Portugal

2025

2022

2018

The highest possible score for a country is 100, and the lowest is -15. You can expand the different sections below to understand how the score was calculated for each indicator.

Indicator scores

Anti-Discrimination Legislation Applicable to Education

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

Anti-LGBTQI Measures

The Constitution (1976, amended in 2005) prohibits discrimination, including on the ground of sexual orientation. GIGESC grounds are not mentioned. In 2018, ECRI published a report recommending the introduction of SOGIGESC grounds in all laws and policies on equality and non-discrimination.

The Law on the status of the student and school ethics (2012) prohibits discrimination on SOGI grounds. The Law on sex education (2009) lists the elimination of discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation as one of its purposes. GIGESC grounds are not mentioned.

Since the 2018 legal reform that introduced legal gender recognition on the basis of self-determination, a governmental order obliges educational facilities to promote the exercise of the right to self-determination of gender identity and take measures to prevent and combat discrimination based on SOGIGESC.

There are no laws and policies prohibiting the discussion of LGBTQI-related content in educational contexts.

Policies and Action Plans

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

No anti-bullying policy or national action plan: 0/10 | Anti-bullying policy or national action plan covering one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

Portugal has a National Strategy on Equality and Non-discrimination (2018-2030) which comprises a National Action Plan on SOGIGESC (2022-2025), including specific measures on education.

The National Strategy for Strategy for Children’s Rights for the period 2021-2024 was approved in 2020 and it mentions the need to guarantee the well-being and equal opportunities for vulnerable children and youth, including on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

Following the 2018 LGR law reform (see under Legal gender recognition and Legal gender recognition), a number of policies were put in place to specifically support trans and intersex students. For instance, measures envisioned include more awareness raising on GIGESC issues in education and supporting gender diverse students in their gender expression.

The Portuguese Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality supports studies, initiatives and public campaigns that support LGBTIQ persons, including combating bullying at schools.

Inclusive Compulsory Education Curricula

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

No evidence of compulsory national curricula inclusive of LGBTQI people: 0/10 | The compulsory national curricula includes representation of one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

The country has a national education curriculum in place, including sex and relationship education. The SRE curriculum includes positive representations of different sexual orientations, but lacks representation and discussion of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics. For grades 1-6, at least 6 hours of SRE are mandatory per year. For grades 7 and up, at least 12 hours.

However, the national curriculum has a human rights education component that explicitly deals with discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

NGO rede ex aequo’s 2020 study found that 86% of students thought that schools should better address LGBTQI topics.

Mandatory Teacher Training on LGBTQI Inclusion

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

No mention of SOGIGESC in the mandatory teacher training programme: 0/10 Mandatory teacher training program with mention of one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

There is currently no mandatory and comprehensive teacher training on LGBTQI awareness. Teacher training for civic education classes includes content on non-discrimination and SOGIGESC issues.

Civil society organisations ILGA Portugal and Rede Ex Aequo have produced and disseminated resources on LGBTQI issues for teachers.

School Environment and Partnerships

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

Hostile environment

Hostile school environment and no government partnership with civil society: -5/10 | There is no evidence of the government providing funding or working in partnership with civil society: 0/10 | The government provides funding and works in partnership with civil society to promote inclusive education for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

Discrimination against LGBTQI people remains common in Portugal. NGO rede ex aequo’s 2020 study found that 79% of young people had witnessed incidents of anti-LGBTQI bullying in school. ILGA Portugal’s 2019 School Climate Survey found that discrimination and violence continue to take place against LGBTQI students, and that supportive school staff makes a difference in terms of safety and inclusion. In 2022, a new study, part of the international research FREE Project - Fostering the Right to Education in Europe, highlighted the negative consequences of bias-motivated bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the well-being and mental health of LGBTQ students in Portuguese schools.

Student clubs are present in Portuguese schools and LGBTQI groups are allowed to operate on school grounds, but there is scarce evidence of their number. ILGA Portugal ran a project to promote the idea of gender and sexuality alliance (GSA) clubs, but it ended in 2019. LGBTQI student groups have been more visible in some universities.

Over the past few years, there has been public debate regarding the inclusion of LGBTQI issues in the curriculum. The discussion has also taken place in mainstream media, with speech that was at times hateful.

In 2022, a study by the University of Porto affirmed that school continues to be unsafe for many LGBTQ students, who experience disproportionate rates of bullying offline and online. Over a third of anti-LGBTQ bullying took place in classrooms and almost half of the victims thought that school interventions were ineffective. Nearly half of trans and non-binary students reported feeling unsafe using changing rooms and bathrooms and almost half said teachers refused to respect their chosen name.

The government provides funding and actively partners with NGOs in education. This includes supporting initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive educational environments and promoting the rights and well-being of LGBTQI learners.

Legal Gender Recognition

7.5

/10

Legal gender recognition without self-determination

Legal gender recognition with self-determination (over 16)

Legal gender recognition with self-determination (under 16)

No gender recognition provisions: 0/10 | There are laws and provisions, but with legal/medical/psychological approval: 5/10 | There are laws for self-determination, but only for those over 16 years of age: 7,5/10 | There are laws on gender self-determination, including those under 16 years of age: 10/10

Portugal has legal gender recognition procedures in place and since a 2018 legal reform, LGR is accessible on the basis of self-determination for those 16 and older. The 2018 law also established that trans students have the right to use their chosen name in school.

In 2023, the parliament adopted amendments to ensure the law on self-determination of gender identity is applied in the education system. Schools will now be in charge of ensuring that children and youth can use their self-assigned name in all school activities. In 2022, the National Council of Ethics for Life Sciences (CNECV) presented its opinion on the issue, encouraging the parliament to adopt a wider education, anti-discrimination and anti-bullying law, advocate for mandatory gender-neutral toilets and locker rooms, and increase training, awareness-raising, and inclusive policies. In 2023, the Portuguese government launched new guidelines to prevent discrimination against LGBTI students at school and educational settings and provide guidance on the transition of trans pupils

In 2023, the government tabled an amendment in May, which would introduce gender-neutral name options in the civil registry.

In February 2025, the Portuguese Parliament adopted a resolution withdrawing guidelines entitled “O Direitos a Ser nas Escolas” (The Right to Be in Schools), which aimed at preventing discrimination against LGBTQI students at school and educational settings and providing guidance on the transition of trans pupils. The same day, the Parliament adopted a resolution recommending that the government ensure that children and young people do not have to share toilets and changing rooms with people who identify as the opposite sex to their birth sex.

Data Collection on Bullying and Harassment

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

There is no evidence of national or regional data collection on bullying and harassment in education environments, or SO, GIGE and SC are not specifically mentioned: 0/10 | National or regional data on bullying and harassment in education environments is collected and disaggregated for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

The government does not collect data on anti-LGBTQI bullying, but civil society gathers data on discrimination and violence. In particular, ILGA Portugal has been collecting data on SOGI-based discrimination through an online LGBTQI observatory since 2013. The LGBTI youth NGO rede ex aequo and Plano i also collect data.

Support Systems for LGBTQI Young People

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

There is no evidence of support systems specifically designed for LGBTQI learners: 0/10 | Direct or indirect support systems are provided by schools or local authorities, but the providers lack training in LGBTQI-related issues: 0/10 | Direct or indirect support systems are provided by schools or local authorities for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

Since 2016, a permanent annual grant has been in place to fund support services for LGBT people who are victims of discrimination or violence. These services are provided by ILGA Portugal, Casa Qui, and Plano i.

In 2019, a shelter for young LGBTQI people who were rejected by their families opened in Lisbon.

Portuguese schools provide direct support to victims of bullying through trained service providers. The Ministry of Education provides specialised counselors to support students, but these do not receive training on SOGIGESC issues, and are few in number.

In 2021, Rede ex aequo created the first peer to peer national support group for trans youth and published a guide for trans people this year about how to access their human rights, including the right to legal gender recognition, trans specific healthcare, and education, and others.

Information and Guidelines

7.5

/10

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

Anti-LGBTQI Measures

Policies prohibiting the presence of LGBTQI-related information are in place: -5/10 | Schools are not required to adopt inclusive education guidelines: 0/10 | Information or guidelines for LGBTQI inclusion adopted by schools that mention one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10

Schools provide information regarding community events and youth clubs.

NGOs regularly publish resources, guides, and reports. For instance, It Gets Better Portugal released a new resource for teachers in 2020 called ‘Come to the Rainbow School: Guidance for Inclusive Teachers’, focusing on SRE. NGO rede has a new guide for trans youth, focusing on resources and procedures. The Center for Social Studies from Coimbra University released a handbook on how to tackle gender based violence against LGBTI+ and gender diverse children and youth.

In 2023, the Portuguese government launched new guidelines entitled “O Direitos a Ser nas Escolas” (The Right to Be in Schools), to prevent discrimination against LGBTQI students at school and educational settings and provide guidance on the transition of trans pupils.

However, in February 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved the withdrawal of these guidelines through the Resolutions 653VXI/658/XVI. The Resolutions attack the Guide on diverse grounds, including on the basis that it imposes gender ideology but also on legal grounds, including the argument that the provisions (Law 38/2018 Article 12 paras 2 and 3) under which the Guide were purportedly adopted were declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in 2021. The Resolutions also mention an apparent Presidential veto. These Resolutions are a non-legislative political tool to call the Government to take action and do not immediately result in the removal of the guide. However, the Guide is now not published on the Ministry of Education’s website but is still public on the CIG’s website.

On the same day, another resolution was adopted recommending that the government ensure that children and young people do not have to share toilets and changing rooms with people who identify as the opposite sex to their birth sex.

International Commitments

/10

Member of the European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network

Ratified the UNESCO Ministerial Call to Action

Neither Member in the EFPN or ratification of the UNESCO Call for Action: 0/10 | Member of the EFPN or ratification of the UNESCO Call for Action: 5/10 | Member of the EFPN and ratification of the UNESCO Call for Action: 10/10

Portugal has ratified eight of the nine core UN treaties, including the ICESCR and the CRC, which enshrine the right to education. Portugal is a member of the European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network (as of November 2020), and has signed the 2016 UNESCO Call for Action. During its third UPR review in 2019, Portugal received and accepted two recommendations to combat discrimination and exclusion on the basis of sexual orientation.

View the map scored by indicator

Grounds of discrimination

Here is the country's score for each ground of discrimination on which we based our observations for 8 of the 10 indicators presented above.

Sexual orientation

Gender identity and expression

Sex characteristics (intersex)

See the map scored by ground of discrimination

Country score evolution

2025

/100

2022

77.5

/100

2018

52.5

/100

To enable a meaningful comparison of country progress over time, we have retroactively aligned the scoring systems used in the 2018 and 2022 Editions of IGLYO’s LGBTQI Inclusive Education Index with the updated 2025 scoring criteria. While each edition of the research has built on the previous one, reflecting evolving standards and priorities in inclusive education, minor changes to indicators and scoring weights were introduced in 2022 and 2025 to improve clarity, consistency, and comprehensiveness.
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By recalculating the earlier scores according to the 2025 framework, we have tried to ensure comparability across all three editions and provide a more accurate picture of progress, stagnation, or regression in each country’s approach to LGBTQI-inclusive education. For this reason, you might find some scores in the PDF Report & Index 2018 and 2022 differing from those on the Education website for these two years.

Good practices

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