Gay Guide Slovenia

In Slovenia, the general age of consent is 15 years. The gay and lesbian movement has a long tradition there: the first non-governmental organisation "Magnus" for the protection of gay rights was founded in 1984 and in the same year the film festival of the same name was founded in Ljubljana, which quickly became a permanent institution for gay and lesbian films. This early commitment, which continued even after the country's independence in 1991, is in contrast to society's attitude towards homosexuality. Although the Slovenes are tolerant and progressive, homophobia is still prevalent and many celebrities do not come out. Public opinion is only slowly becoming more liberal. The annual Pride Parade may make a contribution to this. The law on registered partnerships was passed in June 2005. It concerns exclusively the property law aspects and includes the obligation to support socially weaker partners, but only a partial right of inheritance. It neither brings new rights in the area of social benefits (social and health insurance, pension entitlement), nor does it establish a family status between the partners. In 2015, the government decided to open marriage to homosexuals. Unfortunately, the law could not enter into effect because the opposition, led by the Catholic Church, successfully initiated a referendum to abolish the law. The Slovenes voted by majority for the referendum, in which only 35.65 percent of all eligible voters took part. On 24 February 2017, however, a law came into force that puts same-sex partnership almost on a par with marriage. Ten months earlier, the law had been passed by 54 to 15 votes in parliament. Homosexual couples thus have largely the same rights as heterosexual couples, but adoption of children from other countries is not possible. Since EU accession at the latest, this small country, where Alpine and Central European cultures and landscapes meet, has attracted many travellers. It is only a stone's throw from the fantastic mountains to the impressive coasts of the Adriatic, and the capital Ljubljana also has a lot to offer culturally.