LGBT rights in Armenia
LGBT rights in Armenia 
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|---|---|
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| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Male legal since 2003 |
| Gender identity/expression | - |
| Military service | Gays and lesbians are not allowed to serve openly |
| Discrimination protections | No law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
No recognition of same-sex relationships |
| Adoption | Same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt |
in Europe (dark grey) – [Legend]
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Armenia are not legislated in both the legal and social spheres.
Homosexuality has been legal in Armenia since 2003. However, even though it has been decriminalized, the situation of local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens has not changed substantially. Many LGBT Armenians fear being socially outcast by their friends and families, causing them to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity private. Recently, the LGBT community in Armenia has become better connected due to social media, although a sense of fear and a desire for anonymity remains due to the nation's conservative culture.
Homosexuality remains a taboo topic in many parts of Armenian society. In a 2012 study, 55% of correspondents in Armenian stated that they would cease their relationship with a friend or relative if they were to come out as gay. Furthermore, this study found that 70% of Armenians find LGBT people to be "strange." There is, moreover, no legal protection for LGBT persons whose human rights are violated regularly. Armenia has been ranked 47th out of 49 European countries for LGBT rights, with Russia and neighboring Azerbaijan taking the 48th and 49th positions, respectively. The younger generation of Armenians still remain very unknowledgeable about many LGBT issues, likely attributed to the family culture where young people live at home until they reach the primary goal for many Armenians, heterosexual marriage.
Many LGBT claim to fear violence in their workplace or from their family, and therefore, are said to not file complaints of claimed human rights violations or of criminal offences.
Between 1920-1991 Armenia was part of the USSR.
Until 2003 the legislation of Armenia followed the corresponding Section 121 from the former Soviet Union penal code, which only specifically criminalized anal intercourse between men. Lesbian and non-penetrative gay sex between consenting adults was not explicitly mentioned in the law as being a criminal offence.
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