Gay-friendly

Promoting a respectful environment for LGBT people
Portal of the Church of Pilgrims, in Washington, DC, USA, with an LGBT banner

Gay-friendly or LGBT-friendly places, policies, people, or institutions are those that are open and welcoming to gay or LGBT people. They typically aim to create an environment that is supportive, respectful, and non-judgmental towards the LGBT community. The term "gay-friendly" originated in the late 20th century in North America, as a byproduct of a gradual implementation of gay rights, greater acceptance of LGBT people in society, and the recognition of LGBT people as a distinct consumer group for businesses.

Businesses

A shop in Amsterdam selling LGBTQ+ merchandise and goods

Many businesses now identify as gay-friendly, allowing for a more diversified employee and customer base. The Human Rights Campaign works to achieve equality for gays, lesbians, and other marginalized minorities, and publishes a list of companies in relation to issues concerning LGBT people. Companies that are noted for gay-friendly work environments include Dell and Coca-Cola. Companies such as R Family Vacations, Manspray, Volkswagen, Ginch Gonch, and numerous others offer niche products and services for gay customers. Others, such as LOT Polish Airlines sends the message of gay-friendliness by offering travel to major gay destinations with a rainbow flag.[1] Studies have shown that LGBT communities tend to favor gay-friendly businesses, even if the cost of a particular product or service is higher.[2]

World

The Pew Research Center conducted a survey in 2019 to measure levels of acceptance of LGBT around the globe.[3]

Country-specific percentage of people who say homosexuality should be accepted by society
Rank Country Percent
1  Sweden 94%
2  Netherlands 92%
3  Spain 89%
4  Germany 86%
4  France 86%
4  UK 86%
7  Canada 85%
8  Australia 81%
9  Argentina 76%
10  Italy 75%

Researchers at the Williams Institute at UCLA released a report in 2021 after analyzing findings from different surveys to develop their own LGBTQ Global Acceptance Index (GAI).[4]

Most gay-friendly countries
Rank Country GAI
1  Iceland 9.78
2  Netherlands 9.46
3  Norway 9.38
4  Sweden 9.18
5  Canada 9.02
6  Spain 8.77
7  Denmark 8.69
8  Ireland 8.41
9  Great Britain 8.34
10  New Zealand 8.23

The Spartacus International Gay Guide publishes the Gay Travel Index, a ranking of gay-friendly countries. Points are added to countries for anti-discrimination legislation, equal marriage, partnership and adoption laws, and LGBT marketing. Meanwhile, points are subtracted for anti-LGBT laws, HIV travel restrictions, religious influence, and prosecution, murders, and death sentences.

In 2023, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index featured a majority of Western European countries in the top 12 spots (Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom), rounded out by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Uruguay. The bottom 4 places went to Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iran and Saudi Arabia.[5]

List of countries by their Gay Travel Index (2023)[6]
Rank Country Total Anti-Discrimination Legislation Marriage/Civil Partnership Adoption Allowed Transgender Rights Intersex/3rd Option Equal Age of Consent "Conversion Therapy" LGBT Marketing Religious Influence HIV Travel Restrictions Anti-Gay Laws Homosexuality Illegal Pride Banned Locals Hostile Prosecution Murders Death Sentences
1  Malta 13 2 2 2 3 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0
2  Canada[note 1] 12 3 2 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2   Switzerland 12 3 2 2 3 −1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Australia 11 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 2 0 –1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
4  Denmark 11 2 2 2 3 1 0 –1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
4  New Zealand 11 2 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
4  Portugal 11 3 2 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Uruguay 11 2 2 2 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0
9  Germany[note 2] 10 2 2 2 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
9  Iceland 10 2 2 2 3 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
9  Spain 10 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9  United Kingdom[note 3] 10 3 2 2 2 −1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
13  Argentina 9 1 2 2 3 1 0 1 1 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0
13  Austria 9 2 2 2 2 1 0 –1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13  Colombia 9 2 2 2 3 1 0 −1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0
13  Taiwan 9 3 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17  Belgium 8 2 2 2 3 –1 0 –1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17  France 8 2 2 2 2 −1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17  Greenland 8 1 2 2 3 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17  Ireland[note 4] 8 2 2 2 3 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
17  Norway 8 2 2 2 3 –1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
17  Réunion 8 2 2 2 2 −1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17  Sweden 8 3 2 2 1 −1 0 –1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
24  Andorra 7 3 2 2 3 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0
24  French Polynesia 7 2 2 2 2 −1 0 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24  Luxembourg 7 2 2 3 2 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24  Netherlands 7 2 2 2 2 0 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24  New Caledonia 7 2 2 2 2 −1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
29  Chile 6 2 2 2 3 1 –1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0
29  Cuba 6 3 2 2 2 −1 0 −1 0 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29  Finland 6 3 2 2 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29  Guadeloupe 6 2 2 2 2 –1 0 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0
29  Israel[note 5] 6 2 1 1 2 −1 0 1 1 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29  Martinique 6 2 2 2 2 −1 0 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
35  Brazil 5 2 2 2 3 –1 0 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 –1 0 –2 0
35  Costa Rica 5 2 2 2 3 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0
35  Greece 5 2 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0
35  Mexico 5 3 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 –2 0
35  Puerto Rico 5 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 1 –1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 −2 0
35  Slovenia 5 3 2 2 1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
35  South Africa 5 3 2 2 1 −1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0
35  United States 5 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0
43  Ecuador 4 3 2 0 2 −1 0 1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 –1 0
43  India[note 6] 4 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0 1 −1 0 0 0
45  Gibraltar 3 2 2 2 –1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45  Guam 3 1 2 2 1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
47  Estonia 2 2 0 1 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
48  Croatia 1 2 1 2 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
48  Czechia 1 2 1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
48  San Marino 1 3 1 1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
51  Bermuda 0 1 2 2 −1 −1 −1 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
51  Italy 0 1 1 0 1 −1 0 −1 1 –1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
51  Liechtenstein 0 1 1 1 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
51  Thailand 0 2 0 0 –1 −1 0 −1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
51  US Virgin Islands[note 7] 0 1 2 2 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 -1 0
56  Bhutan -1 0 −1 0 1 0 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
56  Bosnia and Herzegovina[note 8] -1 2 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0
56  Latvia -1 1 1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
56  Montenegro -1 2 1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 −1 0 0 –1 0 0 0
56    Nepal -1 3 −1 0 0 1 0 −1 0 –1 0 –1 0 0 –1 0 0 0
56  Vietnam -1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
62  Albania -2 2 –1 0 –1 −1 0 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
62  Aruba -2 1 1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 –1 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
62  Bolivia -2 2 0 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 –1 0
62  Japan -2 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 1 0 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
62  Mozambique -2 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
62  Serbia -2 2 −1 0 2 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
62  Slovakia -2 2 0 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
62  Sint Maarten[note 9] -2 1 0 0 0 −1 0 −1 1 –1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
70  Angola -3 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
70  Antigua and Barbuda -3 1 0 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
70  Belize -3 3 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
70  Bulgaria -3 2 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  China (incl. Hong Kong) -3 0 0 –1 1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0 –1 0 0
70  Cyprus -3 1 1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  Fiji -3 3 −1 0 –1 −1 0 0 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  South Korea -3 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  Laos -3 0 −1 0 1 –1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  Lithuania -3 2 −1 –1 2 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  Monaco -3 0 1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
70  North Macedonia -3 2 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  Romania -3 2 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
70  Singapore -3 1 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 –1 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
84  Barbados -4 1 0 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0
84  Botswana[note 10] -4 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
84  Cabo Verde -4 1 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
84  Curaçao -4 1 0 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 –1 0 0 –1 0 0 0
84  El Salvador -4 2 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 –1 0
84  Hungary -4 2 1 –1 –1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 –1 0 0 −1 –1 0 0
84  Kosovo -4 3 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0
84  Macao -4 1 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
84  Mongolia -4 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
84  Panama -4 0 –1 –1 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
84  Samoa -4 1 –1 0 0 0 0 1 0 −2 0 –1 –1 0 −1 0 0 0
84  Ukraine -4 1 −1 0 2 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 −2 0 0 0
96  Benin -5 0 −1 0 0 −1 –1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
96  British Virgin Islands -5 3 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
96  Cambodia -5 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
96  Georgia -5 2 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 –2 0 –1 0 0 –1 0 –1 0
96  Kazakhstan -5 0 −1 –1 1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –2 0 0 0
96  Lesotho -5 0 −1 –1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0
96  Mali -5 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0 0 0
96  Niger -5 0 −1 0 –1 −1 –1 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
96  Pakistan -5 1 −1 0 2 1 1 −1 0 –2 0 −1 −1 0 –1 –1 –1 –1
96  Peru[note 11] -5 1 −1 0 2 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 −2 0
96  Seychelles[note 12] -5 1 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
96  Suriname -5 1 −1 0 0 −1 –1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
108  Armenia[note 13] -6 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
108  Gabon -6 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −2 0 0 0
108  Guinea-Bissau -6 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
108  Kyrgyzstan -6 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 −1 0 0 −2 0 0 0
108  Moldova -6 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0 –1 –1 0 0 0
108  Philippines[note 14] -6 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 0 –1 0
108  Sri Lanka[note 15] -6 1 −1 −1 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 –1 0 −1 0 0 0
108  Vanuatu -6 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0
116  Honduras[note 16] -7 2 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −2 0 –1 0
116  Jordan -7 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 0 0 0 −2 −1 0 0
116  Mauritius[note 17] -7 1 −1 0 –1 –1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0 −1 0 0
116  Namibia -7 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0 0 0 0
116  Trinidad and Tobago -7 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −1 0 –1 0
121  Bangladesh -8 0 −1 0 1 1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 –1 0 −2 –1 –1 0
121  Burkina Faso -8 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 0 0 −2 0 0 0
121  Cook Islands -8 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 –1 –1 0 −1 0 0 0
121  Equatorial Guinea -8 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 0 0 0 −2 0 0 0
121  Lebanon[note 18] -8 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 –1 –1 −1 −1 0 0
121  Myanmar -8 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 –1 0 −1 −1 0 0
121  Nicaragua -8 1 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −2 0 −1 0
121  Paraguay -8 0 −1 0 −1 −1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0
121  Tajikistan -8 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 0 0 −2 –1 0 0
121  Turkey[note 19] -8 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 –1 –2 –1 –1 0
121  Vatican City[note 20] -8 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 0 0
121  Venezuela -8 1 −1 0 0 –1 0 −1 0 −1 –1 0 0 0 −2 0 −2 0
133  Bahrain[note 21] -9 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0 0 −2 −1 0 0
133  Burundi -9 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 –1 0 −1 –1 0 0
133  Grenada -9 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 –1 0 −1 −1 0 0
133  Guatemala -9 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −2 0 –2 0
133  Madagascar -9 0 −1 0 0 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 −2 0 –2 0
133  Poland -9 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –2 0 –1 −2 −1 0 0
133  Rwanda -9 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 –1 0 0 −2 0 0 0
133  Tonga -9 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 –1 0 –1 0 0 0
141  Algeria -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −1 –1 0 0
141  Azerbaijan -10 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 −1 –2 0 0
141  Bahamas -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 –1 0 −1 0 0 −2 0 −1 0
141  Belarus -10 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 −2 −2 0 0
141  Central African Republic -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 –1 –1 0 −2 0 0 0
141  Democratic Republic of Congo -10 0 −1 0 –1 –1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 0 0 −2 −1 0 0
141  Djibouti[note 22] -10 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 0 0 0 −2 –1 0 0
141  Guyana -10 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 –1 0
141  Haiti -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 0 0 −2 0 −1 0
141  Kenya -10 0 −1 –1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 –1 0 −2 –1 0 0
141  North Korea -10 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 –1 −1 0 −2 0 –1 0 0 −1 0 0 0
141  Oman -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0
141  Papua New Guinea -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 –1 0 −2 0 0 0
141  Republic of the Congo -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −2 0 –1 0 0 −2 0 0 0
141  Sierra Leone -10 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −2 0 0 0
141  Togo -10 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
141  Tunisia -10 0 −1 −1 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 –1 0 −1 0 –1 0
141  Zambia -10 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
159  Brunei -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 0 –1
159  Chad -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
159  Comoros -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
159  Dominica -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 0 0
159  Dominican Republic -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 0 0 −1 0 –2 0
159  Eswatini -11 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 0 –2 0
159  Gambia -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 0 0
159  Ghana[note 23] -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 0 0
159  Indonesia -11 0 −1 –1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
159  Ivory Coast -11 0 −1 –1 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −2 0 −1 0 0 −2 0 0 0
159  Liberia -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 0 0
159  Maldives -11 0 −1 0 −1 –1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 –1 0 −2 –1 0 0
159  Senegal -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 –1 –1 0 −2 −1 0 0
159  Solomon Islands -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 0 −2 0 0 0
159  Sudan -11 0 −1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 0 0
159  Syria -11 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 –1 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 −1 –1
159  Turkmenistan -11 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 −1 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
159  Uzbekistan -11 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
177  Aceh (Indonesia) -12 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 –1
177  Eritrea -12 0 −1 0 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 –1 0 −2 −1 −1 0
177  Ethiopia -12 0 −1 −1 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 –1 0 0
177  Iraq[note 24] -12 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 0 0 −2 −1 –1 0
177  Jamaica -12 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 –2 0
177  Mauritania -12 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 0 −1
177  Morocco -12 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −2 –1 0
177  Russia -12 0 −1 0 1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 −1 −1 0 –1 −2 –1 –2 0
177  Tanzania -12 0 −1 0 0 −1 −1 −1 0 −2 0 –1 −1 0 −2 −2 0 0
177  Uganda -12 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 –1 −2 −1 0 0
177  Zimbabwe -12 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 –2 0
188  Cameroon -13 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 −2 0
188  Malawi -13 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 –2 0
188  Malaysia -13 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 –1 −1 −1 −1 0
191  Egypt -14 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −2 −1 0
191  Kuwait -14 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 0 −2 −2 0 0
191  Libya -14 0 −1 0 −1 –1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 –1 0 −2 –1 −2 −1
191  Nigeria[note 25] -14 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −2 0 –3
191  Qatar -14 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 0 −1
191  United Arab Emirates -14 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 −1 −1
197  Yemen -17 0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 −1 −1 −1 0 −2 −2 −2 −1
198  Somalia[note 26] -18 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 −2 −5
199  Afghanistan -19 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −2 –2 −5
199  Chechnya (Russia) -19 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0 0 −2 0 −1 −1 −1 −2 −2 −2 −5
199  Iran -19 0 −1 −1 0 −1 0 −1 0 −2 0 −1 −1 0 −2 −2 −2 −5
199  Saudi Arabia -19 0 −1 −1 –1 −1 0 −1 0 −2 –1 −1 −1 0 −2 −1 −1 −5

Not Included in Data

United States

Spartacus also publishes a Gay Travel Index for US states, listing the 50 states plus the District of Columbia with the same criteria as the country rankings. In 2023, the top spot was shared by four states - California, Colorado, New York and Washington, while the bottom eight states were mainly from the Southeast and the Mountain states with Oklahoma being the overall worst-ranked state for LGBT people.[5]

List of U.S. states by their Gay Travel Index (2023)[6]
Rank State Total Anti-Discrimination Legislation Transgender Rights Intersex/3rd Option Hate Crime Law Censorship "Conversion Therapy" LGBT Marketing Queer Infrastructure Gay and Trans Panic Defence Locals Hostile
1  California 11 2 2 1 2 0 1 1 2 0 0
1  Colorado 11 2 3 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0
1  New York 11 2 3 1 2 0 1 1 2 0 –1
1  Washington 11 2 3 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0
5  Illinois 10 2 2 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0
5  Massachusetts 10 2 3 1 2 0 1 1 1 −1 0
5  Nevada 10 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 2 0 0
5  New Mexico 10 2 3 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0
5  Oregon 10 2 3 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0
5  District of Columbia 10 2 2 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0
11  Connecticut 9 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0
11  Hawaii 9 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0
11  New Jersey 9 2 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
11  Virginia 9 2 2 1 2 −1 1 1 1 0 0
15  Maine 8 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
15  Maryland 8 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
15  Rhode Island 8 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
15  Vermont 8 2 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 −1 0
19  Minnesota 7 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 −1 0
20  New Hampshire 6 2 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 −1 0
21  Delaware 5 2 2 −1 2 0 1 0 0 −1 0
21  Utah 5 2 −1 1 2 0 1 0 1 −1 0
23  Pennsylvania 4 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 –1 −1
24  Ohio 3 2 2 1 0 0 −1 0 1 –1 −1
25  Georgia 2 2 1 −1 1 0 −1 1 1 −1 −1
25  Idaho 2 1 2 1 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
25  Indiana 2 1 1 1 1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
25  Iowa 2 2 2 −1 1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
25  Michigan 2 2 2 −1 0 0 0 1 0 –1 −1
25  Wisconsin 2 2 1 −1 1 0 0 0 0 −1 0
31  Kansas 1 2 1 −1 1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
32  Alaska 0 1 2 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
32  Arizona 0 1 0 −1 1 0 −1 0 1 −1 0
32  Arkansas 0 1 0 1 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
32  Florida[note 27] 0 1 −1 0 1 −1 −1 2 1 –1 −1
32  Kentucky 0 1 1 −1 1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
32  Louisiana 0 1 0 –1 1 −1 −1 1 1 −1 0
32  Missouri 0 1 1 −1 2 0 −1 0 0 –1 −1
39  Nebraska -1 1 1 −1 1 0 −1 0 0 −1 −1
39  North Carolina -1 1 2 −1 0 −1 0 0 0 −1 −1
39  North Dakota -1 1 0 −1 0 0 0 0 0 −1 0
39  South Carolina -1 1 2 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 –1 −1
39  South Dakota -1 1 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 0
44  Mississippi -2 1 1 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0 −1 0
44  Wyoming -2 1 1 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0 −1 0
46  Alabama -3 1 0 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0 −1 0
46  Montana -3 1 0 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 −1
46  Texas -3 1 0 −1 1 −1 −1 0 1 −1 −2
46  West Virginia -3 1 1 −1 0 0 −1 0 0 −1 −2
50  Tennessee -4 1 –1 −1 0 0 −1 0 1 −1 −2
51  Oklahoma -5 1 −1 −1 0 −1 −1 0 0 −1 −1

Notes

  1. ^ In Canada the adoption laws vary per province. Same-sex-adoption is however possible countrywide.
  2. ^ In Germany, due to federal government system, there are varying regulations regarding arrival/residence HIV. For example, in Bavaria someone who is HIV-positive can be denied entry. The Federal Constitutional Court has stipulated in several renditions of judgment that the politicians implement the same rights for gay men and lesbians which apply to heterosexuals.
  3. ^ In Northern Ireland the legal situation for same-sex adoption is unclear.
  4. ^ The Employment Equality Act allows religious-run workplaces exemption from its anti-discrimination provisions to protect their ethos.
  5. ^ In Israel a civil marriage for both homosexual and heterosexual couples is not possible as marriage can only be performed by a Rabbi. This problem does not only apply to gays and lesbians but also heterosexuals belonging to different religious affiliations. There are limited anti-discrimination laws (exception: certain religious groups).
  6. ^ In December 2013, the Supreme Court set aside a 2009 verdict by the Delhi High Court that had decriminalized homosexuality. This decision was once again overturned in September 2018.
  7. ^ The United States Virgin Islands have the same legal status as Puerto Rico regarding the USA. There is also a ban on hate crimes. After the Supreme Court decided in favor of same-sex marriage in the US, there are plans to implement same-sex marriage in Puerto Rico as well.
  8. ^ Bosnia and Herzegovina passed an unclear anti-discrimination law in 2009 in which a ban on discrimination against "sexual expression" is mentioned. There is a reference that "sexual identity" is not meant in this case. It is obvious that an attempt to adhere to the minimum requirements from the EU has been made, to be accepted into the EU.
  9. ^ As an overseas territory of the Netherlands Sint Maarten recognizes same-sex marriages which are performed in the Netherlands. In St. Maarten itself gay marriage is still not possible, but changes can soon follow. There are no adoption laws.
  10. ^ In Botswana homosexuality is practically illegally on the basis of the ban on "unnatural act", but in the labor law there is still an explicit prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.
  11. ^ Consensual homosexual acts in Peru between adults are legal. An exception applies for members of the military and police, who can be prosecuted with a prison sentence ranging from 60 days to 20 years or suspension from duty.
  12. ^ In May 2016 the Parliament of Seychelles decided to make homosexuality legal.
  13. ^ Armenia has received many reports of illegal violence from police against homosexuals.
  14. ^ There are regional differences in the laws relating to homosexuals. In addition, the local religion is just as crucial, whether a law is implemented or not.
  15. ^ At the request of the UNHCR Sri Lanka has announced that discrimination of homosexuals is constitutionally forbidden. It was further stressed that the anti-sodomy law is not aimed against homosexuals, but applies for all to protect public morals.
  16. ^ In Honduras an anti-discrimination law has recently been passed, but in practice it is ignored.
  17. ^ In Mauritius, the sodomy law tends to find application with the heterosexual population. The Equal Opportunities Act protects homosexuals against discrimination at work. It is therefore questionable whether homosexuality is classified as illegal or not.
  18. ^ There are reports of a different judicial interpretations of the law on "sex against nature".
  19. ^ Police stopped violently the Gay Pride on 29th June, 2015. This can be considered a de facto ban on the Pride.
  20. ^ The Vatican City adheres to Italian law, but restrictions are possible if the ecclesiastical law contradicts Italian law. Therefore, there are conflicting opinions that homosexuality is not illegal or just not happily seen, but tolerated.
  21. ^ In Bahrain although the paragraph referring to sodomy was abolished in 1976 from the local legal code, gay men can still be punished with imprisonment according to the laws regarding "unmoral" behavior.
  22. ^ The Shariah-law in Djibouti is often superior to the constitutional laws, so it could be expected that homosexuality is punishable.
  23. ^ In Ghana there is a ban on unnatural sex. The government recognizes in this a clear ban on homosexuality.
  24. ^ Homosexuality in Iraq is formally legal, but police and military track down homosexuals, and reports of murder and rape exist.
  25. ^ In Nigeria the death penalty only applies for homosexuals according to the Shariah laws and therefore relates only to Muslims in the north of Nigeria.
  26. ^ Shariah laws applies in Somalia since 2012. There is however contradictory information, since, on the other hand the maximum penalty is up to 3 years in prison, nevertheless in 2013 a homosexual was stoned to death after a judgment.
  27. ^ In 2015 Florida explicitly lifted the adoption ban for homosexuals after federal judges ruled it unconstitutional in 2010.

See also

  • LGBT portal

References

  1. ^ "Wyborcza.pl". Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Gay Consumers See Themselves as Tastemakers, Prefer Gay-Friendly Companies, Says Study". EDGE Media Network. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  3. ^ Andrew R. Flores (November 2021). "The Global Divide on Homosexuality Persists (with a table of the 'LGBTI Acceptance Index' 2017-2020)". Williams Institute - UCLA School of Law. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Social Acceptance of LGBTI People in 175 Countries and Locations". November 2021.
  5. ^ a b Hoppe, Sascha (8 March 2023). "Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2023". Spartacus Gay Travel Blog. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Spartacus Gay Travel Index (GTI)". Spartacus Gay Travel Blog.

External links

Look up gay-friendly in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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