Tag: austria gay rights

Austria to compensate gay men convicted under discriminatory laws

A historic proposal by the Austrian Ministry of Justice sees €33m set aside to compensate those who were wrongly convicted – but critics say the amount on offer is not enough. The Austrian government is set to pay tens of millions of euros in compensation to gay people who were persecuted or convicted of consensual… Read more »

EuroPride 2019 is the perfect time to discover Vienna’s coolest LGBTI bars

Vienna’s gay and lesbian bars are some of the suavest in Europe Vienna’s reputation as an LGBTI hot spot just keeps growing and growing. From the Austrian capital hosting EuroPride 2019 to the passing of equal marriage, 2019 is shaping up to be its gayest yet. Which also makes it the perfect time to explore… Read more »

Austria sees in its first same-sex marriage in lead-up to full legalization

Two of the women who successfully challenged Austria’s top court to legalize same-sex marriage tied the know in Vienna this week Two Austrian women are celebrating being the first couple to tie the knot in Austria. The happy couple married in a private ceremony on Friday (12 October). This comes about 10 months since from… Read more »

Austria Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

Austria’s Constitutional Court has ruled that laws prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from marrying are discriminatory. According to The New York Times, the court advised that gay couples be allowed to marry starting in 2019, unless lawmakers act sooner. The ruling, announced Tuesday, makes Austria the 16th European nation to grant marriage equality. In its… Read more »

Vienna to celebrate 20th year of its LGBT waltzes

Vienna is to celebrate its 20th annual LGBT ball. The very special celebration falls at the end of January, and it’s done in classic Austrian style. The Rainbow Ball, or Ragenbogen Ball as it is in Austrian, is one of Austria’s numerous classical balls for LGBT people. The event welcomes LGBT people from right across… Read more »

Austria to boost same-sex civil partnership rights… just don’t call it a marriage

The Austrian government has drawn up plans to grant more rights to same-sex couples in registered partnerships, but it won’t be pushing forward with equal marriage. The country is currently governed by a grand coalition between the left-wing Social Democrats and the centre-right People’s Party. Same-sex registered partnerships were introduced in 2010, allowing gay and… Read more »

Families fight Austria’s gay marriage ban

The latest case to challenge the same-sex marriage ban in Austria on the grounds that it makes children in the family illegitimate was heard in court this week. Following a change in the law in January 2015, same-sex couples are now allowed to adopt the children of their partners in Austria, although they are still… Read more »

Austrian court strikes down ban on gay adoption

The Austrian Constitutional Court has lifted a ban on adoption by same-sex couples. Austrians in same-sex relationships could previously only adopt the biological children of their partners’ since 2013, but could not jointly adopt non-biological children. Head of the court, Gerhart Holzinger, said: “This is no justification for difference in treatment because of sexual orientation.”… Read more »

Austrian drag queen, Conchita Wurst wins Eurovision Song Contest

Conchita Wurst, Austria’s bearded drag queen star, won the 59th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night in Copenhagen. Conchita Wurst’s performance of Rise Like a Phoenix wowed judges and the European viewers to take home the title for Austria. It is the first time the country has won in 48 years. The… Read more »