Explore the progress of
LGBTQ+
Gay,
Bisexual,
Transgender,
Questioning,
Intersex...
rights across the world.
Lesbian,
Gay,
Bisexual,
Transgender,
Questioning,
Intersex...
Today in LGBTQ+ History
- Gender-affirming care in New JerseyLegal2023
- Right to change legal gender in Saint HelenaLegal, but requires medical diagnosis2005
- Right to change legal gender in United KingdomLegal, but requires medical diagnosis2005
Upcoming LGBTQ+ Law Changes
- Censorship of LGBT issues in Ohio, United StatesState-enforcedApr 9, 2025
- Blood donations by MSMs in IcelandLegalJul 1, 2025
- Right to change legal gender in SwedenLegal, no restrictionsJul 1, 2025
- Right to change legal gender in CzechiaLegal, but requires medical diagnosisJul 1, 2025
- Right to change legal gender in New South Wales, AustraliaLegal, no restrictionsJul 1, 2025
- Legal recognition of non-binary gender in New South Wales, AustraliaRecognizedJul 1, 2025
- Right to change legal gender in Iowa, United StatesIllegalJul 1, 2025
- LGBT discrimination in Iowa, United StatesIllegal in some contextsJul 1, 2025
- LGBT housing discrimination in Iowa, United StatesSexual orientation onlyJul 1, 2025
Recent LGBTQ+ Laws Changed
- Conversion therapy in New South Wales, AustraliaBannedApr 3, 2025
- Gender-affirming care in Kentucky, United StatesRestrictedMar 26, 2025
- Conversion therapy in Kentucky, United StatesNot bannedMar 26, 2025
- Homosexual activity in Trinidad and TobagoIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)Mar 25, 2025
- Gender-affirming care in Ohio, United StatesLegalMar 18, 2025
- Serving openly in military in United StatesLegalMar 18, 2025
- Gender-affirming care in Kansas, United StatesLegal, but banned for minorsFeb 20, 2025
- Same-sex marriage in SurinameForeign same-sex marriages recognized onlyFeb 13, 2025
- Serving openly in military in United StatesLesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people bannedFeb 7, 2025
- Gender-affirming care in ArgentinaLegal, but banned for minorsFeb 7, 2025
LGBTQ+ Rights by Country
Select an issue to view a further breakdown.
Homosexual activity
131
Legal62
IllegalLegal
131 regions (66%)
Illegal
62 regions (31%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (2%)
Legal
49 regions (98%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Legal
8 regions (57%)
Illegal
6 regions (43%)
Oceania
Legal
11 regions (92%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
18 regions (78%)
Illegal
5 regions (22%)
North America
Legal
23 regions (43%)
Illegal
30 regions (56%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Africa
Legal
22 regions (50%)
Illegal
20 regions (45%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (5%)
Asia
Same-sex marriage
38
Legal48
Somewhere in between110
IllegalLegal
38 regions (19%)
Somewhere in between
48 regions (24%)
Illegal
110 regions (56%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (1%)
Legal
22 regions (44%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (24%)
Illegal
16 regions (32%)
Europe
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (29%)
Illegal
8 regions (57%)
Oceania
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
Illegal
4 regions (33%)
South America
Legal
5 regions (22%)
Somewhere in between
9 regions (39%)
Illegal
9 regions (39%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (22%)
Illegal
41 regions (76%)
Africa
Legal
2 regions (5%)
Somewhere in between
9 regions (20%)
Illegal
32 regions (73%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Asia
Censorship of LGBT issues
129
No censorship61
Censorship existsNo censorship
129 regions (65%)
Censorship exists
61 regions (31%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
7 regions (4%)
No censorship
40 regions (80%)
Censorship exists
9 regions (18%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Europe
No censorship
13 regions (93%)
Censorship exists
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
No censorship
10 regions (83%)
Censorship exists
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
South America
No censorship
21 regions (91%)
Censorship exists
1 regions (4%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
North America
No censorship
28 regions (52%)
Censorship exists
24 regions (44%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Africa
No censorship
17 regions (39%)
Censorship exists
25 regions (57%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (5%)
Asia
Right to change legal gender
31
Legal50
Somewhere in between104
IllegalLegal
31 regions (16%)
Somewhere in between
50 regions (25%)
Illegal
104 regions (53%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
12 regions (6%)
Legal
16 regions (32%)
Somewhere in between
24 regions (48%)
Illegal
8 regions (16%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Europe
Legal
1 regions (7%)
Illegal
12 regions (86%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
Legal
7 regions (58%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Illegal
3 regions (25%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
2 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (9%)
Illegal
16 regions (70%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (13%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
6 regions (11%)
Illegal
43 regions (80%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (7%)
Africa
Legal
4 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (39%)
Illegal
22 regions (50%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Asia
Gender-affirming care
61
Legal64
Somewhere in between34
BannedLegal
61 regions (31%)
Somewhere in between
64 regions (32%)
Banned
34 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
38 regions (19%)
Legal
28 regions (56%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (24%)
Banned
6 regions (12%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (8%)
Europe
Legal
1 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (79%)
Oceania
Legal
8 regions (67%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (33%)
South America
Legal
8 regions (35%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Banned
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (48%)
North America
Legal
5 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
23 regions (43%)
Banned
15 regions (28%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (20%)
Africa
Legal
11 regions (25%)
Somewhere in between
22 regions (50%)
Banned
10 regions (23%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Asia
Legal recognition of non-binary gender
16
Recognized3
Some recognition174
Not recognizedRecognized
16 regions (8%)
Some recognition
3 regions (2%)
Not recognized
174 regions (88%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (2%)
Recognized
5 regions (10%)
Some recognition
1 regions (2%)
Not recognized
43 regions (86%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
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
2 regions (9%)
Not recognized
19 regions (83%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
North America
Some recognition
1 regions (2%)
Not recognized
53 regions (98%)
Africa
Recognized
4 regions (9%)
Not recognized
39 regions (89%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Asia
LGBT discrimination
48
Protected70
Some protections73
No protectionsProtected
48 regions (24%)
Some protections
70 regions (36%)
No protections
73 regions (37%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (3%)
Protected
31 regions (62%)
Some protections
10 regions (20%)
No protections
6 regions (12%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (6%)
Europe
Protected
2 regions (14%)
Some protections
10 regions (71%)
No protections
2 regions (14%)
Oceania
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
5 regions (42%)
South America
Protected
5 regions (22%)
Some protections
15 regions (65%)
No protections
2 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
North America
Protected
1 regions (2%)
Some protections
20 regions (37%)
No protections
33 regions (61%)
Africa
Protected
2 regions (5%)
Some protections
10 regions (23%)
No protections
30 regions (68%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (5%)
Asia
LGBT employment discrimination
58
Protected31
Some protections90
No protectionsProtected
58 regions (29%)
Some protections
31 regions (16%)
No protections
90 regions (46%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
18 regions (9%)
Protected
35 regions (70%)
Some protections
5 regions (10%)
No protections
9 regions (18%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Protected
4 regions (29%)
Some protections
4 regions (29%)
No protections
5 regions (36%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
Protected
8 regions (67%)
Some protections
2 regions (17%)
No protections
2 regions (17%)
South America
Protected
5 regions (22%)
Some protections
6 regions (26%)
No protections
12 regions (52%)
North America
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
9 regions (17%)
No protections
32 regions (59%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (19%)
Africa
Protected
3 regions (7%)
Some protections
5 regions (11%)
No protections
30 regions (68%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (14%)
Asia
LGBT housing discrimination
43
Protected14
Some protections88
No protectionsProtected
43 regions (22%)
Some protections
14 regions (7%)
No protections
88 regions (45%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
52 regions (26%)
Protected
26 regions (52%)
Some protections
3 regions (6%)
No protections
11 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (20%)
Europe
Protected
3 regions (21%)
Some protections
2 regions (14%)
No protections
1 regions (7%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
8 regions (57%)
Oceania
Protected
8 regions (67%)
Some protections
1 regions (8%)
No protections
2 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
South America
Protected
3 regions (13%)
Some protections
2 regions (9%)
No protections
17 regions (74%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
North America
Protected
1 regions (2%)
Some protections
3 regions (6%)
No protections
27 regions (50%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
23 regions (43%)
Africa
Protected
2 regions (5%)
Some protections
3 regions (7%)
No protections
30 regions (68%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (20%)
Asia
Same-sex adoption
39
Legal48
Somewhere in between52
IllegalLegal
39 regions (20%)
Somewhere in between
48 regions (24%)
Illegal
52 regions (26%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
58 regions (29%)
Legal
24 regions (48%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (36%)
Illegal
7 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (71%)
Oceania
Legal
5 regions (42%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (33%)
South America
Legal
4 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
6 regions (26%)
Illegal
4 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (39%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (19%)
Illegal
20 regions (37%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
23 regions (43%)
Africa
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (27%)
Illegal
18 regions (41%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (25%)
Asia
Intersex infant surgery
13
Banned1
Somewhere in between117
Not bannedBanned
13 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (1%)
Not banned
117 regions (59%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
66 regions (34%)
Banned
8 regions (16%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Not banned
40 regions (80%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Not banned
4 regions (29%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (71%)
Oceania
Banned
4 regions (33%)
Not banned
8 regions (67%)
South America
Not banned
7 regions (30%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
16 regions (70%)
North America
Banned
1 regions (2%)
Not banned
38 regions (70%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
15 regions (28%)
Africa
Not banned
20 regions (45%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
24 regions (55%)
Asia
Serving openly in military
50
Legal42
Somewhere in between49
IllegalLegal
50 regions (25%)
Somewhere in between
42 regions (21%)
Illegal
49 regions (25%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
56 regions (28%)
Legal
28 regions (56%)
Somewhere in between
14 regions (28%)
Illegal
1 regions (2%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
7 regions (14%)
Europe
Legal
3 regions (21%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (79%)
Oceania
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (25%)
South America
Legal
5 regions (22%)
Somewhere in between
5 regions (22%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (43%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
13 regions (24%)
Illegal
28 regions (52%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
12 regions (22%)
Africa
Legal
7 regions (16%)
Somewhere in between
8 regions (18%)
Illegal
16 regions (36%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
13 regions (30%)
Asia
Blood donations by MSMs
67
Legal4
Somewhere in between57
IllegalLegal
67 regions (34%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (2%)
Illegal
57 regions (29%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
69 regions (35%)
Legal
32 regions (64%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (12%)
Europe
Legal
1 regions (7%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (79%)
Oceania
Legal
9 regions (75%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
9 regions (39%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
2 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (48%)
North America
Legal
5 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
17 regions (31%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
31 regions (57%)
Africa
Legal
11 regions (25%)
Illegal
24 regions (55%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (20%)
Asia
Conversion therapy
25
Banned3
Partially banned153
Not bannedBanned
25 regions (13%)
Partially banned
3 regions (2%)
Not banned
153 regions (78%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
16 regions (8%)
Banned
11 regions (22%)
Not banned
38 regions (76%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Banned
1 regions (7%)
Partially banned
3 regions (21%)
Not banned
9 regions (64%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
Banned
8 regions (67%)
Not banned
3 regions (25%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
South America
Banned
2 regions (9%)
Not banned
17 regions (74%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (17%)
North America
Not banned
51 regions (94%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (6%)
Africa
Banned
3 regions (7%)
Not banned
35 regions (80%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (14%)
Asia
Equal age of consent
117
Equal7
UnequalEqual
117 regions (59%)
Unequal
7 regions (4%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
73 regions (37%)
Equal
46 regions (92%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (8%)
Europe
Equal
9 regions (64%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
5 regions (36%)
Oceania
Equal
11 regions (92%)
Unequal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Equal
17 regions (74%)
Unequal
1 regions (4%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
5 regions (22%)
North America
Equal
12 regions (22%)
Unequal
5 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
37 regions (69%)
Africa
Equal
22 regions (50%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
22 regions (50%)
Asia
Equaldex is tracking
7,114 LGBTQ-related laws
and 1,091 public opinion polls.
Monthly Top Contributors
3447 contributions
943 contributions
555 contributions
71 contributions
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Recent Edits
jadeywadey edited an entry.
Serving openly in military in United States
jadeywadey edited an entry.
Conversion therapy in California
jadeywadey edited an entry.
Right to change legal gender in California
jadeywadey edited an entry.
Same-sex marriage in California
jadeywadey edited an entry.
Homosexual activity in California
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
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- China
- Hong Kong
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
LGBT Rights in Europe
56 Regions
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guernsey
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Jersey
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City
LGBT Rights in North America
36 Regions
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sint Maarten
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States
LGBT Rights in Africa
59 Regions
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Réunion
- Rwanda
- Saint Helena
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Western Sahara
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
LGBT Rights in Oceania
24 Regions
LGBT Rights in South America
14 Regions
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