LGBTQ rights by country or territory

For information on historical and ongoing efforts to advance LGBTQ rights, refer to LGBTQ movements. For details on intersex rights, see Intersex human rights. The term "LGBTQ rights" also redirects to discussions on LGBTQ conservatism, the right-wing movement within the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ rights vary significantly across countries and regions, ranging from legal recognition of same-sex marriage to severe penalties like the death sentence for homosexuality. As of June 2023, 37 countries have legalized same-sex marriage. However, only Iran and Afghanistan are known to impose the death penalty for consensual same-sex acts. In countries like Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, while the death penalty for homosexuality is law, it is rarely enforced. LGBTQ individuals also face extrajudicial killings in places like Chechnya. In Sudan, the death penalty for anal sex was abolished in 2020. Fifteen countries still have stoning laws for adultery, which can include gay sex, with enforcement observed in Iran and northern Nigeria.

In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights, leading to a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that documented violations against LGBT individuals, including hate crimes and discrimination. The UN urged countries to adopt laws protecting basic LGBT rights. A 2022 study found a correlation between stronger LGBT rights and lower HIV/AIDS rates among gay and bisexual men, independent of risky sexual behavior.

The 2023 Equaldex Equality Index ranked Nordic countries, Chile, Uruguay, Canada, Benelux nations, Spain, Andorra, and Malta as the best for LGBT rights. In contrast, countries like Nigeria, Yemen, Brunei, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mauritania, Palestine, and Iran were ranked among the worst. Asher & Lyric's 2023 index rated Canada, Sweden, and the Netherlands as the safest countries for LGBT people.

Scope of laws:-

Laws affecting LGBT individuals cover a wide range of issues, including:

• Recognition of same-sex relationships, such as same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships
• Same-sex parenting and adoption rights
• Anti-discrimination laws in areas like employment, housing, education, and public accommodations
• Anti-bullying laws aimed at protecting LGBT children in schools
• Hate crime laws with enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by prejudice against LGBT people
• "Bathroom bills" that regulate access to sex-segregated facilities for transgender individuals
• Laws on sexual orientation and military service
• Access to assisted reproductive technology for LGBT individuals
• Sodomy laws that criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts, which may or may not target specific individuals
• Adultery laws applicable to same-sex couples
• Age of consent laws that may impose different standards for same-sex sexual activity
• Restrictions on blood, cornea, and tissue donations by men who have sex with men
• Laws concerning access to gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapy
• Legal recognition of an individual's affirmed gender and related accommodations.

Trump decrees end of diversity programs, LGBTQ protections

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump rescinded a series of executive orders that supported diversity initiatives and LGBTQ equality. The move followed his inauguration speech, where he emphasized a clear departure from what he called "woke" culture.

During a service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, Right Reverend Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, made an emotional appeal to President Donald Trump, urging him to “have mercy in the name of God” on the LGBTQ+ community and undocumented immigrants. Addressing Trump directly, who was seated in the front row, Budde called on him to show compassion for those in the country living in fear, particularly LGBTQ+ children. She emphasized that these children, from families across the political spectrum, are living in fear for their safety. The service was attended by First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

As President Donald Trump returns to the White House, he is pushing the boundaries of presidential power, leveraging a history of challenging limits in courthouses, boardrooms, and politics. Trump has swiftly issued a series of bold executive orders, including measures to tighten border control, alter birthright citizenship, and keep the Chinese-owned TikTok app running despite efforts to ban it.

Democrats and civil rights groups are preparing to challenge these actions in court, though legal proceedings may take time to curb the president’s momentum. In the meantime, Trump is reshaping the role of the presidency, emphasizing the use of decisive authority in a system meant to balance power between government branches.

In a speech to supporters at a Washington arena, President Donald Trump reversed 78 executive orders, actions, and presidential memoranda issued by his predecessor, Joe Biden. Many of the overturned measures had focused on promoting diversity, equality in government, workplaces, and healthcare, as well as advancing the rights of LGBTQ Americans.

President Donald Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by swiftly dismantling initiatives aimed at addressing historical inequalities, which he argued disproportionately disadvantage white people, especially men. He reversed Biden-era executive orders that aimed to prevent discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, protect LGBTQ Americans in education, and promote equity programs for Black and Hispanic Americans.

During his inauguration speech at the U.S. Capitol, Trump declared that "as of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female."

References

• Afp (2025a) Trump decrees end of diversity programs, LGBTQ protections, The Hindu. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-decrees-end-of-diversity-programs-lgbtq-protections/article69122151.ece (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
• Afp (2025b) Trump decrees end of diversity programs, LGBTQ protections, The Hindu. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-decrees-end-of-diversity-programs-lgbtq-protections/article69122151.ece (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
• LGBTQ rights by country or Territory (2025) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
• This is the state of LGBTI rights around the world in 2018. (no date) World Economic Forum. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2018/06/lgbti-rights-around-the-world-in-2018/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).