Kosovo Considers Legalizing Same-Sex Unions

Facts

• Kosovo may soon become the first Muslim-majority country to legalize same-sex marriages.¹
• Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that Kosovo will strive to become the second country in the Western Balkans to guarantee its citizens 'the right to a same-sex life partnership.'²
• According to Kosovo's constitution, marriage is a universal right, but laws must be passed to regulate the unions.³
• In 2022, Kosovo's parliament rejected a bill that would allow same-sex civil unions, despite Kurti urging the lawmaker to pass the legislation because 'rights belong to us, they belong to everyone.'⁴
• Though support for legalizing same-sex unions is on the rise, it remains largely unpopular, with a 2023 survey claiming only 20% of Kosovars support legalizing same-sex marriages.⁵

Sources: ¹US News & World Report, ²IntelliNews, ³Reuters, ⁴Euronews and ⁵www.euractiv.com.

Narratives

• Conservative narrative, as provided by www.euractiv.com. Though it may be a progressive step, it's unlikely that same-sex unions will be legalized in Kosovo any time soon. A similar proposal in 2022 failed, and public support for the cause is still meager.
• Progressive narrative, as provided by AOL. Kosovo should legalize same-sex unions and do more to protect its LGBTQ+ population, which is treated as second-class citizens and faces increased discrimination. The law needs to change, and so do societal opinions and behaviors.

Predictions