Gay rights in finland

LGBTI milestones in Finland

 Homosexuality is considered a crime in the new Penal Code and punishable by a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.

 The first LGBT rights organization in Finland, Psyke ry, is founded.

 Homosexuality is decriminalized; however its ”promotion” remains illegal.

 SETA ry is founded.

 Homosexuality is removed from the national classification of diseases.

 Seta founds the Hiv foundation and its Aids support centres around the country.

 Seta is transformed into a central organisation of LGBT associations. Local Seta associations are founded in different parts of Finland.

 The Trans Support Centre is founded by Seta.

 Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited.

 The Criminal Code is revised, setting the age of consent equal for same-sex and straight sexual relations. The prohibition of ”promotion of homosexuality” is finally removed.

 The law on ”registered partnership” is adopted. The law is similar to the law on marriage, with exception for the rights to take the spouse’s surname and to adopt children.

LGBTQ+ RIGHTS

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Finland are some of the most progressive in the world. Finland is currently ranked as having the fourth-best laws and policies in the world that protect the rights of the LGBT+ community, according to ILGA-Europe advocacy group. ILGA-Europe is the leading LGBTI advocacy organisation in Europe, covering the whole of Europe and advocating professionally in all of the European institutions central to human rights and non-discrimination.

According to the rights group, the list&#;s rankings are based on: equality and non-discrimination, family, hate crime and abhor speech, legal gender recognition and bodily integrity, civil society space as successfully as asylum.

LGBTQ Rights in a nutshell

Homosexual activity: Legal since

Same-sex marriage: Legal since

Same-sex adoption: Step-child adoption since

LGBT discrimination: Illegal since

Equal age of consent: Equal since

Learn more about LGBT rights in Equaldex.

History of LGBTQ rights

Homosexuality has been decriminalized since , and was declassified

The Current Status of Rights for Rainbow Families in Finland

A few days ago, Ilga-Europe published its annual Rainbow Europe map monitoring the status of LGBTI rights in Europe, articulate by state. Finland got fairly high standing in the records. Rainbow Europe map indicates the status of legislation. Finland contain recently taken major legal steps, like marriage equality and maternity act. Both of these have been passes by the citizens&#; initiatives. However, the previous government () was very passive in LGBTI rights.

There are still major legal shortcomings in Finland, but what is lacking even more is the enforcment of the non-discrimination and wellbeing policies for the LGBTIQ people, as the Finnish LGBTI association Seta has stated in their (Finnish language) article about the Rainbow Europe map. Finland needs a national LGBTI Action Plan for the government.

What is the current status of rights for the rainbow families in Finland? Nelfa, the European umbrella assocation for rainbow families associations, include decided to compile a database and a map about the rainbow family rig

LGBTIQ Rights in Finland – Seta

  • Human rights advocacy organisation
  • Founded in
  • 50 member organisations
  • Activities all over the country
  • The activities also include social work and youth work
  • Runs the Gender Diversity & Intersex Centre of Expertise and Online Youth residence Loiste
  • Works in partnership with other non-governmental organizations and authorities in Finland and internationally
  • A member of the following organizations: ILGA-Europe, Transgender Europe, IGLYO, SOSTE Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health, Finnish Youth Cooperation – Allianssi, Family Federation of Finland and Finnish Development NGOs Fingo. Supportive member of Finnish League for human rights and European Lesbian Community.
  • The office is located in Merihaka in Helsinki
  • Employs currently 14 people
  • The main funders are STEA and the Ministry of Education and Culture

 

Seta – LGBTIQ Rights in Finland is a national human rights NGO. Seta aims for a society of equality and individual welfare that includes everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression