Publication
Statement by the Equal Rights Coalition on the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Estonia
05 July 2023
Statement by the ERC Co-Chairs
“Armastus on vaba”: this means “Love is free” in Estonian.
Today, the Equal Rights Coalition applauds the decision of one of its member states, the Republic of Estonia, to recognize same-sex-marriages. This is a significant step to ensure equal rights for all.
Likewise, the Coalition welcomes Estonia’s decision to amend the Registered Partnership Act, granting all persons the same rights and obligations independent of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
We acknowledge the extensive work of activists and advocates who have not lost faith and continued to campaign for this change. However, we also recognize that the road does not end here as there is still more work to be done to ensure that all rights of all LGBTQI+ persons are respected.
Both decisions are important milestones for Estonia, but also for the Baltics and the Central and Eastern European Region.
Extending the rights to enter marriage or partnership to everyone shows true democratic statehood and is a vital step towards inclusion and equality in society.