In honor of Pride Month, and as part of our Local Diversity and Inclusion Spotlight series, we’ve gathered data from GlobeSmart Culture Guides to offer a glimpse into the realities faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people around the world.
Brazil
- Brazil has some of the most advanced LGBTQ+ rights in Latin America and the world.
- Marriage equality is legal, and LGBTQ+ individuals are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and Brazil’s states are prohibited from creating discriminatory laws.
- Transgender individuals can change their legal name and sex without the undergoing gender-affirming surgery or professional evaluation, and the right to gender-affirming surgery is provided by Brazil’s public health service.
India
- India has repealed its colonial-era laws that directly discriminated against LGBTQ+ identities, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
- The Transgender Persons Act, passed in 2019, bans discrimination against transgender people in education, employment, and healthcare. However, it has been criticized for requiring trans people to register with the government if they want to be recognized as transgender, and proof of gender-affirming surgery is required. The Act also does not provide many legal protections, including marriage equality, adoption, and social security benefits.
United States
- In the United States, marriage equality is legal nationwide.
- However, LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination laws vary by state. About half of the states and territories outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. However, in 2022, more than 300 bills have been introduced or passed in 36 states, particularly those with large conservative populations, to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
- The Equality Act, currently proposed in the United States Congress, would outlaw such discrimination nationwide.
Russia
- In Russia there are no rights for LGBTQ+ people to marry or adopt, and few laws protect them against discrimination.
- A controversial ban on “homosexual propaganda” was passed in 2013, which states that any public action perceived of as promoting LGBTQ+ culture or relationships in the presence of a minor is illegal and subject to a fine.
- Russia’s conservative society is not so tolerant of LGBTQ+ people, and in the workplace, employees are expected to keep their personal lives private and separate.
China
- In China, same-sex couples are unable to marry or adopt, and households headed by such couples are ineligible for the same legal protections as straight couples.
- China provides no anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, nor does it prohibit hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity, despite recent minor legal victories.
Spain
- Spain is considered one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in the world.
- They were the first Latin Catholic country to pass laws protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people, ensuring everyone has equal access to all areas of society. These laws made sexual orientation a fundamental liberty, and hate speech, hate crimes, and violent crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals are recognized under the Spanish Penal Code.
- Marriage equality in Spain is legal, and all couples have the same rights under the law.
Interested in learning more about LGBTQ+ rights globally?
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