Is switzerland gay friendly
LGBTQ+ rights in Switzerland
LGBTQI rights
Government & Law
From gay marriage to societal attitudes and recent laws, explore all there is to perceive about LGBT+ rights in Switzerland.
By Sarah May Grunwald
Updated 26-5-2025
When it comes to LGBT+ rights and policies, Switzerland has historically lagged behind most of Western Europe. That said, since the 1940s, the nation has been liberalizing civil rights for LGBT+ people, making it one of the safer countries in the world for the community.
In the past decade, there have been marked changes in the civil rights afforded to woman loving woman, gay, transgender, bisexual, and intersex people. In 2020, the Swiss Parliament overwhelmingly passed legislation on lgbtq+ marriage and adoption rights.
To help you understand the landscape of LGBT+ rights in Switzerland, this article provides the following information:
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Switzerland votes in favour of LGBT protection bill
BBC News, Bern
Voters in Switzerland have backed a proposal to make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sexual identity illegal.
The result - 63.1% in favour to 36.9% against - is a massive boost for Switzerland's LGBT community.
It had argued Swiss statute on the issue lagged far behind other countries in Europe. Opponents of the new regulation argued it could restrict free speech.
In Switzerland, discrimination because of race or religion is already illegal.
In the run up to the vote, campaigners had said they thought the outcome would be close, and that a yes vote of more than 60% was unlikely.
Sunday's outcome shows public notion is far more receptive to strengthening anti-discrimination legislation than analysts had predicted.
Pink Cross Switzerland said: "The result proves a strong write of acceptance for lesbians, gays and bisexuals. After the clear yes, the LGBTI community will use this momentum to achieve the consistent implementation of the penal code and to enforce marriage equality."
A bill to legalise lgbtq+ marriage is currentl
Switzerland’s best LGBT clubs
© thierry@mensgo.com
Find the finest gay and womxn loving womxn nights out – with the ultimate guide to Switzerland’s LGBT nightlife scene
The LGBT party scene in Switzerland applications something for everyone, from relaxed, mixed-queer shindigs to sweaty danceathons. For all their alpenhorn-apotheosizing and minaret-marginalising traditionalism, the Swiss have for many decades taken a world-leading stance on gay and lesbian rights. Lgbtq+ relations were decriminalised here in 1942, and on Fresh Year’s Day 2007 a referendum made Switzerland the first country on Planet where gay civil unions were voted in by the public, not just parliament – and by a huge majority.
Today Zurich, which happens to hold a chic queer woman mayor in Corine Mauch, is very much Switzerland’s LGBT capital, as good as one of the world’s most gay-friendly cities, with bars, cafes, saunas and clubs adding up to dozens of gay venues. The old town’s Barfüsser is considered Europe’s oldest lgbtq+ hostelry and the annual Zurich Celebration event now draws around 45,000 pink party people.
Bern, Geneva and Basel all have bijou scenes, in particular the restaura
Switzerland Gay Guide
The Best Hotels in Switzerland for Gay Travellers
There are not any gay-only hotels or guesthouses in Switzerland, however, there are various gay events taking place in the country, like the renowned Arosa Ski Weekend, which convert the cities into big lgbtq+ hotspots. In Zurich, you will locate several gay-owned apartments whose hosts will mentor you through the city's male lover scene.
Here you will find many gay-friendly boutique hotels located close to same-sex attracted hotspots, as well as mountain resorts and hotels located close to well-liked ski areas!
The Diverse Same-sex attracted Scene of Switzerland!
Switzerland has a diverse gay scene, with the most of the gay clubs and bars of the country located in Zurich. Geneva and Bern also feature an organized lgbtq+ scene with various gay venues, while in small towns like Lucerne, Laussane, Kriens, and Basel you will discover various gay hotspots like gay saunas and homosexual bars.
Arosa Gay Ski Week is the most popular gay event ta