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LGBT discrimination

LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in 87 countries and territories.

Loading map of LGBT rights...
  • Illegal
  • No protections
  • Illegal in some contexts
  • Unknown, N/A, or ambiguous

Recent Changes

  • Jan 1 2022Became Illegal in some contexts in Nebraska
  • Oct 21 2021Became Illegal in some contexts in Namibia
  • Jul 1 2020Became Illegal in some contexts in Virginia
  • Oct 7 2019Became Illegal in some contexts in Singapore
  • Jun 13 2019Became Illegal in Piauí
  • Jun 13 2019Became Illegal in Roraima
  • Jun 13 2019Became Illegal in Santa Catarina
  • Jun 13 2019Became Illegal in Tocantins

LGBT discrimination

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Summary

87
Protected
87 regions (38%)
Protected
48
Some protections
48 regions (21%)
Some protections
93
No protections
93 regions (40%)
No protections
4
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
75%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
39 regions (75%)
Some protections
8 regions (15%)
No protections
4 regions (8%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
42%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
10 regions (42%)
Some protections
8 regions (33%)
No protections
6 regions (25%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
South America
57%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
8 regions (57%)
Some protections
2 regions (14%)
No protections
4 regions (29%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
42%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
15 regions (42%)
Some protections
8 regions (22%)
No protections
12 regions (33%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (3%)
Africa
15%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
9 regions (15%)
Some protections
12 regions (20%)
No protections
38 regions (64%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Asia
13%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
6 regions (13%)
Some protections
10 regions (22%)
No protections
29 regions (63%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)

Progress over time

Number of countries with equality for lgbt discrimination over the past 60 years.

Recent changes

LGBT discrimination by country

(and dependent territories)

Illegal

LGBT discrimination is illegal in 87 regions.

  1. Asia (6)
  2. India 2018
  3. Israel 1992
  4. Japan 2018
  5. Mongolia 2017
  6. Taiwan 2007
  7. Thailand
  8. Europe (39)
  9. Albania 2010
  10. Andorra 2005
  11. Austria 2004
  12. Belgium 2003
  13. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009
  14. Bulgaria 2003
  15. Croatia 2003
  16. Czech Republic 2009
  17. Denmark 1996
  18. Estonia 2009
  19. Faroe Islands 2006
  20. Finland 2004
  21. France 2004
  22. Georgia 2012
  23. Germany 2006
  24. Greece 2015
  25. Hungary 1998
  26. Iceland
  27. Ireland 2015
  28. Isle of Man 2019
  29. Kosovo 2013
  30. Liechtenstein 2016
  31. Lithuania 2009
  32. Luxembourg 2006
  33. Malta 2012
  34. Montenegro 2010
  35. Netherlands 1993
  36. North Macedonia 2010
  37. Norway
  38. Portugal 2004
  39. Romania 2002
  40. San Marino 2008
  41. Serbia 2009
  42. Slovakia 2013
  43. Slovenia 1995
  44. Spain 1995
  45. Switzerland 1999
  46. Turkey 2016
  47. United Kingdom 2010
  48. North America (15)
  49. Belize 2016
  50. Bermuda 2013
  51. British Virgin Islands 2007
  52. Canada 2017
  53. Cuba 2019
  54. Greenland
  55. Guadeloupe
  56. Honduras 2013
  57. Martinique
  58. Mexico 2003
  59. Montserrat 2014
  60. Nicaragua 2007
  61. Saint Lucia 2006
  62. Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2005
  63. Turks and Caicos Islands 2011
  64. Africa (9)
  65. Angola 2013
  66. Botswana 2019
  67. British Indian Ocean Territory
  68. Cape Verde 2007
  69. Mauritius
  70. Mayotte 2005
  71. Réunion 2003
  72. Saint Helena 2009
  73. South Africa 1996
  74. Oceania (10)
  75. Christmas Island 2013
  76. Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  77. Fiji 2009
  78. French Polynesia
  79. New Caledonia 2005
  80. Niue
  81. Norfolk Island
  82. Pitcairn Islands 2010
  83. Vanuatu 2013
  84. Wallis and Futuna
  85. South America (8)
  86. Bolivia 2010
  87. Brazil 2019
  88. Chile 2012
  89. Colombia 2011
  90. Ecuador 1998
  91. Falkland Islands 2008
  92. French Guiana 2004
  93. Uruguay 2003

No protections

LGBT discrimination is no protections in 93 regions.

  1. Asia (29)
  2. Afghanistan 1919
  3. Bahrain 1976
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Bhutan 2006
  6. Brunei 1951
  7. Cambodia
  8. China
  9. Iran 1979
  10. Iraq
  11. Jordan 1952
  12. Kazakhstan 1991
  13. Kuwait 1960
  14. Kyrgyzstan 1991
  15. Laos 1953
  16. Lebanon
  17. Malaysia 1826
  18. Maldives 2017
  19. Myanmar 1886
  20. Oman 1996
  21. Palestine 1992
  22. Qatar 1915
  23. Saudi Arabia 1932
  24. Sri Lanka 2014
  25. Syria 1964
  26. Tajikistan 1994
  27. Turkmenistan 1992
  28. United Arab Emirates 1971
  29. Uzbekistan 1992
  30. Yemen 1994
  31. Europe (4)
  32. Armenia 1995
  33. Azerbaijan
  34. Belarus 1991
  35. Russia 2013
  36. North America (12)
  37. Anguilla 2001
  38. Antigua and Barbuda
  39. Aruba
  40. Cayman Islands
  41. Curaçao
  42. Dominica
  43. Haiti 1987
  44. Jamaica 1962
  45. Panama 1972
  46. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  47. Sint Maarten
  48. Trinidad and Tobago 2001
  49. Africa (38)
  50. Algeria 1966
  51. Benin 1900
  52. Cameroon 1972
  53. Central African Republic 2003
  54. Chad 1958
  55. Comoros
  56. Côte d’Ivoire 2000
  57. Democratic Republic of the Congo 1960
  58. Djibouti
  59. Egypt 1971
  60. Equatorial Guinea 1968
  61. Eritrea 1957
  62. Eswatini 1907
  63. Ethiopia
  64. Gambia
  65. Ghana 1960
  66. Guinea 1988
  67. Guinea-Bissau
  68. Kenya 1930
  69. Libya 1951
  70. Mali 1960
  71. Mauritania 1991
  72. Morocco
  73. Niger
  74. Nigeria 1999
  75. Republic of the Congo
  76. Sao Tome and Principe
  77. Senegal 1966
  78. Somalia 1962
  79. South Sudan 2011
  80. Sudan 1956
  81. Tanzania 1977
  82. Togo 1980
  83. Tunisia 1957
  84. Uganda 1904
  85. Western Sahara
  86. Zambia 1931
  87. Zimbabwe 1980
  88. Oceania (6)
  89. Federated States of Micronesia
  90. Nauru 2016
  91. Papua New Guinea 2002
  92. Solomon Islands 1978
  93. Tokelau
  94. Tuvalu
  95. South America (4)
  96. Guyana 1980
  97. Paraguay 1992
  98. Peru 1993
  99. Suriname 1975

Illegal in some contexts

LGBT discrimination is illegal in some contexts in 48 regions.

  1. Asia (10)
  2. Hong Kong
  3. Indonesia 2015
  4. Macau 2008
  5. Nepal 2007
  6. Pakistan 2018
  7. Philippines 2003
  8. Singapore 2019
  9. South Korea 1948
  10. Timor-Leste 2009
  11. Vietnam 1992
  12. Europe (8)
  13. Cyprus 2013
  14. Italy 2003
  15. Latvia 2006
  16. Moldova 2013
  17. Monaco 2005
  18. Poland 2003
  19. Ukraine 2015
  20. Vatican City
  21. North America (8)
  22. Bahamas
  23. Barbados
  24. Costa Rica 2015
  25. Dominican Republic 2000
  26. El Salvador
  27. Grenada
  28. Guatemala 1997
  29. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  30. Africa (12)
  31. Burkina Faso 1991
  32. Burundi 2001
  33. Gabon 2016
  34. Lesotho 2012
  35. Liberia
  36. Madagascar
  37. Malawi
  38. Mozambique 2007
  39. Namibia 2021
  40. Rwanda
  41. Seychelles
  42. Sierra Leone
  43. Oceania (8)
  44. Australia 1986
  45. Cook Islands 2013
  46. Kiribati 2015
  47. Marshall Islands
  48. New Zealand 1994
  49. Palau
  50. Samoa 2013
  51. Tonga
  52. South America (2)
  53. Argentina 2009
  54. Venezuela 2012

No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous

Data on lgbt discrimination is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 4 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. North Korea
  3. Europe (1)
  4. Sweden
  5. North America (1)
  6. United States
  7. Antarctica (1)
  8. Antarctica

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