For the first time in the 13-year history of the organisation behind the Trans Rights Index & Map, the 2025 edition reveals that setbacks in trans rights now outweigh progress across Europe and Central Asia. Greece meets just 21 out of the 32 key indicators required for legal gender recognition and existing protections for trans people in asylum, hate crime/speech, non-discrimination, health, and family. Among the most pressing gaps are age restrictions on name changes, the lack of a national action plan, and the absence of legal recognition for trans and non-binary parenthood.

The organisation’s social media statement highlights that “the regression of trans rights is more than a crisis solely for trans communities – it is a broader crisis of democracy and fundamental rights across the region. As trans people fight for autonomy over their bodies and identities, Europe struggles for its identity and sovereignty.”

It also underscores the compounded forms of discrimination trans people face, particularly those marginalised further by race, class, disability, migration, HIV status, and other intersecting lived experiences, stating that their rights and fundamental freedoms stripped away at an aggressive pace.

The Trans Rights Indew & Map examines and records the legal standing of trans people in 49 European countries and 5 in Central Asia.

Where Greece stands

Though Greece is not among the most repressive countries institutionally, it still lags significantly in protecting and supporting trans individuals. The current legal framework allows for legal gender recognition, and trans people can change their name, but only under specific conditions – particularly, an age limit still applies.

That said, Greece does not require trans people to undergo:

  • Psychological evaluation or diagnosis,
  • Medical interventions or surgery,
  • Sterilisation,
  • Divorce in case of existing marriage.

Furthermore, procedures for minors to change their legal gender do exist – an important but partial step forward.

However, the country does not recognise non-binary identities. This means Greece fails to meet a fundamental criterion: the legal right to gender self-determination. There’s also no process in place for gender recognition of trans refugees, despite the fact that trans identity can be grounds for asylum.

Protection against discrimination: A mixed bag

While Greece formally prohibits discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and access to goods and services, there are serious gaps in implementation. Crucially, Greece does not currently have a national action plan specifically targeting trans equality – a foundational element for meaningful change.

The country does mandate the presence of an equality body, and gender expression is protected under anti-discrimination laws. However, without a structured plan to combat hatred, exclusion, and systemic inequality, many of these legal provisions remain underutilised or symbolic.

Health and family rights: Major gaps remain

In the health sector, Greece ticks one of two key boxes. So-called “conversion practices” – aimed at forcing individuals to change or suppress their gender identity – are prohibited. However, trans identities are not yet fully depathologised in the healthcare system. This means that being trans is still treated, in part, as a medical condition – a stance long criticised by international human rights bodies.

Family rights are another area where Greece falls short. There is no legal recognition of trans or non-binary people as parents. This leaves many families in legal limbo and contributes to the systemic erasure of trans people in family law.

Wider European context

According to the report, only 33 countries currently ban discrimination in employment based on gender identity – down from 35 in 2024. A similar decline is seen in healthcare, where just 26 countries now offer legal protection, compared to 28 last year.

Key figures at a glance:

  • 29 countries protect trans people from discrimination in education (down from 31 in 2024).
  • 28 countries ban discrimination in access to goods and services (2024: 30).
  • 24 countries offer protection in housing (2024: 25).
  • 30 countries mandate the presence of an equality body (2024: 31).
  • 10 countries currently have a national action plan for trans equality – a figure unchanged from last year.
  • 17 countries explicitly protect against discrimination based on gender expression.

Meanwhile, only Iceland and Malta have fully depathologised trans identities. Just 10 countries explicitly ban so-called “conversion practices” aimed at altering or suppressing someone’s gender identity.

12 countries still require sterilisation for gender recognition, and only 19 have laws against hate speech targeting trans individuals.

Greece is not among the worst performers, but the absence of progressive reforms means it continues to fall behind more inclusive countries.

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