Is switzerland gay friendly
Switzerland’s best LGBT clubs
© thierry@mensgo.com
Find the top gay and queer woman nights out – with the ultimate guide to Switzerland’s LGBT nightlife scene
The LGBT party scene in Switzerland bids something for everyone, from relaxed, mixed-queer shindigs to sweaty danceathons. For all their alpenhorn-apotheosizing and minaret-marginalising traditionalism, the Swiss have for many decades taken a world-leading stance on gay and lesbian rights. Gay relations were decriminalised here in 1942, and on Fresh Year’s Day 2007 a referendum made Switzerland the first country on Soil where gay civil unions were voted in by the public, not just parliament – and by a monumental majority.
Today Zurich, which happens to hold a chic queer woman mayor in Corine Mauch, is very much Switzerland’s LGBT capital, as adequately as one of the world’s most gay-friendly cities, with bars, cafes, saunas and clubs adding up to dozens of gay venues. The old town’s Barfüsser is considered Europe’s oldest homosexual hostelry and the annual Zurich Lgbtq+ fest event now draws around 45,000 pink party people.
Bern, Geneva and Basel all have bijou scenes, in particular the restaura
Switzerland votes in favour of LGBT protection bill
BBC News, Bern
Voters in Switzerland have backed a proposal to make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sexual identity illegal.
The result - 63.1% in favour to 36.9% against - is a huge boost for Switzerland's LGBT community.
It had argued Swiss law on the issue lagged far behind other countries in Europe. Opponents of the recent law argued it could restrict free speech.
In Switzerland, discrimination because of race or religion is already illegal.
In the sprint up to the vote, campaigners had said they thought the result would be tight, and that a yes vote of more than 60% was unlikely.
Sunday's outcome shows public opinion is far more receptive to strengthening anti-discrimination legislation than analysts had predicted.
Pink Cross Switzerland said: "The result proves a strong autograph of acceptance for lesbians, gays and bisexuals. After the distinct yes, the LGBTI community will use this momentum to accomplish the consistent implementation of the penal code and to enforce marriage equality."
A bill to legalise same-sex marriage is currentl
LGBTQ+ rights in Switzerland
LGBTQI rights
Government & Law
From gay marriage to societal attitudes and recent laws, explore all there is to realize about LGBT+ rights in Switzerland.
By Sarah May Grunwald
Updated 26-5-2025
When it comes to LGBT+ rights and policies, Switzerland has historically lagged behind most of Western Europe. That said, since the 1940s, the land has been liberalizing civil rights for LGBT+ people, making it one of the safer countries in the world for the community.
In the past decade, there have been marked changes in the civil rights afforded to queer woman , gay, transgender, bisexual, and intersex people. In 2020, the Swiss Parliament overwhelmingly passed legislation on queer marriage and adoption rights.
To help you understand the landscape of LGBT+ rights in Switzerland, this article provides the following information:
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Switzerland Gay Guide
The Best Hotels in Switzerland for Lgbtq+ Travellers
There are not any gay-only hotels or guesthouses in Switzerland, however, there are various gay events taking place in the country, like the renowned Arosa Ski Weekend, which transform the cities into huge gay hotspots. In Zurich, you will locate several gay-owned apartments whose hosts will guide you through the city's gay scene.
Here you will find many gay-friendly boutique hotels located adjacent to gay hotspots, as well as mountain resorts and hotels located close to trendy ski areas!
The Diverse Gay Scene of Switzerland!
Switzerland has a diverse same-sex attracted scene, with the most of the gay clubs and bars of the country located in Zurich. Geneva and Bern also feature an organized male lover scene with various same-sex attracted venues, while in small towns like Lucerne, Laussane, Kriens, and Basel you will locate various gay hotspots like gay saunas and gay bars.
Arosa Gay Ski Week is the most popular gay event ta