With Saturday marking the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Cyprus finds itself once again below the EU average on LGBTI rights.

In Cyprus, same-sex couples are still not allowed to marry or adopt children, and access to medically assisted reproduction remains restricted.

Cyprus has seen a decline in its ranking regarding LGBTI rights, slipping nearly one percentage point compared to last year, according to the latest “Rainbow Map” annual review by ILGA-Europe, an organisation dedicated to advocating for LGBTI rights, which has called on the island to show greater progress in protecting LGBTI rights.

Ranked 29th among EU member states, Cyprus scored 33.69 per cent – well below the EU average of 51.13 per cent, while Greece ranked 7th with 69.18 per cent and Turkey near the bottom of the European list with just 4.75 per cent.

The Cypriot ranking marks a renewed focus on Cyprus’ record on LGBTI rights, underscoring that the country still faces significant challenges in advancing legal protections and social equality for the queer community. Public attitudes remain deeply divided and often hostile.

An opinion poll cited in the ILGA review reveals significant levels of opposition against same-sex marriage, with 42.9 per cent of respondents expressing firm disapproval and 60.2 per cent opposed to same-sex adoption.

Only 16.3 per cent of Cypriots expressed strong support for adoption rights.

Meanwhile, concerns over bias-motivated violence continue to grow with LGBTI organisations reporting a spike in hate incidents and warning of a lack of effective institutional response.

In January, the Archbishop echoed the Church of Greece’s opposition to same-sex marriage and parenting, reinforcing the influence of religious institutions in public discourse.

In February, a kindergarten withdrew a children’s book featuring same-sex parents after complaints from parents.

Earlier this month, a minor was physically assaulted in a homophobic attack in Nicosia, prompting renewed calls for action. Just days earlier, Accept – LGBTI Cyprus condemned the appearance of LGBT placards on an Easter bonfire, stressing it resembled a dangerous act of incitement and a clear message of hate.