Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, although same-sex relations are legal and discrimination based on sexual orientation is banned, LGBTIQ people still face violence and harassment. Gender identity is not explicitly mentioned in anti-discrimination laws. In 2023, the Bulgarian Supreme Court ruled that transgender people would no longer be able to change their legal name and gender markers. A majority of the public holds negative views toward LGBTIQ people. In recent years, right-wing organizations and political parties have increasingly decried “gender ideology” and used anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric for political gain. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church openly opposes LGBTIQ Pride demonstrations. At the first Bulgarian LGBTIQ Pride event in 2008, participants were attacked with weapons, including a petrol bomb. However, Pride events in Bulgaria have continued, and more people attend each year.