- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✖ Protected in some contexts
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Gender identity only
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ Gender identity only
- Adoption
- Unknown
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- Unknown
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Same-sex marriage in Obwalden is legal.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2022
Legal under federal Switzerland law
Switzerland approved same-sex marriage with a national referendum.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Obwalden is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship under federal Switzerland law
In Switzerland, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Obwalden is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2022
Legal, no restrictions under federal Switzerland law
Change of sex is legal though there are now specific laws concerning the matter. In 1993, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland stated that a change of sex should be "irreversible"; many judges interpreted it as the person had to go under surgery. In 2012, the Federal Department of Justice and Police via its Federal Office for Civil Registration released a statement about how transsexualism should be handled by cantonal Register offices. The FOCR stated that the Judges and Authorities should cease to oblige a person to go through forced sterilisation in order to have their sex change recognised. Furthermore, a person is granted to choose his or her gender according to his or her social gender and not anymore according to his or her biological gender.
Gender-affirming care in Obwalden is legal.
Current status
Legal under federal Switzerland law
Gender affirming care is provided in Switzerland, including for minors since 1988. A restriction on it only being provided after two years of therapy was lifted in 2010.
The Swiss national council rejected a motion to ban gender affirming care for minors in 2023 saying that the legislature should decide the policies.
The Swiss national council rejected a motion to ban gender affirming care for minors in 2023 saying that the legislature should decide the policies.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Obwalden is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized under federal Switzerland law
Switzerland does not currently legally recognize non-binary identities.
Hate crime protections in Obwalden is protected in some contexts.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2020
Protected in some contexts under federal Switzerland law
Switzerland does not provide legal protection from hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
However; hate speech protections exist for sexual orientation only and additionally, the Swiss government unveiled its first ever 4-year action plan to combat LGBTQ+ hate crimes in 2026.
However; hate speech protections exist for sexual orientation only and additionally, the Swiss government unveiled its first ever 4-year action plan to combat LGBTQ+ hate crimes in 2026.
LGBT discrimination in Obwalden is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2020
Illegal in some contexts under federal Switzerland law
Since 2020, an amendment to Article 261 bis of the Criminal Code (1937) penalises discrimination based on "sexual orientation" in the provision of goods and services. Article 261 bis of the Criminal Code was amended to include “sexual orientation” in the provision that criminalises public denigration, discrimination, or incitement to those actions, as well as the public dissemination of ideologies that aim to systematically denigrate or defame members of a protected group.
The Swiss Federal Court also ruled on April 5th, 2019 that gender identity (excluding sexual orientation) falls under sex discrimination in employment and housing.
The Swiss Federal Court also ruled on April 5th, 2019 that gender identity (excluding sexual orientation) falls under sex discrimination in employment and housing.
LGBT employment discrimination in Obwalden is gender identity only.
Current status
Since Apr 5, 2019
Gender identity only under federal Switzerland law
The Swiss Federal Court ruled that gender identity falls under sex discrimination.
LGBT housing discrimination in Obwalden is gender identity only.
Current status
Since Apr 5, 2019
Gender identity only under federal Switzerland law
The Swiss Federal Court ruled that gender identity falls under sex discrimination.
Intersex infant surgery in Obwalden is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Switzerland law
In April 2019, the Grand Council of the Canton of Geneva adopted two motions (no. 2491 and no. 2541) aimed at banning non-vital surgical procedures on intersex children at cantonal level.
In March 2022, the Federal Council was considering another motion (22.3355) which urges the Federal Council to present a bill to prohibit any irreversible and non-consensual surgical or hormonal interventions on the sexual characteristics of intersex children. This measure also allows interventions that are necessary to avoid a life-threatening situation or a danger to the child's health.
In March 2022, the Federal Council was considering another motion (22.3355) which urges the Federal Council to present a bill to prohibit any irreversible and non-consensual surgical or hormonal interventions on the sexual characteristics of intersex children. This measure also allows interventions that are necessary to avoid a life-threatening situation or a danger to the child's health.
Blood donations by MSMs in Obwalden is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Equal age of consent in Obwalden is equal.
Current status
Since 1992
Equal under federal Switzerland law
Consensual age is Switzerland is 16 years old, unless the difference in age between the persons involved is not more than 3 years.
Obwalden LGBT Organizations
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Alternative names: Obwald
