Sweden also became the first country in the world to allow transgender people to change their legal gender post-sex reassignment surgery in 1972, whilst transvestism was declassified as an illness in 2009.

Sweden has been recognized as one of the most socially liberal European countries, with recent polls indicating that a large majority of Swedes support LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage.

[6] The proliferation of LGBTQ rights in Sweden appears to have further facilitated the inclusion of gays, lesbians and bisexuals in democratic action.

[10] In 1972, Sweden became the first country in the world to allow transgender people to legally change their sex, provided free hormone therapy, and an equal age of consent was set at 15.

As well, all provisions of a statute or any other legislation related to marriage or spouses applied to registered partnerships and partners, except as under sections 3–4.

[16][17] On 22 October 2009, the Assembly of the Church of Sweden voted in favour of giving its blessing to same-sex couples,[18] including the use of the term for marriage: äktenskap ("matrimony").

[24] The Swedish Armed Forces states that it actively works for an environment where individuals do not feel it to be necessary to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity.

[27] The law was re-evaluated in 2007, proposing removals of the requirements to be a Swedish citizen, unmarried and sterilized, and presented to the Christian Democrat Minister for Health and Social Affairs.

[40] A statement from a doctor or psychologist on the permanence of the gender identity "for the foreseeable future" and approval from the National Board of Health and Welfare will still be required.

Surgical procedures of the genitalia will be allowed for those above 18, with removal of the gonads being limited to those 23 years of age or older without an exceptional reason.

Further, those with potential comorbidities are subject to additional long-term scrutiny prior to allowance of any sort of access to medical care.

[43][44] Sweden's Karolinska Institute, administrator of the second-largest hospital system in the country, announced in March 2021 that it would discontinue providing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to children under 16.

Additionally, the Karolinska Institute changed its policy to cease providing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to teenagers 16–18, outside of approved clinical trials.

[45] On 22 February 2022, Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare said that puberty blockers should only be used in "exceptional cases" and said that their use is backed by "uncertain science".

[51][48][52][53] In 2021, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare reduced the number of clinics allowed to provide gender affirming healthcare from seven to three.

Article 12 states:[57] No act of law or other provision may imply the unfavourable treatment of anyone because they belong to a minority group by reason of ethnic origin, colour, or other similar circumstances or on account of their sexual orientation.In 2002 the Riksdag also voted to add sexual orientation as a basis for the crime of hate speech, with the law taking effect on 1 January 2003.

The HomO office was key in taking a number of initiatives of its own and submitting parliamentary proposals, such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

On 16 May 2018, the Swedish Parliament added "transgender identity and expression" to the country's hate crime legislation, effective on 1 July 2018.

[60] The Parliament also voted to add "transgender identity and expression" to the country's hate speech law, effective on 1 January 2019.

The move was condemned by the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights, which expressed fears that his views might spread to the wider Muslim community in Sweden.

In November 2011, all blood banks in Sweden were instructed to begin accepting donations by gay and bisexual men, provided they haven't had sex in a year.

[71] On July 31, 2023, the government asked the National Board of Health and Welfare to evaluate an individualised risk assessment to replace the current criteria for MSM giving blood.

Gay men from over 120 countries were asked about how they feel about society's view on homosexuality, how do they experience the way they are treated by other people and how satisfied are they with their lives.

[6] The 2023 Eurobarometer found that 94% of Swedes people thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, and 95% agreed that "there is nothing wrong in a sexual relationship between two persons of the same sex".

[77] RFSL works for LGBTQ people through political lobbying, the dissemination of information, and the organization of social and support activities.

There was disagreement within the RFSL in the 1970s, with younger activists advocating a more "radical" movement with public demonstrations, and many feeling the group had failed to address the rights of lesbians and bisexuals.

The inquiry suggested a ban on unlawful discrimination, refugee status for perecuted LGBTQ people, constitutional protections for gays and lesbians and a cohabitation law between same-sex couples.

Legislation concerning marriage, anti-discrimination and adoption have all been amended in the past decades to specifically apply to LGBTQ people and same-sex couples.

In 2009, Sweden became the seventh country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage, after the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa and Norway.

This high societal tolerance has allowed Swedish LGBTQ people to come out, establish various associations, and "enjoy the same rights and obligations as everybody else".