Explore the progress of
LGBTQ+
Lesbian,
Gay,
Bisexual,
Transgender,
Questioning,
Intersex...
rights across the world.
  • Equality Index
  • Homosexuality
  • Gay Marriage
  • Censorship
  • Changing Gender
  • Gender-Affirming CareJust Added
  • Non-Binary Gender Recognition
  • Discrimination
  • Employment Discrimination
  • Housing Discrimination
  • Adoption
  • Intersex Infant SurgeryJust Added
  • Military
  • Donating Blood
  • Conversion Therapy
  • Age of Consent
Equality Index ?
0 (Less Equal)
100 (More Equal)

Today in LGBTQ+ History

Upcoming LGBTQ+ Law Changes

Recent LGBTQ+ Laws Changed

LGBTQ+ Rights by Country

Select an issue to view a further breakdown.

Homosexual activity

130
Legal
60
Illegal
Legal
130 regions (66%)
Illegal
60 regions (31%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (3%)
Legal
49 regions (98%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Legal
8 regions (57%)
Illegal
6 regions (43%)
Oceania
Legal
11 regions (92%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
19 regions (83%)
Illegal
4 regions (17%)
North America
Legal
22 regions (42%)
Illegal
30 regions (57%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Africa
Legal
21 regions (48%)
Illegal
19 regions (43%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (9%)
Asia

Same-sex marriage

36
Legal
77
Somewhere in between
81
Illegal
Legal
36 regions (18%)
Somewhere in between
77 regions (39%)
Illegal
81 regions (41%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (1%)
Legal
21 regions (42%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (36%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Europe
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
7 regions (50%)
Illegal
5 regions (36%)
Oceania
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
3 regions (25%)
Illegal
3 regions (25%)
South America
Legal
5 regions (22%)
Somewhere in between
13 regions (57%)
Illegal
5 regions (22%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
19 regions (36%)
Illegal
33 regions (62%)
Africa
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (39%)
Illegal
24 regions (55%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (5%)
Asia

Censorship of LGBT Issues

136
No censorship
52
Censorship exists
No censorship
136 regions (69%)
Censorship exists
52 regions (27%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
8 regions (4%)
No censorship
42 regions (84%)
Censorship exists
6 regions (12%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Europe
No censorship
14 regions (100%)
Oceania
No censorship
11 regions (92%)
Censorship exists
1 regions (8%)
South America
No censorship
21 regions (91%)
Censorship exists
1 regions (4%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
No censorship
32 regions (60%)
Censorship exists
18 regions (34%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (6%)
Africa
No censorship
16 regions (36%)
Censorship exists
26 regions (59%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (5%)
Asia

Right to change legal gender

34
Legal
55
Somewhere in between
97
Illegal
Legal
34 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
55 regions (28%)
Illegal
97 regions (49%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
10 regions (5%)
Legal
17 regions (34%)
Somewhere in between
26 regions (52%)
Illegal
7 regions (14%)
Europe
Legal
1 regions (7%)
Illegal
11 regions (79%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (14%)
Oceania
Legal
7 regions (58%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Illegal
4 regions (33%)
South America
Legal
3 regions (13%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (9%)
Illegal
17 regions (74%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
Legal
2 regions (4%)
Somewhere in between
6 regions (11%)
Illegal
41 regions (77%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (8%)
Africa
Legal
4 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
20 regions (45%)
Illegal
17 regions (39%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (7%)
Asia

Gender-Affirming Care

58
Legal
8
Somewhere in between
3
Banned
Legal
58 regions (30%)
Somewhere in between
8 regions (4%)
Banned
3 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
127 regions (65%)
Legal
27 regions (54%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (4%)
Banned
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
20 regions (40%)
Europe
Legal
2 regions (14%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
12 regions (86%)
Oceania
Legal
6 regions (50%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (50%)
South America
Legal
12 regions (52%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
11 regions (48%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
3 regions (6%)
Banned
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
48 regions (91%)
Africa
Legal
10 regions (23%)
Somewhere in between
3 regions (7%)
Banned
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
30 regions (68%)
Asia

Legal recognition of non-binary gender

16
Recognized
4
Some recognition
174
Not recognized
Recognized
16 regions (8%)
Some recognition
4 regions (2%)
Not recognized
174 regions (89%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (1%)
Recognized
4 regions (8%)
Some recognition
2 regions (4%)
Not recognized
43 regions (86%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Recognized
2 regions (14%)
Not recognized
12 regions (86%)
Oceania
Recognized
3 regions (25%)
Some recognition
1 regions (8%)
Not recognized
8 regions (67%)
South America
Recognized
3 regions (13%)
Not recognized
19 regions (83%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
Some recognition
1 regions (2%)
Not recognized
52 regions (98%)
Africa
Recognized
4 regions (9%)
Not recognized
40 regions (91%)
Asia

LGBT discrimination

55
Protected
60
Some protections
80
No protections
Protected
55 regions (28%)
Some protections
60 regions (31%)
No protections
80 regions (41%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (1%)
Protected
30 regions (60%)
Some protections
14 regions (28%)
No protections
5 regions (10%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Protected
4 regions (29%)
Some protections
6 regions (43%)
No protections
4 regions (29%)
Oceania
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
4 regions (33%)
No protections
1 regions (8%)
South America
Protected
6 regions (26%)
Some protections
13 regions (57%)
No protections
4 regions (17%)
North America
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
14 regions (26%)
No protections
36 regions (68%)
Africa
Protected
5 regions (11%)
Some protections
9 regions (20%)
No protections
30 regions (68%)
Asia

LGBT employment discrimination

62
Protected
29
Some protections
92
No protections
Protected
62 regions (32%)
Some protections
29 regions (15%)
No protections
92 regions (47%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
13 regions (7%)
Protected
36 regions (72%)
Some protections
5 regions (10%)
No protections
8 regions (16%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Protected
6 regions (43%)
Some protections
3 regions (21%)
No protections
5 regions (36%)
Oceania
Protected
6 regions (50%)
Some protections
4 regions (33%)
No protections
2 regions (17%)
South America
Protected
7 regions (30%)
Some protections
6 regions (26%)
No protections
7 regions (30%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (13%)
North America
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
7 regions (13%)
No protections
40 regions (75%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (6%)
Africa
Protected
4 regions (9%)
Some protections
4 regions (9%)
No protections
30 regions (68%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (14%)
Asia

LGBT housing discrimination

54
Protected
15
Some protections
109
No protections
Protected
54 regions (28%)
Some protections
15 regions (8%)
No protections
109 regions (56%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
18 regions (9%)
Protected
32 regions (64%)
Some protections
4 regions (8%)
No protections
12 regions (24%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Europe
Protected
4 regions (29%)
Some protections
1 regions (7%)
No protections
7 regions (50%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (14%)
Oceania
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
1 regions (8%)
No protections
3 regions (25%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (8%)
South America
Protected
5 regions (22%)
Some protections
2 regions (9%)
No protections
15 regions (65%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
Protected
2 regions (4%)
Some protections
3 regions (6%)
No protections
42 regions (79%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (11%)
Africa
Protected
4 regions (9%)
Some protections
4 regions (9%)
No protections
30 regions (68%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (14%)
Asia

Same-sex adoption

38
Legal
107
Somewhere in between
46
Illegal
Legal
38 regions (19%)
Somewhere in between
107 regions (55%)
Illegal
46 regions (23%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
5 regions (3%)
Legal
23 regions (46%)
Somewhere in between
20 regions (40%)
Illegal
7 regions (14%)
Europe
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (71%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Oceania
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
5 regions (42%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
4 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (74%)
Illegal
1 regions (4%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
38 regions (72%)
Illegal
14 regions (26%)
Africa
Legal
2 regions (5%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (39%)
Illegal
21 regions (48%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (9%)
Asia

Intersex infant surgery

12
Banned
2
Somewhere in between
16
Not banned
Banned
12 regions (6%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (1%)
Not banned
16 regions (8%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
166 regions (85%)
Banned
7 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (4%)
Not banned
9 regions (18%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
32 regions (64%)
Europe
Not banned
1 regions (7%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
13 regions (93%)
Oceania
Banned
3 regions (25%)
Not banned
2 regions (17%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
7 regions (58%)
South America
Not banned
2 regions (9%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
21 regions (91%)
North America
Banned
1 regions (2%)
Not banned
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
51 regions (96%)
Africa
Banned
1 regions (2%)
Not banned
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
42 regions (95%)
Asia

Serving openly in military

59
Legal
55
Somewhere in between
47
Illegal
Legal
59 regions (30%)
Somewhere in between
55 regions (28%)
Illegal
47 regions (24%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
35 regions (18%)
Legal
25 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
20 regions (40%)
Illegal
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (8%)
Europe
Legal
5 regions (36%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
9 regions (64%)
Oceania
Legal
10 regions (83%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
South America
Legal
9 regions (39%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (17%)
Illegal
2 regions (9%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
8 regions (35%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (34%)
Illegal
26 regions (49%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
8 regions (15%)
Africa
Legal
9 regions (20%)
Somewhere in between
11 regions (25%)
Illegal
18 regions (41%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (14%)
Asia

Blood donations by MSMs

120
Legal
1
Somewhere in between
58
Illegal
Legal
120 regions (61%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (1%)
Illegal
58 regions (30%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
17 regions (9%)
Legal
35 regions (70%)
Illegal
13 regions (26%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Europe
Legal
10 regions (71%)
Illegal
4 regions (29%)
Oceania
Legal
11 regions (92%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
18 regions (78%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
Legal
32 regions (60%)
Illegal
12 regions (23%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
9 regions (17%)
Africa
Legal
14 regions (32%)
Illegal
25 regions (57%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
5 regions (11%)
Asia

Conversion therapy

24
Banned
1
Partially banned
160
Not banned
Banned
24 regions (12%)
Partially banned
1 regions (1%)
Not banned
160 regions (82%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
11 regions (6%)
Banned
10 regions (20%)
Not banned
38 regions (76%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Europe
Banned
3 regions (21%)
Partially banned
1 regions (7%)
Not banned
9 regions (64%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
Banned
6 regions (50%)
Not banned
5 regions (42%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (8%)
South America
Banned
1 regions (4%)
Not banned
18 regions (78%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (17%)
North America
Not banned
53 regions (100%)
Africa
Banned
4 regions (9%)
Not banned
37 regions (84%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (7%)
Asia

Equal age of consent

134
Equal
9
Unequal
Equal
134 regions (68%)
Unequal
9 regions (5%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
53 regions (27%)
Equal
50 regions (100%)
Europe
Equal
11 regions (79%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (21%)
Oceania
Equal
9 regions (75%)
Unequal
2 regions (17%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (8%)
South America
Equal
19 regions (83%)
Unequal
1 regions (4%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (13%)
North America
Equal
20 regions (38%)
Unequal
6 regions (11%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
27 regions (51%)
Africa
Equal
25 regions (57%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
19 regions (43%)
Asia

Equaldex is tracking
11,751 LGBTQ-related laws.

30
LawS changed
this year
163
LawS changed
last year
389
LawS added
this week

Monthly Top Contributors

230 contributions
211 contributions
147 contributions
101 contributions
87 contributions
View More

Recent Edits

Belmount added an entry.
Gender-Affirming Care in North Dakota
Unknownmiles added an entry.
Right to change legal gender in Iraq
Unknownmiles added an entry.
Gender-Affirming Care in Iraq
JuliaB added an entry.
Gender-Affirming Care in Iraq
View More

LGBT Travel Guide

Explore the status and timelines of LGBT rights in each country, state, province, and region. Equaldex includes the legal status of same-sex marriage, adoption, serving openly in the military, discrimination protections, age of consent differences, blood donation restrictions, gender changing restrictions, and gay conversion therapy bans.

Highlighted regions are frequently visited

LGBT Rights in Asia

46 Regions

LGBT Rights in Europe

52 Regions

LGBT Rights in North America

36 Regions

LGBT Rights in Africa

59 Regions

LGBT Rights in Oceania

24 Regions

LGBT Rights in South America

14 Regions

Recommended & Referenced by

Equaldex has been recommended or used as a reference by the following publications, organizations, and educational institutions.


New York Times

Forbes

National Geographic

Vox

Lifehacker

Cosmopolitan

Salon

DatingNews.com

Harvard University

Stanford

University of Texas

NYU

Dartmouth

Southwestern

Penn State

UC Santa Barbara

University of Notre Dame

University of Florida

Columbia University

University of Virginia

University of Michigan

Cal Poly

University of North Carolina

University of Colorado

St. John's

New York Law Institute

World Economic Forum

Amnesty International

GOV.UK

Parliament of the United Kingdom

United Nations Globe

U.S Department of State

Google Pride
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