Serving openly in military
LGBTQ+ people are banned from serving openly in the military in 65 countries and territories.
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- Legal
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Illegal
- Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Unknown, N/A, or ambiguous
Recent Changes
- Mar 16 2023Became Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned in Venezuela
- Jan 1 2022Became Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned in Zhambyl oblysy
- Jan 1 2022Became Legal in Kazakhstan
- Sep 15 2021Became Illegal in Kābul
- Aug 5 2021Became Illegal in Kandahār
- Feb 26 2021Became Legal in United States
- Jan 26 2021Became Legal in Texas
- Jun 29 2020Became Legal in Gabon
Serving openly in military
The ability for homosexuals to serve in the military and be open about their sexuality.
Summary
Progress over time
Number of countries with equality for serving openly in military over the past 60 years.
Recent changes
- VenezuelaLesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people bannedMar 16, 2023
- Zhambyl oblysy, KazakhstanLesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people bannedJan 1, 2022
- KazakhstanLegalJan 1, 2022
- Kābul, AfghanistanIllegalSep 15, 2021
- Kandahār, AfghanistanIllegalAug 5, 2021
- United StatesLegalFeb 26, 2021
- Texas, United StatesLegalJan 26, 2021
- GabonLegalJun 29, 2020
- United StatesLesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people bannedApr 11, 2019
- LebanonDon't Ask, Don't TellMar 30, 2019
Serving openly in military by country
(and dependent territories)Legal
Serving openly in military is legal in 121 regions.
- Asia (14)
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- India 2018
- Israel 1992
- Japan 1947
- Kazakhstan 2022
- Kyrgyzstan 1991
- Macau
- Mongolia
- Nepal 2007
- Philippines 2009
- Singapore 2017
- Thailand 2005
- Vietnam 1992
- Europe (33)
- Albania 2013
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria 2004
- Croatia
- Cyprus 2004
- Czech Republic
- Denmark 1987
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany 2000
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland 2007
- Isle of Man
- Latvia
- Luxembourg
- Malta 2002
- Montenegro
- Netherlands 1974
- Norway
- Poland 1991
- Portugal 1999
- Romania
- San Marino
- Spain 1977
- Sweden 2009
- Switzerland 1992
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom 2000
- North America (26)
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba 1974
- Bahamas 1998
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada 1992
- Cayman Islands 2000
- Cuba 1993
- Curaçao 1974
- Greenland 1986
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico 2012
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sint Maarten 1974
- Trinidad and Tobago 1962
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States 2021
- Africa (23)
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana 2010
- Burkina Faso
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eswatini
- Gabon 2020
- Guinea-Bissau
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mayotte
- Mozambique
- Republic of the Congo
- Réunion
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Seychelles
- South Africa 1996
- Western Sahara
- Zimbabwe
- Oceania (12)
- Australia 1992
- Christmas Island
- Cook Islands 1994
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand 1994
- Niue 1994
- Papua New Guinea
- Pitcairn Islands 2000
- Tokelau 1994
- Tonga
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Serving openly in military is don't ask, don't tell in 11 regions.
- North America (1)
- El Salvador
Illegal
Serving openly in military is illegal in 43 regions.
- Asia (15)
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Brunei
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq 2007
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Qatar 1915
- Saudi Arabia
- Sri Lanka
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
- Europe (1)
- Turkey
- North America (1)
- Dominican Republic
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Serving openly in military is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned in 11 regions.
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Data on serving openly in military is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 46 regions.
- Asia (11)
- Bahrain
- China
- Hong Kong
- Laos
- North Korea
- Oman
- Palestine
- South Korea
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- North America (8)
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Martinique
- Panama
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Africa (8)
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Djibouti
- Mauritius
- Niger
- Saint Helena
- Tunisia
- Oceania (12)
- Cocos
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Nauru
- Norfolk Island
- Palau
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Wallis and Futuna
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica
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