LGBT rights in Andorra

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Andorra may face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Civil unions, which grant all the benefits of marriage including adoption, have been recognized since 2014, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is constitutionally banned. However, same-sex marriage is currently not recognized in Andorra.

LGBT rights in Andorra
Location of LGBT rights in Andorra (green)

in Europe (dark grey)  –  [Legend]

StatusLegal since 1791[1][2]
MilitaryHas no army
Discrimination protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity protections
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsStable unions since 2005; Civil unions since 2014
AdoptionFull adoption rights since 2014

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

A law prohibiting same-sex sexual activity was abolished in 1791.[1]

The age of consent in Andorra is 14, as specified by Article 147 of the Penal Code, which reads: (1) "Whoever carries out a sexual act with a person younger than fourteen years ... shall be punished with imprisonment for between three months and three years." Paragraph 2 states that if the sexual act involves sexual penetration the punishment is three to ten years.[3]

Recognition of same-sex relationships
Main article: Recognition of same-sex unions in Andorra

Since 2005, same-sex couples have been able to register their partnership under the name "stable union of a couple" (unió estable de parella).[4] On 2 June 2014, following an earlier announcement,[5] the ruling Democrats for Andorra party introduced a civil union bill to the General Council.[6] The proposed bill would establish civil unions equal to marriage in everything but name as the word "marriage" was one of the biggest reasons why the Democrats for Andorra voting against the failed same-sex marriage bill in May 2014. The bill would also give same-sex couples joint adoption rights.[7][8] On 27 November 2014, the bill passed on a vote of 20 to 3 with several abstentions. On 24 December, the bill was published in the official journal, following promulgation by co-prince François Hollande as the signature of one of the two co-princes was needed. It took effect on 25 December.[9][10] Local LGBT rights groups, headed by Carles Perea, have denounced the civil union law as discriminatory and full of legal deficiencies. The groups have proposed legal action to obtain the right to marry.[11]

On 10 March 2020, three parties forming the governing coalition, the Democrats, the Liberal Party and Committed Citizens, presented the draft of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.[12][13][14]

Adoption and family planning
See also: LGBT parenting

In Andorra, before 2014, same-sex couples were not allowed to adopt,[15][16][17] because the adoption law only recognised this possibility for heterosexual couples.[15] This was changed when the civil union law granting full adoption rights was passed in November 2014 and came into force on 25 December 2014.[9][10]

Discrimination protections

Andorra has prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation since 2005.[18][19][20] Hate crimes committed because of the victim's sexual orientation result in additional legal penalties. In addition, in December 2008, the Constitutional Court ruled that sexual orientation is included in the prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Constitution of Andorra under the category "any other ground".[21]

Article 4 of the Law 35/2008, of 18 November, on professional relations (Catalan: Llei 35/2008, del 18 de desembre, del Codi de relacions laborals) forbids employers and workers from discrimating against employees or colleagues on account of sexual orientation, amongst other categories.[22]

Reports of public discrimination against LGBT people are extremely rare. In 2000, a young gay man, 17-year-old Nuno Ribeiro, was murdered in the country due to his sexual orientation, resulting in public outcry.[23] In addition, there are a few cases of parents expelling their children from their homes because of their sexual orientation. However, in general, Andorran society tends to be very tolerant of homosexuality and same-sex relationships, and acceptance is high.[24]

In February 2019, the General Council adopted legislation addressing equal treatment and non-discrimination. The Llei 13/2019, del 15 de febrer, per a la igualtat de tracte i la no-discriminació ("Law 13/2019, of 15 February, for equal treatment and non-discrimination"), provides protection for LGBT people, among others, in numerous areas including employment, education, health care, social services, housing, public establishments, etc. Article 4(2) states:[25]

No one may be discriminated against on the basis of birth, nationality or lack of nationality, racial origin or ethnicity, sex or female gender, religion, philosophical, political or trade union opinion, language, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other personal or social condition or circumstance.

Transgender rights

Currently, there exists no legal measures allowing transgender people to change their legal gender on official identification documents, such as passports, IDs or driver's licenses.

Discrimination on account of gender identity and expression in areas such as employment, the provision of goods and services, etc., is prohibited. Additionally, the Llei 14/2019, del 15 de febrer, qualificada dels drets dels infants i els adolescents ("Law 14/2019, of 15 February, on the rights of children and adolescents") establishes that transgender children must be respected in their gender identity.[26]

Blood donation

Men who have sex with men (MSM) can donate blood to the Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya, and to the Établissement Français du Sang in France after a one-year deferral period.[4][27][28]

Activism

In 2019, LGBT group DiversAnd was formed. It was established after the association Som Com Som (meaning "We Are As We Are" in Catalan) ended its work in 2018. DiversAnd focuses on preventing and addressing bullying and discrimination in schools, advocating for transgender people's rights to change their name and gender, and same-sex marriage. It organised a pride parade in June 2019.[29]

The first LGBT demonstration in Andorra occurred on 6 September 2002. On 23 June 2003, Som Com Som organized the first gay pride parade in the country, which took place at the Plaça del Poble in Andorra la Vella.[30]

On 17 May 2019, the International Day Against Homophobia, the Department of Equality launched a short film, entitled "#lovingdiversity", and raised online awareness of LGBT issues.[31]

Public opinion

According to a 2013 survey by the Institut d'Estudis Andorrans, 70% of Andorrans were in favour of same-sex marriage, 19% were against and 11% were undecided or had refused to answer.[32]

Summary table
Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1791)
Equal age of consent (14)
Anti-discrimination laws for sexual orientation (Since 2005)
Anti-discrimination laws for gender identity or expression (Since 2019)
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation (Since 2005)
Hate crime laws include gender identity or expression
Same-sex marriages (Proposed)
Recognition of same-sex couples (Since 2005)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2014)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2014)
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military Has no military
Right to change legal gender
Intersex minors protected from invasive surgical procedures
Third gender option
Access to IVF for lesbian couples
Conversion therapy banned on minors
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples (Banned for heterosexual couples as well)
MSMs allowed to donate blood
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See also

Notes
  1. Aengus Carroll; Lucas Ramón Mendos (May 2017). State-Sponsored Homophobia 2017—A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition (PDF) (12 ed.). Geneva: International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. p. 32. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. "Where is it illegal to be gay?". 10 February 2014 – via www.bbc.com.
  3. "Codi penal" (PDF). sherloc.unodc.org (in Catalan). 9 April 2014.
  4. "Laws: Andorra". GayLawNet.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  5. RTVA, Andorra Difusió. "DA regularà les adopcions per part de parelles homosexuals | Andorra Difusió". www.andorradifusio.ad.
  6. "Consell General Principat d'Andorra". www.consellgeneral.ad.
  7. "Diari d'Andorra". DiariAndorra.ad. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017.
  8. "Diari d'Andorra". DiariAndorra.ad. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015.
  9. "Llei 34/2014, del 27 de novembre, qualificada de les unions civils i de modificació de la Llei qualificada del matrimoni, de 30 de juny de 1995" (PDF).
  10. RTVA, Andorra Difusió. "Demà entren en vigor lleis importants, com la d'unions civils o la 'regla d´or' | Andorra Difusió". www.andorradifusio.ad.
  11. "Andorra rechaza llamar "matrimonio" a las uniones de parejas del mismo sexo - Ragap España". Archived from the original on 30 December 2014.
  12. Vella, Lídia Raventós, Andorra la (10 March 2020). "La unió homosexual es dirà també casament". DiariAndorra.ad.
  13. "Les unions civils entre persones del mateix sexe es diran casaments". BonDia Diari digital d'Andorra.
  14. "La llei de família cataloga com a 'casament' la unió de persones del mateix sexe". Ara Andorra. 10 March 2020.
  15. "Llei 29/1996, Llei qualificada de l'adopció i de les altres formes de protecció del menor desemparat" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2014.
  16. "ILGA Europe, Andorra". Archived from the original on 14 April 2011.
  17. "El cap de govern d'Andorra desmenteix ara que les parelles homosexuals puguin adoptar". VilaWeb.cat.
  18. "Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity - Legal Report: Andorra" (PDF).
  19. "Llei 9/2005, del 21 de febrer, qualificada del Codi penal". www.bopa.ad.
  20. "Llei 35/2008, del 18 de desembre, del Codi de relacions laborals" (PDF).
  21. "2008-17-RE | TRIBUNAL CONSTITUCIONAL". www.tribunalconstitucional.ad.
  22. "Llei 35/2008, del 18 desembre, del Codi de relacions laborals" (PDF). consellgeneral.ad (in Catalan). 21 January 2009.
  23. "Reportatge: viure l'homosexualitat en petits nuclis com Andorra". Andorra Difusió (in Catalan). 28 June 2017.
  24. "Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Sociological Report: Andorra" (PDF).
  25. "'Llei 13/2019, del 15 de febrer, per a la igualtat de tracte i la no-discriminació". General Council of Andorra (in Catalan).
  26. "Llei 14/2019, del 15 de febrer, qualificada dels drets dels infants i els adolescents". General Council (in Catalan).
  27. "Som com som celebra l'acord amb el banc de sang català". Diari d'Andorra (in Catalan). 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  28. Staff, B. T. L. "Andorran gays now can donate blood".
  29. "Official website of DiversAnd" (in Catalan).
  30. "L'associació, Som Com Som". somcomsom.lgbt (in Catalan). Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  31. "Annual Review of the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people in Europe and Central Asia" (PDF). ILGA-Europe. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  32. "Un 70% d'andorrans aprova el matrimoni homosexual". DiariAndorra.ad. 7 July 2013.
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