Country Overview
Finland
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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Laws and public opinion about LGBTIQ people in Finland are progressive, but gaps remain. Same-sex couples may marry and adopt, and a majority of people in Finland agree that same-sex marriage should be legal. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression is banned. However, violence and discrimination remain an issue, and the number of violent attacks against LGBTIQ people increased by 27% from 2017 to 2018. LGBTIQ children and youth also face more bullying and violence compared to their heterosexual peers. Finland allows transgender people to change their legal gender markers, and as of 2023, they no longer have to be sterilized or obtain a mental disorder diagnosis. Medically unnecessary interventions on intersex minors, however, remain legal.
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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In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
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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