Country Overview
Germany
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?
View more for this country:
Germany has established numerous legal protections for LGBTIQ people. Same-sex couples may marry and have full adoption rights since 2017. Discrimination protections vary across Germany, but certain forms of discrimination, including in employment, are banned nationwide. A law prohibits conversion practices targeting children under 18. In 2021, Germany legislatively banned medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children. While a groundbreaking, advocates are concerned about specific language providing loopholes, particularly concerning certain intersex conditions. Recognizing these concerns, the final draft law includes a provision for its review after five years, or in 2026.
In November 2024, the Self-Determination Act came into effect, allowing trans, intersex, and nonbinary people aged 18 and older to update their gender marker through a simple declaration at the registry office based on self-determination. Minors over the age of 14 can also change their gender marker with parental approval or legal recourse.
A strong majority of Germans agree that same-sex sexuality should be accepted by society. However, the number of anti-LGBTIQ hate crimes has increased in recent years, and discrimination is common. In May 2024, the Ministry of Interior released its yearly report on politically motivated crimes, underscoring an increase in the recorded number of crimes motivated by victims’ perceived sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression.
The far-right party AfD, which became the second strongest party in parliament following elections in February 2025, vocally opposes family diversity and trans people’s human rights.
*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is respected and protected in this country.
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.
View this regionAsia
Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.
View this regionSouthwest Asia and North Africa
In the Southwest Asia 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.
Americas
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.
Pacific
Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
Global
View this region
Human Rights Research
Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.
Read Our Reports