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Country Overview

Netherlands

At a glance

Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?

Yes

Legal Gender Recognition Possible?

Yes

LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?

Yes

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In the Netherlands, public opinion and laws about LGBTIQ people are progressive, but gaps remain. Same-sex couples can marry and adopt, and transgender people can change their legal gender markers based on self-determination. The Dutch government has offered compensation to individuals who underwent surgery or sterilization because of previous legal requirements for changing gender markers. Non-binary people can elect to use the gender marker “X.” Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, goods and services, and education is banned. Public opinion is highly supportive—in several surveys about social acceptance of same-sex marriage, Netherlands ranks the highest in Europe. Additionally, the Netherlands was ranked the second highest out of 175 countries for average social acceptance of LGBTI people between 2017 and 2020. However, conversion practices are legal, and nonconsensual medical interventions on intersex youth still occur. Family rejection and subsequent housing insecurity for LGBTIQ youth remain issues. Hate crimes including death threats and physical attacks are major problems, and anti-trans rhetoric in the media is especially common. LGBTIQ asylum seekers are often denied based on stereotypical requirements. 

 

Global Impact

Sub-Saharan Africa

Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.

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United Nations

Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.

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Asia

Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.

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Middle East and North Africa

In the Middle East and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.



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Europe and Central Asia

Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.

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Americas

Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.

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Pacific

Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.

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Human Rights Research

Since 1990, we have partnered with activists from all over the world to produce hundreds of groundbreaking reports.

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