Legalising homosexuality: Germany did it 25 years ago – what about other European countries?

 | 
06/14/2019

This week Germany celebrated legalising homosexuality twenty-five years ago. Until June 11, 1994, it was still considered a crime in Germany even though since 1969 homosexuals were no longer prosecuted for “fornication”. Eighteen years ago, it became legal for same-sex couples in Germany to register their partnership and since 2015, people in a partnership can adopt their partner’s child. Two years later, same-sex marriage became legal (Eheöffnungsgesetz). Compared to many other European countries, Germany was quite late to legalise homosexuality. Until 1971 homosexuality was punishable in Austria and until 2002 there were still minimum age limits for homosexual relationships in the Austrian penal code (different from heterosexual relationships). The code allowed heterosexual partnerships to start at the age of 14, however, homosexual relationships were only considered legal from the age of 18 onwards. This section in the code only concerned male same-sex couples.

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 04/24/2024
04/23/2024
Wales has become the latest UK nation to pause the use of puberty blockers by under-18s. The physically reversible hormone blockers, which suppress unwanted …
Added on: 04/24/2024
04/24/2024
Over the weekend in Japan, 15,000 people took part in the 2024 Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade, one of the biggest LGBTQIA+ events in Southeast …
Added on: 04/24/2024
04/23/2024
Not-for-profit Qtopia has applied to permanently transform a former police station into the Sydney Centre for Queer History and Culture. Along with Create NSW—the …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Added on: 04/24/2024
Wales has become the latest UK nation to pause the use of puberty blockers by under-18s. The physically reversible hormone blockers, which suppress unwanted …
Added on: 04/23/2024
Grindr faces the prospect of legal action by hundreds of users who will allege that the dating app shared highly sensitive personal information, including …
Added on: 04/22/2024
Outsider, queer and Indigenous artists are getting an overdue platform at the 60th Venice Biennale contemporary art exhibition that opened Saturday, curated for the …