Compare LGBT Rights in Ireland, South Africa, & China

Equality Index ?
70 / 100
67 / 100
52 / 100
Legal Index ?
80 / 100
77 / 100
39 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
59 / 100
57 / 100
66 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1993
Legal
Since 1998
Legal
Since 1997
Same-sex marriageLegal
Since 2015
Legal
Since 2006
Other type of partnership
Since 2017
Censorship of LGBT issuesNo censorshipNo censorship
Since 1990
State-enforced
Since 2016
Right to change legal genderLegal, no restrictions
Since 2015
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
Since 2004
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 1986
Gender-affirming careLegal, but restricted for minorsLegalRestricted
Legal recognition of non-binary genderNot legally recognizedNot legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2024
No protectionsNo protections
LGBT discriminationIllegal in some contexts
Since 2015
Illegal
Since 1996
No protections
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation only
Since 1999
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 1995
No protections
LGBT housing discriminationSexual orientation only
Since 2000
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 1996
No protections
Same-sex adoptionLegal
Since 2015
Legal
Since 2010
Single only
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryLegal
Since 2007
Legal
Since 1996
Ambiguous
Blood donations by MSMsLegal
Since 2022
Legal
Since 2014
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Since 2012
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 1993
Equal
Since 2007
Equal
Since 1997
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
28% Did not mention homosexuals
71% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
7% Justifiable
80% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
Region not surveyed
71% Support
15% Against
63% Support
19% Against
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
Region not surveyed
69% Agree
23% Disagree
66% Agree
30% Disagree
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
12% Agree
60% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
Region not surveyed
54% Yes
38% No
Region not surveyed
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against sexual orientation (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
44% Rare
48% Widespread
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against transgender people (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
36% Rare
50% Widespread
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
Acceptance of same-sex relationships (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
80% Agree
14% Disagree
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
Support for transgender people changing legal gender (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
65% Yes
22% No
Region not surveyed
Region not surveyed
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(Afrobarometer, 2014–2016)
Region not surveyed
67% Tolerate
32% Not tolerate
Region not surveyed
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(Afrobarometer, 2016–2018)
Region not surveyed
70% Tolerate
28% Not tolerate
Region not surveyed
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
Region not surveyed
17% Justifiable
45% Not justifiable
4% Justifiable
68% Not justifiable
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
Region not surveyed
32% Yes
61% No
21% Yes
57% No
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
75% Good place
14% Not a good place
49% Good place
51% Not a good place
14% Good place
53% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull DetailsFull Details

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