The most challenging countries around the world for LGBT people
Many men and women have come across inequalities or even have had first-hand experience of discriminations across the world. LGBT rights are on that list. Currently, according to a 2020 report from ILGA, 69 countries, out of a total of 193, criminalize and prohibit same-sex relationships. These countries have very strict sanctions against LGBT persons. These sanctions can vary from considering the relations between two persons of the same sex as a crime to legislation mentioning “unnatural”, "indecent", and "immoral" acts. Regarding the penalties applied, these can be in the form of fines, imprisonment, “sexual reorientation therapies”, corporal punishment and lashing, but also the death penalty. All these punishments and harsh legislations are conducive of fear as LGBT persons know they can be arrested any time. Some even choose to flee their home or expat countries because of those inequalities.
Some countries where homosexuality is outlawed are the following: Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Sudan, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bangladesh, Iraq, Indonesia and Myanmar.
Among the countries where the death penalty is applied against LGBT persons there is Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Nigeria.
On the other hand, despite not mentioning the death penalty in their relevant legislation, some countries have nonetheless carried it out, for example, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan.
What about countries where same-sex relationships is not prohibited?
Many countries no longer consider same-sex relationships as a crime, meaning that LGBT persons are free to live as they wish. Some countries even legally recognize same-sex marriage. This is the case presently for 34 countries. Moreover, countries like Greece, Honduras, India, Liechtenstein, Peru, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Venezuela are studying new laws to give equal access to marriage for all. A few others, while not authorizing same-sex marriage as such, do practice a common-law union that is recognized by the State.
However, authorization does not equate to acceptance and equality of rights everywhere. Indeed, even in countries where modernity and open-mindedness are common practices, there are still traces of discrimination against LGBT people, with them being verbally and physically abused despite laws against those. Attitudes and mindsets are responsible for these situations. As a matter of fact, LGBT couples are still being discriminated against when going for a job interview or when purchasing a property. Sadly, proving these discriminations can be tricky when the institutions meant to protect citizens' rights are opaque to discussions and not ready to jump to the rescue of LGBT rights.
For example, in South Africa, where homosexuality is not a crime, the rights of the LGBT community are inadequately respected. There, LGBT people are generally discriminated against on a day-to-day basis by other citizens as well as being subjected to repeated violence by government members in their way of life, job-seeking activities, or their search for accommodation.
The same applies to Italy, where the situation has worsened since the new government took office. Although same-sex relationships are not a crime and common-law unions (not marriages) are authorized, discrimination and closed-mindedness are real problems in the lives of LGBT persons living in Italy.
Enrica, a young Italian who is in a live-in relationship with another woman, testifies about her hardships and difficulties: “Where to begin? The problems are numerous. Let's start with the family circle. It's the first hurdle, as many families still struggle to accept homosexuality. It is complicated for people like me to speak about our sexuality, especially to parents in their fifties or sixties and raised with a different mindset. These parents still consider homosexuality a curse and the worst thing that can happen to a family. On another note, the work environment can still be problematic. My own experience is a good example. I used to work for an international company where open-mindedness was the rule. Sadly, I now work in a completely different professional environment, and I feel the difference. I do not free to talk about my sexual preferences as the corporate framework is quite rigid and cold. It is not that my rights are threatened, but I get the feeling that management is not LGBT-friendly. Simply put, I feel that if I do my coming out at work, this might adversely impact the company and my job".
Another big difference, according to Enrica, is what the State recognizes and what it doesn't. "Like LGBT marriages are not recognized, but civil unions are. The thing is that a civil union is not the same as a civil marriage. A civil union offers only about a quarter of the rights due in a civil marriage, and this makes all the difference. Some time ago, I was at the wedding of a female couple. What a horrible experience it was! The way the ceremony was conducted stripped it of all the ‘love' feelings towards each other, as is usually the case for a ‘normal' marriage. I felt like part of a business transaction, with the couple being asked in front of all their guests if they wanted the communion of goods or the division of property and assets. Unfortunately, there is no other way of doing this, and it makes a civil union between two persons in love a very cold affair".
Moreover, the State does not recognize the children of homosexual couples who go abroad to have a child through artificial insemination or other methods. "Once such a couple is back in Italy with the child, they are not recognized as two parents. For example, my partner's sister has a daughter with a woman in the country where they live. But in Italy, she is not officially considered the mother and has no legal recognition as such. This, in my opinion, is very serious: the decision taken by the State not only affects the adults but has a direct impact on the children. For example, if the child is hospitalized, only one of the two parents is legally entitled to attend the health center. The other one has no legal existence".
This is why Enrica has numerous times considered leaving Italy and moving to Spain to be able to enjoy her rights freely. "In Spain, LGBT rights are fully respected, and people there have very open mindsets. However, I still haven't found the strength to take the plunge. I still have faith that one-day things will change for the better for us in Italy. As I said earlier, my partner's sister (who is also a lesbian) has her whole family in another country, and she keeps saying to me that she knows that, should she come back to Italy one day, she is certain that her life would never be better.”
Yes, it is indeed a fact that even in modern and developed countries, human rights are not always respected.
Countries where LGBT rights are respected the most
Nevertheless, things are moving in the right direction in terms of laws concerning LGBT rights and respect for them. Although those progresses are slow or sometimes non-existent, things are happening. New draft legislation on LGBT rights is currently underway in many countries.
To end on a more positive note, here is a list of countries considered the most “LGBT-friendly” in the world:
- The Netherlands
- Iceland
- Norway
- Spain
- Canada
- Belgium
- Australia
- Israel
- Switzerland
- Uruguay
- Germany
