Although Austria has traditionally been a fairly socially conservative part of the world, it could now be described as one of the best countries for LGBTQ people.

Let’s take a look at the key questions.

Is it legal to be gay in Austria?Yes. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Austria since 1971.

The country has not addressed historical convictions for men prosecuted before 1971.

The age of consent was equalised by a court decision in 2002. The age of consent is now 14 years old for both homosexual and heterosexual sexual activity.

Is there Marriage Equality in Austria?Yes. Registered partnerships were introduced in 2010, and same-sex marriage became possible from 2019 following a ruling by the Austrian Constitutional Court.

Are there anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in Austria?Yes – anti-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation have been in place since 2004.

There are additional protections against hate-crimes or hate-speech.

What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Austria?Austria has a large, well-organised and visible LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ play leading roles in politics, entertainment, and public life.

Large LGBTQ Pride events are held each year in cities across Austria.