Latvia’s Parliament Votes to Legalize Same-Gender Partnerships

On Thursday, November 9, Latvian parliament, the Saeima, voted to recognize same-gender couples by allowing them to establish civil unions. While this does provide same-gender relationships some legal recognition, it offers fewer rights than those afforded to married couples. 

In Latvia, homosexuality is still divisive, even if public opinion has been shifting in favor of LGBTQ+ rights in inclusion. A recent report revealed that only about 40 %t of Latvians supported same-gender marriage, which is a significant jump from where it was in 2015. However, Latvia’s recent history with LGBTQ+ rights has been a mixed bag to say the least.

In 2005, legislators changed the constitution to define marriage as only being between a man and a woman. Latvia does not allow LGBTQ+ couples to adopt and in passed a law banning the adoption of Latvian children by foreign same-sex couples. After they gained their independence from the Soviet Union, Latvia quickly moved to decriminalize homosexuality in 1992, and by 1999 they had equalized their age of consent. Latvia also recently elected Edgars Rinkēvičs who became the first openly gay head of state in the European Union. Although 45% of Latvians indicated they would be uncomfortable with a having an openly homosexual or bisexual government official. 

The recent legislation, which should come into effect by mid-2024, is promising, allowing same-gender couples to register their partnerships with a notary. These recognized partnerships would be allowed hospital visiting rights, in addition to some benefits when it comes to taxes and social security, but LGBTQ+ rights activists note that the legislation falls short of affording queer couples equal rights under Latvian law. 

Kaspars Zalitis, an LGBTQ+ rights activist, notes that same-gender couples will still not be able to adopt children and will continue to face inheritance discrepancies. “This is a great beginning … Latvia is not one of the six countries in the European Union that have no recognition for same-sex couples,” Zalitis tells Reuters in an interview.

Latvia’s justice minister indicated that parliament did not intend for civil union partnerships to have similar rights to married couples. The European Union has encouraged members states, even if they don’t authorize same-sex marriage, to at least grant same-sex partners of permanent residents freedom of residency. 

Latvia’s parliament elected President Edgars Rinkevics as the first openly gay head of state in the European Union in May, despite 45% of Latvians telling a 2019 Eurobarometer poll they would be uncomfortable with having a gay or bisexual high-ranking official. 

There is an ongoing push for recognition of same-gender relationships in Latvia. A Latvian court in 2020 ruled that the government must recognize non-married families. Since then, 46 same-gender couples have successfully petitioned courts to be recognized as family units. 

Estonia, Latvia’s neighbor to the north, legalized same-gender marriage in June.