Same-sex Marriage in Estonia

Yes, Estonia is considered LGBT-friendly. The Estonian parliament legalized gay relations in 1935. However, during the German occupation, it became illegal. After regaining independence, Estonia reinstated the legal status of homosexuality. Overall, Estonia has made significant progress in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and is generally accepting and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.

Estonia officially recognized same-sex marriage as legal starting from January 1, 2024. The commitment to legalize such marriages was a key agenda of the government formed after the March 2023 elections, led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and comprising the Reform Party, the Social Democrats, and Estonia 200. In May 2023, legislation advocating for the inclusion of same-sex couples in marriage rights was introduced to the Riigikogu and subsequently passed in a final reading on June 20. President Alar Karis signed the law into effect on June 27, and it officially came into force on January 1, 2024. Estonia proudly stands as the first Baltic and Central European country and the 20th European nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

The Estonian parliament has approved the legalization of same-sex marriage, a significant development occurring just two months after the formation of the country's new liberal coalition government. This decision follows a nine-year period since the nation initially voted to introduce same-sex civil unions. In April, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, committed to expediting the legislative process for same-sex marriage, and during the recent vote in the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament), 55 members voted in favor, while 34 voted against. Notably, the parliamentary decision was linked to a confidence vote on Prime Minister Kaja Kallas' centre-right government, which faced pressure from conservative opposition parties and civil society groups advocating for traditional family values and opposing same-sex marriage.

As of August 2016, there were 29 same-sex partnerships officially established in Estonia. By October 2017, the number of cohabitation agreements between same-sex couples had increased to 59. Estonia's evolving stance on marriage equality mirrors a broader trend observed in many European countries and the United States, with a notable surge in acceptance over the past decade. According to a survey conducted in April 2023 by Turu-uuringute AS, 53% of the population supports marriage equality, reflecting a substantial rise from the 34% recorded in 2021.

On June 20, 2023, a legislation promoting marriage equality was successfully enacted, granting the opportunity for same-sex couples to marry and engage in joint adoption.