Are gender-affirming treatments available to legal minors (including puberty blockers and/or surgery) and if so please describe the required parental consent/legal process.
Yes. The matter is not codified in law and largely depends on case law and medical guidelines. Generally speaking, a 16-year-old minor is presumed capable of giving consent independently, and parents do not need to be notified. For minors younger than 16, parental consent is usually required, but physicians may determine that the minor has the capacity to make their own decision. Parents can challenge the medical decision in court as long as the patient is a minor. If only one parent opposes, the other may seek court approval. See question 7 for additional information on the broad insurance coverage.
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Is either being homosexual or engaging in consensual homosexual sexual acts illegal? If so, what are the penalties?
No. Homosexuality and consensual homosexual acts are legal under Swiss law.
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Is any aspect of gender identity or gender affirming treatment illegal? If so what are the penalties?
No. However, there are specific requirements for minors. See question 37.
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Are there further comments on gender identity and gender affirming treatment in Switzerland?
According to case law, gender-affirming treatments must be reimbursed by basic (and mandatory) health insurance (see Supreme Court 137 I 86). No legal text covers all areas, and concerned individuals might encounter resistance from insurers, requiring additional documentation to establish the necessary diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents or Adults according to DSM 302.85. Existing psychiatric therapy of at least six months is usually required for insurance coverage of hormonal treatments. Insurers won't cover surgery without an existing psychiatric therapy for at least one year and will usually not accept claims without prior hormonal treatment. Surgery coverage is extensive and may include genital, mammary, facial (though this is disputed), and vocal cord modifications (see Supreme Court 9C_572/2015 § 4.2).
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Can a same-sex couple marry? If so, are there any differences from opposite-sex marriages?
Yes. On September 26th, 2021, Swiss citizens widely accepted (64% in favor) the "Marriage for All" legislation, establishing gender-neutral marriage. There is no difference between same-sex and opposite-sex marriages.