LGBT rights in Akrotiri and Dhekelia

LGBT rights in Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Location of LGBT rights in Akrotiri and Dhekelia (red)

in Europe (grey)  –  [Legend]

StatusLegal since 2000,[1] age of consent equalised in 2003
MilitaryLegal since 2000[1]
Discrimination protectionsYes, sexual orientation protections
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsSame-sex marriage since 2014
Adoption-
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342 MSM activity made illegal
1533 Death penalty introduced for MSM activity
1543 Buggery Act extended to Wales
1828 Offences Against the Person Act 1828
1835 James Pratt and John Smith executed
1861 Death penalty for buggery abolished
1885 Labouchere Amendment introduced
1889 Cleveland Street scandal
1895 Oscar Wilde found guilty of gross indecency
1912 The Cave of the Golden Calf opens
1921 Plans to make lesbian activity illegal defeated
1936 Mark Weston transitions
1952 John Nott-Bower begins crackdown
1954 Pitt-Rivers, Montagu, Wildeblood imprisoned
1954 Alan Turing commits suicide
1957 Wolfenden report released
1967 MSM activity made legal (England & Wales)
1972 First British Gay Pride Rally
1976 Jeremy Thorpe resigns as Liberal leader
1981 MSM activity made legal (Scotland)
1981 First case of AIDS reported in the UK
1982 MSM activity made legal (NI)
1983 Gay men barred from donating blood
1984 Chris Smith elected as first openly gay MP
1987 Operation Spanner begins
1988 Section 28 comes into force
1989 Stonewall UK forms
1994 Age of consent for MSM becomes 18
1997 Angela Eagle becomes first openly lesbian MP
1998 Bolton 7 found guilty
1998 Lord Alli becomes first openly gay Lord
1999 Admiral Duncan bombing
2000 Gay men allowed in HM Armed Forces
2001 Age of consent equalised to 16
2001 MSM activity involving multiple men legal
2002 Same sex couples granted equal rights to adopt
2003 Section 28 repealed
2004 Civil partnerships introduced
2004 Gender Recognition Act 2004
2006 Discrimination made illegal
2008 Equalised access to IVF for lesbian couples
2008 Incitement to homophobic hatred made a crime
2009 Public apology to Alan Turing
2010 Equality Act 2010
2011 Gay men allowed to donate blood (1 yr deferral)
2013 Nikki Sinclaire becomes first openly trans MEP
2013 Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
2014 First same-sex marriages take place
2016 MSM activity not grounds for military discharge
2017 Turing law implemented
2017 Blood donation deferral 3 months (excl. NI)
2019 MPs legislate for gay marriage in NI
2020 Gay marriage legal across UK, incl. NI
2020 Blood donation deferral 3 months (incl. NI)
2021 Blood donation deferral equalised
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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia enjoy most of the same rights as non-LGBT people.

Due to Akrotiri and Dhekelia being a sovereign military base, the status of LGBT rights in certain areas is ambiguous and unclear. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the territory since June 2014, under the Overseas Marriage (Armed Forces) Order 2014, but only to British military personnel. In most cases, the laws of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the United Kingdom do not apply to the c. 7,700 Cypriot civilians[citation needed]. Akrotiri and Dhekelia issues birth and death certificates to civilian residents for instance, but only issues marriage certificates to military personnel and their dependents.[2][3]

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Same-sex sexual activity was legalised in Akrotiri and Dhekelia in 2000, under the Criminal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2000. In 2003, the age of consent was equalised for same-sex sexual activities.[1]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Same-sex marriage in Akrotiri and Dhekelia has been legal since 3 June 2014. An ordinance to legalise such marriages was approved by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council on 28 April 2014 and came into effect on 3 June. However, for a same-sex couple to marry in the territory, at least one partner has to serve in the British Armed Forces and their marriage application has to be approved by the base commander.[4] The first same-sex couple to marry in the territory was Sergeant Alastair Smith and Aaron Weston, who married on the British military base on Dhekelia on 10 September 2016.[5][6]

Civil partnerships have also been legal for same-sex couples, if at least one partner is serving in the British Armed Forces, since 7 December 2005.[7]

Civilian same-sex couples living in the territory are unable to marry, as they are governed under the laws of Cyprus which does not recognise same-sex marriage.[8] In 1960, when the Republic of Cyprus became independent, the United Kingdom declared that the laws applicable to the civilian population would be as far as possible the same as the laws of Cyprus.[2] In December 2015, civil unions were legalised in Cyprus for both different-sex and same-sex couples.[9]

Discrimination protections

The territory has prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment since 1 March 2013.[10]

Since 1 February 2016, the local Criminal Code has criminalised incitement to violence or hatred on the ground of sexual orientation.[11] Punishment ranges from 3 years imprisonment to a fine of 5,000 pounds[citation needed].

Summary table

Yes/No
Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (Since 2000)
Equal age of consent Yes (Since 2003)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment only Yes (Since 2013)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services No
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) Yes (Since 2016)
Same-sex marriage Yes (Since 2014)
Recognition of same-sex couples Yes (Since 2005)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples
Access to IVF for lesbians and automatic parenthood for both spouses after birth
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military Yes (Since 2000)
Right to change legal gender
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples No (Banned for heterosexual couples as well)
MSMs allowed to donate blood

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Laws of the SBAs". Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Area Offices". Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Overseas Marriage (Armed Forces) Order 2014" (PDF). Legislation.gov.uk. 28 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Gay couple become first to get married on British military base in Cyprus". Metro.co.uk. 9 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Same-sex marriage first as couple wed on British Army base in Cyprus". Pink News. 9 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Civil Partnership (Armed Forces) Order 2005" (PDF). Legislation.gov.uk. 7 December 2005.
  8. ^ "Laws of Akrotiri and Dhekelia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  9. ^ "CIVIL UNIONS COME INTO FORCE IN CYPRUS!". Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  10. ^ Employment (Equality) Ordinance 2013
  11. ^ Criminal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2016
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