Recognition of same-sex unions in Albania
[13] The proposal to legalise same-sex marriage in 2009 was widely condemned by Albania's largest religious denominations, with spokespeople from the Muslim and Catholic communities calling it a "sham" and "unacceptable".[14] In January 2024, the Albanian Orthodox Church released a statement condemning same-sex marriages, stating that "the perpetuation of humanity had been based on two sexes and their union" and calling it "a clash with the natural order".[15] On 19 May 2024, a lesbian couple, Alba Ahmetaj and Edlira Mara, held a marriage ceremony on the roof of the office of Mayor Erion Veliaj in Tirana.We are determined to follow the legal path and respect the procedures and institutions of our country, challenging the discriminatory content of the Family Code, to seek the recognition of our right to marry, equally with every other couple in Albania."[17][18][19] In 2017, Kristi Pinderi, executive director of the organisation PRO LGBT, announced his intention to file a lawsuit seeking the recognition of same-sex unions.
Marriage
Civil union
Limited domestic recognition (cohabitation)
Limited foreign recognition (residency rights)
Unrecognized
Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples
¹ May include recent laws or court decisions that have not yet entered into effect.
Legal status ofsame-sex unionsMarriageAndorraArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBrazilCanadaColombiaCosta RicaDenmarkEcuadorEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceIcelandIrelandLiechtensteinLuxembourgMexicoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwayPortugalSloveniaSouth AfricaSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanThailandUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayIsraelAmerican SamoaCivil unionsBoliviaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicHungaryLatviaMonacoMontenegroSan MarinoBermudaCayman IslandsMinimal recognitionBulgariaCambodiaHong KongLithuaniaNamibiaSint MaartenPolandRomaniaSlovakiaSame-sex union legislationSame-sex union court casesTimeline of same-sex marriageRecognition of same-sex unions in AfricaRecognition of same-sex unions in AsiaRecognition of same-sex unions in EuropeRecognition of same-sex unions in the AmericasRecognition of same-sex unions in OceaniaMarriage privatizationDivorce of same-sex couplesDomestic partnershipMilitary policyAdoptionLGBTQ rights by country or territoryCaribbean NetherlandsAruba and CuraçaoNiue, Tokelau, or the Cook IslandsBritish Overseas Territoriessome tribal nationsComan v. RomaniaEuropean Court of JusticeEU citizensguru–shishyanata prathamaitri kararpartnership certificatesAlbaniasame-sex marriagesParliamentSali BerishaAlbanianEuropean Commission against Racism and IntoleranceParliament of AlbaniaobligedEuropean Court of Human RightsFedotova and Others v. RussiaGrand ChamberArticle 8European Convention on Human RightsCouncil of Europecommunist rulecohabitationHomosexualityConstitution of AlbaniaCouncil of Ministersdiscriminationsexual orientationsame-sex marriageIgli TotozaniPeople's AdvocateErinda BallancaLGBT rightsMuslimCatholicAlbanian Orthodox ChurchErion VeliajTiranamarriage licenseKristi PinderilawsuitXheni KarajAlbaniansLGBT rights in AlbaniaBalkan sworn virginsRecognition of same-sex unions in Europe Armenia