Serving openly in military
LGBTQ+ people are banned from serving openly in the military in 95 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
Serving openly in military by Country
Legal
Serving openly in military is legal in 58 regions.
- Asia (9)
- Bhutan
- Israel 1992
- Japan 1947
- Kazakhstan 2022
- Nepal 2007
- Philippines 2017
- Singapore
- Thailand 2005
- Vietnam 1992
- Europe (28)
- Albania 2008
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
- Croatia 2013
- Cyprus 2004
- Czech Republic
- Denmark 1978
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany 2000
- Hungary
- Ireland 2007
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Montenegro 2017
- Netherlands 1974
- Norway 2001
- Portugal 2024
- Serbia 2008
- Slovakia 1993
- Slovenia 2007
- Spain 1977
- Sweden 2009
- Switzerland 1992
- Ukraine 2022
- United Kingdom 2000
- North America (7)
- Bahamas 1998
- Barbados
- Canada 1992
- Cuba 1993
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Trinidad and Tobago 1962
- 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 34 regions.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Serving openly in military is don't ask, don't tell in 13 regions.
- North America (1)
- Antigua and Barbuda
Illegal
Serving openly in military is illegal in 48 regions.
- Asia (17)
- Bangladesh
- Brunei
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq 2007
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Oman 1979
- Pakistan
- Qatar 1915
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
- Europe (1)
- Turkey
- Africa (27)
- Algeria 1966
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Comoros
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea 1945
- Eritrea 1957
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Kenya 1941
- Libya 1953
- Malawi
- Mauritania 1983
- Morocco
- Nigeria 2024
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan 2011
- Sudan
- Tanzania 1998
- Togo
- Uganda
- South America (1)
- Guyana 2021
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Data on serving openly in military is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 45 regions.
- Asia (9)
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- China Ambiguous
- Laos Ambiguous
- North Korea Ambiguous
- Palestine N/A
- Sri Lanka
- Timor-Leste Ambiguous
- Turkmenistan Ambiguous
- North America (8)
- 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 (11)
- Benin Ambiguous
- Burkina Faso Ambiguous
- Cape Verde Ambiguous
- Central African Republic Ambiguous
- Djibouti
- Eswatini N/A
- Mauritius N/A
- Namibia Ambiguous
- Niger Ambiguous
- Republic of the Congo Ambiguous
- 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
- South America (1)
- Paraguay Ambiguous
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica N/A
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