marriage as an institution has been around for as nearly all or recorded history, but it’s only been within the past few decades that governments have started to extend equal access and rights to marriage for same-sex couples. the netherlands was officially the first country to recognize marriage equality on a mariona scale in the year 2003. additional countries in europe later followed including belgium and spain. as of the publication of this article, 30 countries recognize same-sex marriage.
there are many nuances in the laws and protections afforded (or not afforded) to residents in these countries. further, some countries offer may offer limited rights like civil unions or recognizing foreign same-sex marriages, while not actually offering same-sex couples full rights given to a man and a woman who wed.
marriage equality is offered referred to using a number of different terms including same-sex marriage, gay marriage or same-sex unions. however, the deterring factor in a country’s laws is whether the law is equal for opposite vs same-sex couples. even though some rights and protections being afforded to same-sex couples is progress for the lgbtq+ community, anything less than equality means the country doesn’t make the list of offering full marriage equality.
history of recognition of same-sex relationships
same-sex relationships have been documented throughout history, but in the vast majority of cultures, those relationships have been viewed negatively. there is some evidence that same-sex relationships were not only tolerated in ancient greece but encouraged. other cultures throughout history like x and y also have demonstrated some tolerance for these relationships in various periods of time. however, by far throughout human history, homophobia has widely been used to shame same-sex relationships through history, or worse, be seen as the reason to punish those involved. it’s unfortunate but even in today’s society, homophobia still exists and people in many countries face shame, persecution, punishment, imprisonment, or even death.
where is it illegal to be lgbtq?
as of the publication of this article, xx countries currently have laws that allow for the punishment of same-sex activity between consenting. even worse, yy countries even although for those crimes to be punished with the death penalty.
is it safe to travel to countries where being lgbtq+ is illegal?
traveling to countries that have anti-lgbtq+ can sometimes be risky or outright dangerous. how we, it’s also possible to travel to some of these countries safely in some cases, if you follow some precautions. it’s important to point out that every country is different and it can be different to generalize when providing advice. it’s even possible that some regions within the same country may be considered generally safe for lgbtq+ people, while others distinctly not.
another point to consider is someone’s ability and comfort in “passing,” or rather the ability to pass as cis/straight or heterosexual. sexual orientation and gender identity are complex topics and one's outward appearance to others may impact someone’s comfort in traveling to a place that is known for being unwelcoming to lgbtq+ people. while this could apply to any member of the lgbtq+ community, trans people in particular often face the greatest risk. the best advice when deciding to visit a destination is to do your research in advance. if you’re not completely comfortable in visiting a place due to lgbtq+ acceptance or homophobia, it’s best not to travel to that destination. there are a wealth of destinations that are known for being welcoming and tolerant to the lgbtq+ so those places may provide the best option for your trip. still, it’s worth mentioning that some lgbtq+ people may want to visit famous places in places know to be anti-lgbtq+. the pyramids of egypt, the beautiful beaches of jamaica or the trans siberian railway in russia are just a few examples of incredible experiences to consider. if you do choose to visit destinations like this you may also be able to find lgbtq+ welcoming hotels and tour operators who can assist in ensuring you trip is planned with safe and welcoming options.
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marriage equality, lgbtq+ laws, rights and social sentiment
iglta has partnered with destination pride, a data-driven platform that reimagines the pride flag as a dynamic bar graph, then uses it to visualize the world's lgbtq+ laws, rights and social sentiment. the platform brings together thousands of data points from around the globe – including marriage equality laws, census data and real-time social sentiment – to generate a pride flag visualization for each destination. click here to learn more.
explore marriage equality around the world
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