The Legal Position of LGBT Persons and Same-Sex Couples in Cyprus
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Abstract
Historically, Cyprus was greatly lagging behind other European countries in the recognition and protection of the rights of LGBT persons and same-sex couples. However, from the 1990s, when male-to-male consensual sex was decriminalised, to 2015 when (same-sex and opposite-sex) civil partnerships were introduced, Cyprus has gone a long way – legally – in the recognition of same-sex relationships and the protection of the rights of LGB persons, although, admittedly, some important gaps still persist. As regards trans persons, things are not equally encouraging, as the legal system – still – makes no systematic provision for them. The aim of this article is to take stock of the protection and rights that LGBT persons and same-sex couples have come to enjoy under the Cypriot legal system. It will also seek to highlight the gaps that still remain in the protection that Cyprus offers to LGBT persons and same-sex couples and to briefly suggest ways for filling these gaps. It will be concluded that although some important steps in the right direction have been made, especially in recent years, there is still a long way to go for achieving complete equality under the law between LGBT persons and their heterosexual and cisgender brothers and sisters.
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Cyprus, EU, Council of Europe, ECHR, Equality, LGBT, Gay and Lesbian, Same-Sex Couples, Trans, Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Cyprus Anti-Discrimination Body (2012 November 20) Report on Homophobia in Education and the Treatment of Homophobic incidents, No. 63/2011 and 131/2011.
Cyprus Anti-Discrimination Body (2012 June 29) Report regarding the prevention and fight against homophobic speech,
Complaint No. 55/2010, 56/2010, 57/2010, 58/2010, 61/2010.
Cyprus Anti-Discrimination Body (2014 April 2) Report regarding the legal recognition of the gender identity of trans persons, No. 21/2011, 95/2011, 14/2013, 12/2014.
Cyprus Anti-Discrimination Body (2014 June 4) Position in relation to matters regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, 1/2015, para 24.
Drosos, S. and Constantinides, A. (2014) ‘The Legal Situation of Same-Sex Couples in Greece and Cyprus’, in D Gallo, L Paladini and P Pustorino (eds), Same-Sex Couples before National, Supranational and International Jurisdictions, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 319-342.
Emilianides, A.C. (2014) ‘Ομοφυλοφιλία και ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα στην κυπριακή έννομη τάξη’, in Phellas, C., Kapsou, M. and Epaminonda, E. (eds.), Σεξουαλικότητες: Απόψεις, Μελέτες και Βιώματα στον Κυπριακό και Ελληνικό Χώρο. Athens: Polyxromos Planitis, pp. 130-151.
Emilianides, A.C. (2011) Religion and Law in Cyprus, Alphen aan den Rijn: The Netherlands, Kluwer.
Emilianides, A.C. (2011) ‘Η Αποποινικοποίηση της Ομοφυλοφιλίας στην Κύπρο’, σε Π. Παπαπολυβίου (επ), Ιστορία της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας, Nicosia: Phileleftheros.
EU Fundamental Rights Agency, (2014) Being Trans in the European Union: Comparative analysis of EU LGBT survey data. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Available at https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-being-trans-eu-comparative_en.pdf, last accessed on 31 August 2017.
Faderman, L. (2015) The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle, New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
ILGA-Europe, (2017, May) The Rainbow Europe map, Brussels: ILGA. Available at https://www.ilga-europe.org/resources/rainbow-europe/rainbow-europe-2017, accessed on 31 August 2017.
Ioannidou, M. (2014) ‘Legal Study on Homophobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Cyprus – January 2014 update’, First Elements Euroconsultants Ltd. Available at http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/country-study-lgbt-legal-update-2014-cy.pdf, last accessed on 14 August 2017.
Kamenou, N. ‘“Cyprus is the Country of Heroes, Not of Homosexuals”: Sexuality, Gender and Nationhood in Cyprus’, PhD Thesis, King’s College London. Available online at https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/12780640/Studentthesis-Nayia_Kamenou_2012.pdf, accessed on 11 September 2017.
Kapsou, M. Christophi, A., and Epaminonda, M., (2011) A Report on Sexual Orientation in Cyprus: Mapping the Sociopolitical Climate, Experiences and Needs, Nicosia: Cyprus Family Planning Association and Accept-LGBT Cyprus, June 2011). Available at http://www.cyfamplan.org/famplan/userfiles/documents/a_report_on_sexual_orientation_in_cyprus.pdf, accessed on 31 August 2017.
Ker-Lindsay, J., (2011) The Cyprus Problem: What Everyone Needs to Know, Oxford: OUP.
Konstantinou, Kostas, (2010, June 4) ‘Ρεζίλι στην Ευρώπη η Κύπρος’ [Refill in Europe Cyprus], Gay News in Greek blogspot. Available at http://gaynewsingreek.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/blog-post_6437.html, accessed on 25 August 2017.
LIFO GR, (2014, November) ‘Εφοδος της Κυπριακής Αστυνομίας στην έκθεση της Πάολας Ρεβενιώτη’, LIFO GR. Available at http://www.lifo.gr/now/culture/55911, accessed on 31 August 2017.
Loukaidis, L. G. (2012) ‘Η νομική πλευρά της ομοφυλοφιλίας’ in Θέματα Κυπριακού Δικαίου (Nicosia 1982), pp. 207-212.
Modinos, A. (2002) ‘Homosexual Life in Cyprus’ in R T Francoeur (ed), The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality, New York, NY: Continuum.
Pfäfflin, F., (2015) ‘Transgenderism and Transsexuality: Medical and Psychological Viewpoints’ in J M Scherpe (ed), The Legal Status of Transsexual and Transgender Persons, Cambridge: Intersentia, pp. 11-24.
Shepherd, A., (2016) ‘Let’s not skirt the issue: reflections on Klaedes v Cyprus (2015)’ The Young Human Rights Lawyer, pp. 23-27. Available at https://www.hrla.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-Journal.pdf, accessed on 7 December 2017.
Tryfonidou, A. (2015) ‘EU Free Movement Law and the Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Relationships: The Case for Mutual Recognition’ Columbia Journal of European Law, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 195-248.
Trimikliniotis, N. and Demetriou, C. (2008) ‘Evaluating the Anti-Discrimination Law in the Republic of Cyprus: A Critical Reflection’ The Cyprus Review, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 79-116.
Trimikliniotis, N. and Karayanni, S.S., (2008, March) ‘The Situation Concerning Homophobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation,’ Nicosia: Simfiliosi. Available at http://www.statewatch.org/news/2010/jan/cyprus-homophobia-report.pdf, last accessed on 10 August 2017.
United Nations (2015, February) ‘Common core document forming part of the reports of State parties: Cyprus’, International Human Rights Instruments HRI/CORE/CYP/2014. Available at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download. aspx?symbolno=HRI%2fCORE%2fCYP%2f2014&Lang=en, accessed on 14 August 2017.
Waaldijk, K. (1994) ‘Standard Sequences in the Legal Recognition of Homosexuality – Europe’s Past, Present and Future,’ Australasian Gay and Lesbian Law Journal, Vol. 4, pp. 50-72.
Whittle, S., (2002) Respect and Equality: Transsexual and Transgender Rights, Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Yogyacarta Principles (2016). Yogyacarta Principles. Available at http://www.yogyakartaprinciples. org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/principles_en.pdf, accessed on 1 September 2017.
Copyright: © University of Nicosia, Cyprus
All rights reserved.
No restrictions on photo-copying.
Quotations from The Cyprus Review are welcome, but acknowledgement of the source must be given.