Law and Morality: Evolution of LGBT Rights in Estonia, Hungary and Poland: From Communist Past to Current Reality

The rights and discrimination of LGBTI people are constantly changing in the time and space. The approach to this group of persons derives from the values and morality that prevail in the leading political parties or perception of morals of the state. All humans are equal and the first article of Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” This basic universal value seems to be forgotten in case of giving rights to LGBTI people. The most largely disrespected right is the right to enjoy family life, as many countries do not recognize the marriage between same sex couples, but this is not the only problematic issue. This chapter will explore and analyse the different legal, political approaches and impact on LGBTI rights and how they are related to morality and values of the states. Examples of European states like Estonia, Hungary, Poland will be used to illustrate the different approaches to the legal problems that LGBTI people are facing. The results reveal that the Hungarian society is more tolerant towards minorities and more satisfied with their democracy than Estonia, indicating less influence from the past communist regime. The Soviet Union had more influence on shaping the societal attitudes towards sexual minorities in Estonia and less influence in Hungary but there is still a rising concern about Poland. The implication of this research shows that the acceptance of sexual minorities in the society takes time as societies are still influenced by the communism legacy and influence. It requires legislative support and sufficient information for people to make up their own minds.

Mapping LGBTQ Spaces and Places A Changing World https://geographie-cites.cnrs.fr/en/mapping-lgbtq-spaces-and-places-a-changing-world/

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