LGBT rights in San Marino

In September 2004 article 274 in the Penal Code was repealed by Law No. 121 of 23 September 2004. [http://www.consigliograndeegenerale.sm/new/proposte_di_legge/vis_lavori.php3?twidth=580&idproposta=6618&colonnakey=idlegge&tabella=leggi&colonna=testolegge&testo=] Under this article homosexual contacts could be punished with imprisonment from 3 months up to one year, if they have been engaged in "habitually" and thereby caused "public scandal".

The total ban on homosexuality was abolished in San Marino in 1864. In 1974, however, the San Marinese Parliament adopted a new penal code that came into force in 1975 and contained article 274. The actual text (in Italian) is as follows :

"Atti di libidine con persone del medesimo sesso.

Chiunque abitualmente commette atti di libidine con persone del medesimo sesso, punito, se dal fatto deriva pubblico scandalo, con la prigionia di primo grado e con l'interdizione di secondo grado dai diritti politici e dai pubblici uffici.". [http://www.france.qrd.org/assocs/ilga/euroletter/52.html]

In very rough English, it would be approximately:

"Actions of lust with persons of the same sex.

Whoever usually it commits fit of lust with persons of the same sex, punished, if from the made drift public scandal, with the imprisonment of first degree and with the degree second of prohibition from the political rights and from the public offices.". [http://www.freetranslation.com/]

There are no reports that article 274 was ever applied. [http://www.france.qrd.org/assocs/ilga/euroletter/52.html]

It was the only special provision on homosexuality in the San Marinese penal code.