Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, no restrictions
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✔ Legal
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    Varies by Region
    Discrimination
    ✔ Illegal
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✔ Full ban
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✔ Banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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Recent surveys in Spain indicate a moderate level of acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights in specific areas.

Perception of LGBTQ+ People

Survey results from 20 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Spain.

Overall

Overall

Perceived Safety*

Feel safe being open
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.

Equal Treatment

Treatment by peers
Treatment by family
Treatment at work
Treatment at school
Treatment by general public
Treatment by businesses
Treatment by law enforcement
Treatment by religious groups

Visibility & Representation

Inclusion in education
Representation in entertainment
Representation in news
Political support
Out public figures

Culture

Pride/events
Nightlife
Dating life
Interest groups and clubs

Services

Health and wellness
Gender-affirming care
Support and social services
Advocacy and legal

History

Homosexual activity in Spain

?

Homosexual activity in Spain is legal.

Current status
Since 1979
Legal federal law
In 1979 Adolfo Suárez Government reversed the previous prohibitions on same sex activity. The 1970 Law on Danger and Social Rehabilitation remained active until 1995 but was unenforced after Spain adopted democracy.
Jul 15, 1954–Jan 1, 1979
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
The Vagrants and Common Delinquents Law (Ley de Vagos y Maleantes) was modified under the regime of Francisco Franco to prohibit homosexual acts, with a penalty of imprisonment. In 1970 the Law on Danger and Social Rehabilitation (Ley Sobre Peligrosidad y Rehabilitación Social) was introduced that further enforced the prohibition and specified a prison term of up to 5 years.

Same-sex marriage in Spain

?

Same-sex marriage in Spain is legal.

Current status
Since Jul 3, 2005
Legal federal law
In July of 2005, Spain became the third country in the world to legalize gay marriage, following the Netherlands and Belgium. The law, which was passed by the Spanish parliament and signed into law by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, also allows same-sex couples to adopt children.
1994–Jul 2, 2005
Other type of partnership
The Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (Urban Leasing Law) was passed in 1994, allowing registered cohabitation for same-sex couples which granted some of the rights previously reserved for married couples.

Censorship of LGBT issues in Spain

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Spain is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Spain, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
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Right to change legal gender in Spain

?

Right to change legal gender in Spain is legal, no restrictions.

Current status
Since Dec 22, 2022
Legal, no restrictions
On December 22, 2022, the Spanish Congress approves a "Trans Law"

If the law is approved, this point marks that reports or evidence will no longer be needed for a person to make an official registration change of their gender identity. According to the General Directorate of Sexual Diversity and Rights, this can be done "through a system of double appearance, without medical or judicial protection."
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Nov 8, 2006–Dec 22, 2022
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Changing your legal gender does not require surgery, however, it does require proof of some form of medical treatment for a period of two years.
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Gender-affirming care in Spain

?

Gender-affirming care in Spain is legal.

Current status
Since 2016
Legal federal law
In 2016, Spain adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1980, Spain adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
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Until 1980
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Spain

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Spain is varies by region.

Current status
Since Jun 29, 2017
Varies by Region
Spain does not provide recognition for non-binary, and intersex people on a national level. However, three provinces have introduced such recognition: Canarias, La Rioja, and Navarra. Navarra became the first on June 29th, 2017, when Law No. 8 (2017) went into effect. Article 44 (1) and (2) state 1. "The Public Administrations of Navarra, within the scope of their powers, must adopt all the necessary measures so that the administrative documentation, in all the areas contemplated in this provincial law, is appropriate to the diversity of sexual or gender identity of LGTBI+ people and the heterogeneity of the family situation."

2. "Likewise, it must be guaranteed, in access to public services and benefits, that transsexual, transgender and intersex people can be named and treated according to the sex or gender with which they identify (be it man, woman or another )."

Recognized

  1. Catalunya 2022
  2. La Rioja 2017

LGBT discrimination in Spain

?

LGBT discrimination in Spain is illegal.

Current status
Since Nov 23, 1995
Illegal
Art. 22.4 criminal code. In the current penal code is considered an aggravating.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Spain

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Spain is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jun 30, 2022
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Spanish law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, and "any other personal or social condition or circumstance.” in employment and provision of goods and services. A comprehensive anti-discrimination bill, called the Zerolo Law, was passed by the Cortes Generales on 30 June 2022.
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Nov 23, 1995–Jun 30, 2022
Sexual orientation only
Ley Orgánica núm. 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Spain

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Spain is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jun 30, 2022
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Under Spanish law.
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Same-sex adoption in Spain

?

Same-sex adoption in Spain is legal.

Current status
Since Jul 3, 2005
Legal
Included in equal marriage legislation
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2011091…//www.ciimu.org/webs/wellchi/working_papers/wp6_roca.pdf
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Intersex infant surgery in Spain

?

Intersex infant surgery in Spain is full ban.

Current status
Since Feb 16, 2023
Full ban
With the approval of the Trans Law on February 16, 2023, it was established that intersex minors should not receive unnecessary medical interventions, except in cases where medical advice requires otherwise in order to protect the health of the individual.
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Serving openly in military in Spain

?

Serving openly in military in Spain is legal.

Current status
Since Nov 4, 1977
Legal
As of 2009, the courts also ruled that transgender individuals are also permitted to serve in the military.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Spain

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Spain is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 11, 1976
Legal
* \"From\" date taken from earliest recorded specific legislation on the matter. MSM is not contemplated as a criterion for exclusion.

Information regarding blood donation by MSM during the Franco dictatorship is unknown, but was probably outlawed along with the practice of homosexuality. No specific legal texts from that historical time period address the issue.
Sources:
Orden por la que se dictan las normas para el desarrollo y aplicación del Decreto 1574/1975, de 26 de junio, por el que se regula la hemodonación y los Bancos de Sangre. - boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BO…
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Conversion therapy in Spain

?

Conversion therapy in Spain is banned.

Current status
Since Dec 22, 2022
Banned federal law
Trans law prohibits conversion therapy intended to change sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
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Until Dec 22, 2022
Varies by Region
Only in Madrid and Valencia. Nationwide Pending.
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Equal age of consent in Spain

?

Equal age of consent in Spain is equal.

Current status
Since Nov 23, 1995
Equal
Actually the criminal code in Spain is under review in order to increase the age of consent.
Sources:
Criminal code of 1995 . Art. 181 / Art. 182 / Art. 183
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LGBT Rights by Province

View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Spain.