Valkas novads (Valka) is governed by federal Latvia law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Civil unions (limited rights)
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
    Gender-Affirming Care
    Unknown
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ Illegal in some contexts
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ Sexual orientation only
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✖ Not banned
    Military
    ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

Public Opinion

Valkas novads (Valka) is lacking public opinion data.

Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Valkas novads (Valka) by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Have you lived in or visited Valkas novads (Valka)?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in Valkas novads (Valka).

Take Survey

History

Homosexual activity in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Homosexual activity in Valkas novads (Valka) is legal.

Current status
Since 1992
Legal
Article 124.1 that prohibits male-male sex was repealed in 1992
Details
Sources:
ageofconsent.com/latvia.htm
Report error  ·  Log
Until Jan 1, 1992
Male illegal, female legal
Homosexual activity between men was prohibited before 1992. Sexual acts between women were not explicitly criminalized.
Details
Sources:
web.archive.org/web/2007042…//www.ilga-europe.org/europe/guide/country_by_country/latvia
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Same-sex marriage in Valkas novads (Valka) is civil unions (limited rights).

Current status
Since Jul 1, 2024
Civil unions (limited rights)
On November 9th, 2023, the Saeima passed legislation establishing same-sex civil unions, and the unions were approved by President Edgars Rinkevics on January 9th, 2024. The law took effect on July 1st, 2024. Same-sex couples are not able to inherit from their partners even if they are in a registered partnership.
Details
Sources:
uk.news.yahoo.com/latvia-le…
lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija…
Report error  ·  Log
Jun 1, 2022–Jun 30, 2024
Civil unions (limited rights)
Civil unions recognized by courts in Latvia with limited rights.
Details
Sources:
eng.lsm.lv/article/society/…
Report error  ·  Log
Dec 15, 2005–May 31, 2022
Banned
Section 110 of the Constitution of Latvia was amended in 2006, explicitly defining marriage as a union exclusively between a man and woman.
Details
Sources:
wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.js…
web.archive.org/web/2006061…//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5084832.stm
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Valkas novads (Valka) is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Latvia, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Right to change legal gender in Valkas novads (Valka) is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since Dec 14, 2012
Legal, but requires surgery
Transgender people are allowed to change their gender, however surgery is required.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/api/downl…
Report error  ·  Log
Apr 5, 1972–Dec 14, 2012
Legal, but requires surgery
Under Soviet law, after the fall of the Soviet Union, the regulations were not changed.
Details
Sources:
bigpicture.ru/ya-peredumala…
Report error  ·  Log
Until Apr 5, 1972
Illegal
Legal gender change is impossible
Details
Sources:
bigpicture.ru/ya-peredumala…
Report error  ·  Log

Gender-affirming care in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Gender-affirming care in Valkas novads (Valka) is unknown.

Jan 1, 1983–Jan 1, 1996
Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy
Details
Sources:
russiapost.info/society/lgbt
Report error  ·  Log
Restricted
In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
Details
Sources:
russiapost.info/society/lgbt
Report error  ·  Log
Until 1926
Banned
Medical transition is not possible
Details
Sources:
russiapost.info/society/lgbt
Report error  ·  Log
Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Valkas novads (Valka) is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
No non-binary recognition.
Details
Sources:
ilga-europe.org/files/uploa…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

LGBT discrimination in Valkas novads (Valka) is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since Nov 9, 2006
Illegal in some contexts
The labour law was amended to protect LGBTQ+ population in some aspects of the labour market.
Details
Sources:
ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex_b…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Valkas novads (Valka) is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Since Nov 9, 2006
Sexual orientation only
only banned on sexual orientation
Details
Sources:
rainbow-europe.org/#8642/0/0
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Valkas novads (Valka) is no protections.

Current status
Since Nov 9, 2006
No protections
no protections based on ILGA Europe
Details
Sources:
rainbow-europe.org/#8642/0/0
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Same-sex adoption in Valkas novads (Valka) is single only.

Current status
Single only
Latvian law allows any person over 25 to adopt. However persons who are not married to each other may not adopt the same child. This means that only one person of an unmarried couple can adopt a child. However, lesbian couples can get access to IVF and assisted insemination treatment.
Details
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_…
likumi.lv/doc.php?id=225418
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Intersex infant surgery in Valkas novads (Valka) is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
There is no official ban on unnecessary sex reassignment operations in infants in Latvia.
Details
Sources:
rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org/…
Report error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Serving openly in military in Valkas novads (Valka) is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Current status
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Sexual orientation is a protected category for employment discrimination, however gender identity is not.
Details
Sources:
humanrightsfirst.org/librar…
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Valkas novads (Valka) is legal.

Current status
Legal
No restrictions about gay sex.
Details
Sources:
cafebabel.fr/societe/articl…
Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Conversion therapy in Valkas novads (Valka) is not banned.

Current status
Since Dec 23, 2017
Not banned
No laws in place.
Details
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Valkas novads (Valka)

?

Equal age of consent in Valkas novads (Valka) is equal.

Current status
Equal
Details
Report error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
48 / 100
Legal Rights
61 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Valkas novads (Valka) to help improve its accuracy.

Top Contributors

Valkas novads (Valka) LGBT Organizations

There are no organizations listed in Valkas novads (Valka). Suggest one

Share Region

Compare Valkas novads (Valka)

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Valmieras Novads, Latvia

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Varakļānu novads (Varakļāni), Latvia

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Augšdaugavas novads, Latvia

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Rezekne, Latvia

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Riga, Latvia

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Smiltenes novads (Smiltene), Latvia

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Jurmala, Latvia

48
Latvia Flag

Compare with
Siguldas novads (Sigulda), Latvia

LGBT Rights in

48
Varakļānu novads (Varakļāni) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Varakļānu novads (Varakļāni)

48
Rezekne Flag

LGBT Rights in
Rezekne

48
Riga Flag

LGBT Rights in
Riga

48
Smiltenes novads (Smiltene) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Smiltenes novads (Smiltene)

48
Ogres novads (Ogre) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Ogres novads (Ogre)

48
Līvānu novads (Līvāni) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Līvānu novads (Līvāni)

48
Ludzas novads (Ludza) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Ludzas novads (Ludza)

48
Limbažu novads (Limbaži) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Limbažu novads (Limbaži)

48
Jēkabpils novads (Jēkabpils) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Jēkabpils novads (Jēkabpils)

48
Madonas novads (Madona) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Madonas novads (Madona)

48
Ķekavas novads (Ķekava) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Ķekavas novads (Ķekava)

48
Jelgavas novads (Jelgava) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Jelgavas novads (Jelgava)

48
Daugavpils Flag

LGBT Rights in
Daugavpils

48
Jelgava Flag

LGBT Rights in
Jelgava

48
Talsu novads (Talsi) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Talsu novads (Talsi)

48
Krāslavas novads (Krāslava) Flag

LGBT Rights in
Krāslavas novads (Krāslava)