Bulgaria: Situation of homosexuals in Bulgaria, including laws that restrict homosexual relations, relevance of article 157 of the penal code and attitude of the authorities, the police and the public regarding homosexuals
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR29673.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Situation of homosexuals in Bulgaria, including laws that restrict homosexual relations, relevance of article 157 of the penal code and attitude of the authorities, the police and the public regarding homosexuals, 1 July 1998, BGR29673.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aae160.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A representative of the Bulgaria Helsinki Committee stated in an e-Mail message sent to the Research Directorate that
Art. 157 of the Penal Code of Bulgaria does not prohibit consentual homosexual relationships. The consentual homosexual relationships were decriminalized in Bulgaria in 1968 with the introduction of the new Penal Code. Nevertheless, Art. 157 is obviously discriminatory insofar as it envisages criminal responsibility for "homosexual acts that are performed openly and in a scandalous way». If a heterosexual performs such acts he/she will be punished under the Decree to combat Petty Hooliganism as an administrative offence, not as a crime. Para. 5 of the same article envisages criminal responsibility for homosexual acts aiming at acquiring a material benefit or for instigation to such acts. There is no such provision for heterosexual relationships. The attitude of the general public and of the authorities in Bulgaria towards homosexuals is biased. There were acts of harassment by both private groups and police officers expressing such a bias.
Additional information on the situation of homosexuals in Bulgaria could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Sofia. 13 July 1998. E-Mail sent to the Research Directorate.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC, IRB databases, REFWORLD.
Gay Law News. Internet site.
International Gays and Lesbians Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), Asylum Project. Internet site.
International Lesbians and Gays Association (ILGA). Internet site.