In May 2025, the Transgender Network Switzerland (TGNS), the Swiss Lesbian Organisation (LOS), and Pink Cross published their annual report on hate crimes against LGBTI people, based on cases documented through the LGBTI Helpline. The report recorded 309 incidents in 2024, corresponding to an average of nearly six hate crimes per week and representing a fivefold increase in reports since 2020. Reported incidents included physical assaults, verbal abuse, sexual violence, and discrimination in employment, healthcare, and public institutions. According to the report, trans people accounted for approximately half of all recorded cases.

In January, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Switzerland violated the rights of South African athlete Caster Semenya. The judgment confirmed a 2023 finding in her favor, overturning earlier international court decisions that had supported restrictions imposed by the World Athletics Association. Semenya, an Olympic gold medalist and intersex woman with naturally high testosterone levels, had been required by World Athletics to undergo medical treatment to reduce her hormone levels in order to compete in women’s events. She refused, arguing that the regulation was discriminatory and harmful, and pursued legal action. While the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Swiss courts had initially upheld the rule, the ECtHR determined that Switzerland had failed to adequately protect Semenya’s rights. The judges found that she was discriminated against and denied a fair trial.

In June, Schaffhausen became the latest Swiss canton to initiate legislation against conversion practices, joining a growing alliance of cantonal governments seeking to outlaw such practices. Neuchâtel, Vaud and Valais have already adopted bans, while Geneva, Zurich, St. Gallen, Aargau, Bern, Fribourg and Jura are in the midst of legislative processes. Advocacy groups welcomed the move but underlined that, while medical and therapeutic associations already prohibit conversion practices

among their members, many are carried out by religious organisations, “life coaches” or self-styled advisors who operate outside any formal professional framework.

In July, the canton of Zurich urged the federal government to consider banning gender reassignment surgery for minors and restricting access to puberty blockers to clinical study settings. The initiative was presented as a protective measure for adolescents still forming their gender identity but medical experts and advocacy groups criticised the proposal, describing the move as “unfounded and not based on valid data” and stressing that current practice already allows surgery under 18 only in rare, carefully assessed cases.

The Swiss LGBTIQ+ Panel — a longitudinal survey launched by researchers at Uni Zürich — began its sixth wave in 2025. The study collects data on living conditions, health, workplace experiences, and social integration of LGBTI people in Switzerland. Over 6,000 people have participated so far.

In August, a study by Swiss research and polling institute gfs-Zürich found that support for LGBTI equality and protection is broadly shared across German- and French-speaking Switzerland. Among 1,010 surveyed adults (April 2–28, 2025), 83% expressed support for LGBTI rights, with attitudes remaining consistent across gender, age, language region, education level, party affiliation, and settlement type. At the same time, 69% expressed concern about rising anti-queer attacks and discrimination, with the only exception being supporters of the SVP (57%), who reported lower concern. The study also found strong backing for legal protections: 84% supported workplace anti-discrimination legislation based on sexual orientation, and 72% favored a national ban on conversion therapies.