Serving openly in military
LGBTQ+ people are banned from serving openly in the military in 96 countries.
Serving openly in military
The issue of serving openly in the military concerns the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals to serve in the armed forces without hiding their sexual orientation or gender identity. Historically, many countries enforced policies that either banned LGBTQ+ individuals from military service or required them to conceal their identity as a condition of service. Policies can restrict individuals from serving based on their sexual orientation, their gender identity, or both. Notable examples include the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy formerly in place in the United States, which allowed gay people to serve provided they did not openly disclose their sexual orientation.
As the LGBTQ+ rights movement progresses, more countries have revised their military policies to allow LGBTQ+ individuals to serve openly. These changes often occur after extensive advocacy, shifts in public opinion, and recognition of the need for equality and respect for human rights within the armed forces.
Summary
Timeline of serving openly in military
Recent Changes
2024
2023
2022
2021
- KābulIllegalSeptember 15
- KandahārIllegalAugust 5
- United StatesLegalFebruary 26
- TexasLegalJanuary 26
- UtahLegalJanuary 26
2020
- ArgentinaLegalSeptember 4
- GabonLesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people bannedJune 29
- AlaskaLegalJanuary 25
- AlabamaLegalJanuary 25
- ArizonaLegalJanuary 25
- ArkansasLegalJanuary 25
- CaliforniaLegalJanuary 25
- ColoradoLegalJanuary 25
- ConnecticutLegalJanuary 25
- DelawareLegalJanuary 25
- FloridaLegalJanuary 25
- GeorgiaLegalJanuary 25
- HawaiiLegalJanuary 25
- IdahoLegalJanuary 25
- IllinoisLegalJanuary 25
- IndianaLegalJanuary 25
- KansasLegalJanuary 25
- KentuckyLegalJanuary 25
- LouisianaLegalJanuary 25
- MaineLegalJanuary 25
- MarylandLegalJanuary 25
- MassachusettsLegalJanuary 25
- MichiganLegalJanuary 25
- MinnesotaLegalJanuary 25
- MississippiLegalJanuary 25
- MissouriLegalJanuary 25
- MontanaLegalJanuary 25
- NebraskaLegalJanuary 25
- NevadaLegalJanuary 25
- New HampshireLegalJanuary 25
- IowaLegalJanuary 25
- New JerseyLegalJanuary 25
- New YorkLegalJanuary 25
- North CarolinaLegalJanuary 25
- North DakotaLegalJanuary 25
- OhioLegalJanuary 25
- OklahomaLegalJanuary 25
- OregonLegalJanuary 25
- PennsylvaniaLegalJanuary 25
- Rhode IslandLegalJanuary 25
- South CarolinaLegalJanuary 25
- TennesseeLegalJanuary 25
- VermontLegalJanuary 25
Serving openly in military by Country
Legal
Serving openly in military is legal in 61 regions.
- Asia (9)
- Bhutan
- Israel 1992
- Japan 1947
- Kazakhstan 2022
- Nepal 2007
- Philippines 2009
- Singapore
- Thailand 2005
- Vietnam 1992
- Europe (28)
- Albania 2008
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
- Croatia 2013
- Cyprus 2004
- Czech Republic
- Denmark 1987
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany 2000
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland 2007
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Montenegro 2017
- Netherlands 1974
- Norway 2001
- Portugal 2024
- Serbia 2008
- Slovakia 1993
- Slovenia 2007
- Spain 1977
- Sweden 2009
- Ukraine 2022
- United Kingdom 2000
- North America (8)
- Bahamas 1998
- Barbados
- Canada 1992
- Cuba 1993
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Trinidad and Tobago 1962
- United States 2021
- Africa (1)
- South Africa 1996
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Serving openly in military is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned in 38 regions.
- Europe (14)
- Bulgaria 2004
- Georgia
- Italy 1986
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Moldova
- North Macedonia
- Poland 1991
- Romania
- Russia 2003
- San Marino
- Switzerland 1992
- Vatican City
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Serving openly in military is don't ask, don't tell in 12 regions.
Illegal
Serving openly in military is illegal in 46 regions.
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Data on serving openly in military is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 40 regions.
- Asia (8)
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- China Ambiguous
- Laos Ambiguous
- North Korea Ambiguous
- Palestine N/A
- Timor-Leste Ambiguous
- Turkmenistan Ambiguous
- North America (9)
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Belize Ambiguous
- Costa Rica N/A
- Dominica N/A
- Grenada N/A
- Haiti Ambiguous
- Panama N/A
- Saint Lucia N/A
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines N/A
- Africa (9)
- Cape Verde Ambiguous
- Central African Republic Ambiguous
- Djibouti
- Eswatini N/A
- Mauritius N/A
- Namibia Ambiguous
- Niger Ambiguous
- Nigeria
- Tunisia Ambiguous
- Oceania (9)
- Federated States of Micronesia N/A
- Kiribati N/A
- Marshall Islands N/A
- Nauru N/A
- Palau N/A
- Samoa N/A
- Solomon Islands N/A
- Tuvalu N/A
- Vanuatu N/A
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica N/A
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