The world still has a long way to go to protect its most vulnerable groups.
Around this time of year it is the time for lists and overviews. The published 2023 LGBTQ+ Danger Index, prepared by Asher and Lyric Fergusson, provides a detailed look at the safety of LGBTQ travelers worldwide. This index, which focuses on health and safety advice for international travelers, rates 203 countries against ten factors.
These factors include the legalization of same-sex marriage, protections for LGBTQ workers, anti-discrimination laws, criminalization of hate crimes, and recognition of adoption rights. It also takes into account each country's most recent Gallup score, which examines overall quality of life, whether same-sex acts are illegal and whether there are laws against 'propaganda' and morality.
Canada is named as the most LGBTQ-friendly country in the 2023 index, with a total score of 383 points. Sweden, with 377 points, and the Netherlands, Malta and Norway with 373, 370 and 358 points respectively, follow. These countries are recognized for their progressive attitudes and legislation regarding LGBTQ rights. For example, Canada became the fourth country worldwide to legalize same-sex marriage in 2005. Sweden was the first country to allow trans people to change their legal gender after transition in 1972 and became the seventh country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009.
The 2023 LGBTQ+ Danger Index is an essential resource for the LGBTQ community, not only helping to plan safe travels, but also helping to raise awareness of the differing attitudes towards LGBTQ rights worldwide.
At the other end of the spectrum is Brunei, which is considered the least LGBTQ-friendly country, mainly due to a 2019 law that makes homosexual acts punishable by death by stoning. Other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kuwait and Malawi are also cited for their strict anti-LGBTQ laws.
The situation of transgender people worldwide is characterized by a complexity that is often not reflected in current social and political discussions. Although there is increasing acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships in many countries, transgender people continue to face significant challenges.
safest countries
Malta, a small but progressive nation, has firmly established itself as one of the safest countries in the world for LGBTQ+ people. It is therefore no surprise that Malta ranks number one in the trans index and third in the overall LGBTQ+ index. This rating is due to Malta's extensive protections for workers based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as constitutional protections against discrimination for all LGBTQ+ people.
Hate crimes against trans people have been criminalized. Notably, in Malta, medical transition is not required to change legal gender identity, and 16- to 18-year-olds can change their gender identity without parental consent. Although there are no recorded trans murders in Malta according to the Trans Murder Map, which tracks data from 2008 to 2022, there is the tragic case of Sion Grech from Marsa, a transgender woman who was murdered in 2005 and for whose death there is still no justice has been obtained.
Portugal, Canada, Sweden and Bolivia follow Malta as the top countries for trans rights. All four countries offer protections for LGBTQ+ people and allow legal change of gender identity without the requirement for a medical transition. Interestingly, 16 of the top 20 countries for trans rights are in Europe.
Nevertheless, it must be emphasized that even the “best” countries for trans rights are still far from reaching the desired level. Legislation is a step in the right direction, but many trans people still experience intense discrimination and violence, even in these “best” countries. For example, Finland, one of the top-ranked countries, required transgender people to be sterilized to obtain legal gender reassignment until February 2023, until this law was eventually changed.
