LGBT+ rights across the world
Same-sex marriage by country/territory (2019)
89% illegal, do not recognise, or partially legal
11% legal
.svg)
Latest news
2019 - October
Northern Ireland agrees to legalise same-sex marriage - BBC
2019 - June
Ecuador legalises same-sex marriage - BBC
2019 - June
Botswana decriminalised homosexuality - Independent
2019 - May
US passes laws to protect discrimation, but is delayed - BBC
2019 - May
Hong Kong legalises homosexuality - Attitude
Brazil criminalises homophobia and transphobia - 2019 - May
Taiwan legalises same-sex marriage - BBC
2019 - April
UK MPs agree to add education on the Equality Act for 12+ into RSE (Relationships education, relationships and sex education) starting September 2020, but do not make LGBT content compulsory
Official FAQs, Official guidance, THT, Stonewall + FAQs, Pink News
Show more news... This list is updated regularly. See the legal status changes, timeline and more key events at Wikipedia.
2019 - April
Brunei criminalises homosexuality - CNN
2019 - January
Angola decriminalised homosexuality - HRW
2019 - January
Austria legalises same-sex marriage - Independent
2018 - November
Costa Rica agrees to legalise same-sex marriage - Washington Blade
2018 - September
India decriminalised homosexuality - Times of India
2018 - April
Trinidad and Tobago decriminalised homosexuality - Gay Star News
News from Stonewall
News from Amnesty International
Upcoming international events
This list is updated regularly. See more at Awareness Days and Wikipedia.
Introduction to LGBT+
- LGBT+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (transgender, transexual), but typically also refers to other types of sexualities (hence the +) such as pansexual, asexual, queer, questioning, unlabelled, two-spirit, genderqueer, and others. Intersex is a mix of sexes. Some places use terms like LGBT+, LGBTQ, QUILTBAG, or even LGBTQQIAAP2S. LGBT is currently the most recognised term.
- Demographics vary significantly, ranging from 1% to 20%, however, there's no guarantee that all respondents have been truthful, in order to hide their sexuality. More modern surveys show an increase to about 8% in most places. In the UK, ONS reports 2% are LGB and 4.7% unknown, but other surveys say 13%. Some cities such as San Francisco or Brighton have higher populations of LGBT people, each about 15%.
- Sexual orientation is not a choice. However, it can change through time and is dependent on various genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. There is no single gay gene.
- Over 450 other species demonstrate homosexual behaviours such as bonobos, penguins, and dolphins.
- Gender and sex are different things and don't always align. Sex refers to the genotype of a person, such as male (XY) or female (XX). Gender is a perceived identity (composing various characteristics), such as boy/man/masculine, girl/woman/feminine, or non-binary. Some other species can change their sex at will, such as Asian sheepshead wrasse and clownfish.
- Romantic orientation is a separate aspect apart from sexual attraction and gender - it doesn't have to align.
- There are some stereotypes in the LGBT community: Camp is a style and set of mannerisms and behaviours. Drag and transvestism involve cross-dressing as another gender. There are many other stereotypes, and as with all stereotypes, some of them are negative.
- There are specific laws in some countries that protect LGBT+ people. The UK has the Equality Act 2010, Human Rights Act 1998, and the Gender Recognition Act 2004 which overrule an old law banning promotion of homosexuality called Section 28.
- There are different flags to represent different sexualities, genders, and communities within the LGBT community as a whole. The following is an incomplete list, but is here to encourage representation of subcultures and communities by focusing on the most recognised ones.
All
*
*
Sexuality
Asexual
Bisexual
Lesbian
Pansexual
Polysexual
Asexual
Bisexual
Lesbian
Pansexual
Polysexual
Gender
Agender
Genderfluid
Genderqueer
Trans*
Non-binary
Agender
Genderfluid
Genderqueer
Trans*
Non-binary
+
Aromantic
Intersex
Aromantic
Intersex
Issues faced by LGBT+ people
- Discrimination
- Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia
- Feeling like you don't belong or aren't welcome
- Erasure and lack of visibility - Bi-erasure on Wikipedia, my blog about Bi Visibility Day, Cosmopolitan
- Heteronormativity - Media portrayal on Wikipedia
- Stigma of sexual relationships - British Social Attitudes
- Classifciation as mental disorder - BBC
- Protests and demonstrations - Pink News, BBC
- Prejudice - Big Perspectives
- Inequality
- Same-sex marriage not recognised - Wikipedia
- Blood donation deferral - BBC
- Human rights - Amnesty International
- Violating the Equality Act 2010 - Pink News
- Note that equality and equity are different - Interaction Institute for Social Change
- Lower quality of life
- Familial and social rejection, harassment, violence, harsh prison sentences - Ask Wonder, Equality Act, Gay Times, Independent, DW
- Poorer mental health and satisfaction with life - Science Daily, Pink News, Talk Space, Mental Health
- Bullying, hate crime, rejection, depression, suicide - Stonewall
- Emancipation, castration, gay conversion therapy, riots - Pink News, Wikipedia
- Death sentence - Stonewall
- Lack of compassion - BBC
- UK National LGBT Survey: Research report (largest worldwide survey) (2018)
- Life satisfaction is 65% compared to 77% of non-LGBT people
- 66% avoid holding hands with a same-sex partner for fear of a negative reaction
- 90% of the most serious incidents went unreported, because 'it happens all the time'
Learn more
- See the LGBT Portal and an outline of LGBT topics at Wikipedia
- Learn how to be an LGBT+ ally, read more of my thoughts at my blog
- Stonewall have many resources: coming out guide, glossary & terminology, historical key dates, free posters, top employers list
- Watch or read some LGBT stories
- Books: The Queeriodic Table, The ABC's of LGBT+, Featured books on Amazon
- Films: Call Me By Your Name, Moonlight, Pride, Love Simon, North Sea Texas, Rotten Tomatoes list
- TV Shows: Sense8, Orange Is The New Black, Queer As Folk, Will & Grace, Queer Eye, Skins, Torchwood, Mr Robot, Sex Education, Wikipedia list
- Read some quotes from activists and celebrities on QueerCultureChats
- See a list of celebrities who identify as LGBT on IMDb, Pink News, Independent
- Learn about sexual health from the Terrence Higgins Trust, and my blog about HIV/AIDS
- Speak to someone for advice at the LGBT Switchboard
- Watch some inspiring videos:
Show more videos...
How to help ❤
- Tell your family and friends, or share on social media:
- Take part in and enjoy yourself at one of many summer pride parades
- Write to your government representative (e.g. UK MP or US Senator)
- Support LGBT organisations such as:
- Global: Amnesty International, Stonewall, All Out, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, Rainbow Riots, Peter Tatchell Foundation
- Mental Health: LGBT Switchboard, The Trevor Project, Young Minds, Samaritans, MindOut, Papyrus
- Local: Mermaids UK, SupportU UK, Terrence Higgins Trust UK, Minus18 AU, GLAAD US
FAQs
- What's this website for? I made this website to help summarise key information about LGBT rights and issues, to help try to educate others on: what being LGBT is all about, the problems that LGBT people face every day, and why more work is still left to be done to reach full global equality for LGBT people. This information isn't always readily available, so I wanted to make a single place anyone can go to and trust that it is a reputable source.
- Do you profit from this? No. I will never put adverts on this website. I intend this website to remain unaffiliated with any specific organisation, company or individual, and so I don't want to promote or endorse any product or service. I do however want to be highly accommodating, impartial, and unbiased towards specific agendas, other than equality. If you think something is wrong, could be worded better, isn't painting a clear picture of the reality of an issue, or isn't taking into account all aspects, please contact me (see the link at the end of the page).
- Why is the logo slanted? It represents the Earth spinning on its axis, with the LGBT flag covering the whole world.
- What updates are in the pipeline? My primary focus is to keep adding sources and staying up to date on topics as I continue researching. I welcome any feedback if you have some suggestions.