Compare LGBT Rights in Canada, Japan, & Switzerland

Equality Index ?
78 / 100
53 / 100
70 / 100
Legal Index ?
96 / 100
57 / 100
76 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
61 / 100
50 / 100
64 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1969
Legal
Since 1881
Legal
Since 1991
Same-sex marriageLegal
Since 2005
Unregistered cohabitation
Since 2024
Legal
Since 2022
Censorship of LGBT issuesNo censorshipNo censorshipNo censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, no restrictions
Since 2017
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 2022
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2022
Gender-affirming careVaries by Region
Since 2025
Legal, but restricted for minors
Since 1997
Legal
Legal recognition of non-binary genderRecognized
Since 2019
Not legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2017
No protectionsProtected in some contexts
Since 2020
LGBT discriminationIllegal
Since 2017
Illegal in some contexts
Since 2018
Illegal in some contexts
Since 2020
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2017
Varies by RegionGender identity only
Since 2019
LGBT housing discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2015
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2003
Gender identity only
Since 2019
Same-sex adoptionLegal
Since 2011
AmbiguousLegal
Since 2022
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryLegal
Since 1992
Legal
Since 1947
Legal
Since 1992
Blood donations by MSMsLegal
Since 2022
Banned (6-month deferral)
Since 2011
Legal
Since 2023
Conversion therapyBanned
Since 2022
Not bannedVaries by Region
Since 2021
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 2019
Equal
Since 1947
Equal
Since 1992
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
90% Did not mention homosexuals
10% Mentioned homosexuals
71% Did not mention homosexuals
26% Mentioned homosexuals
93% Did not mention homosexuals
6% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
62% Justifiable
10% Not justifiable
43% Justifiable
15% Not justifiable
61% Justifiable
13% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
82% Support
8% Against
69% Support
6% Against
Region not surveyed
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
81% Agree
13% Disagree
68% Agree
20% Disagree
Region not surveyed
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
72% Agree
9% Disagree
44% Agree
10% Disagree
49% Agree
25% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
85% Yes
10% No
68% Yes
22% No
Region not surveyed
Support for same-sex marriage (North and South America)
(AmericasBarometer, 2016-2017)
76% Approve
24% Disapprove
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
Acceptance of gay people in public office (North and South America)
(AmericasBarometer, 2016-2017)
80% Approve
20% Disapprove
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
Region not surveyed
23% Justifiable
28% Not justifiable
Region not surveyed
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
80% Yes
14% No
54% Yes
36% No
Region not surveyed
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
80% Good place
12% Not a good place
28% Good place
39% Not a good place
Region not surveyed
Full DetailsFull DetailsFull Details

Full details about each issue can be found on each region's page. Data missing from the above chart? You can help! Sign up or log in to contribute information to Equaldex!

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