Slovak Republic

In the Slovak Republic, or Slovakia, LGBTIQ people face many legal and social issues. Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is banned, but continues to occur regularly. The country does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions, with parliament rejecting the most recent civil union bill in 2022. In October 2024, four members of the ruling party proposed amendments to the Education Act seeking to ban the “promotion” of “non-traditional sexual orientation” in schools.

Similar to other countries in the region, anti-transgender narratives and movements in Slovakia are growing in size and popularity, serving as a new focus of far-right populist leaders. In 2022, the Ministry of Health published new guidelines on the standards of care for trans people, which would have made it possible for trans people to change their legal gender markers without surgical intervention. However, due to conservative backlash, these guidelines were suspended. 

Public opinion in favor of LGBTIQ equality reached an all-time high in Slovakia after two people were killed outside of a Bratislava gay bar in 2022. However, it is deteriorating quickly. Slovaks consider LGBTIQ people to be the second most discriminated group in the country, following the Roma. 

There is minimal data on intersex communities in Slovakia, although the anti-discrimination law, which includes an open-ended “other” category of protected characteristics or social groups, could apply to intersex people. In 2024, the Slovakian film Úsvit, which tells the story of an intersex person, was met with praise, with the main actor portraying the intersex character winning the Best Actor award at an international film festival. 

*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected in this country.