Many of the general public have demanded and protested to ban it.
Legal Rights
85 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Pohjanmaa to help improve its accuracy.
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Alternative names: Österbotten