Country Overview
Bulgaria
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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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.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
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Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
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