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(Top) 1 Businesses 2 World 2.1 Not Included in Data 3 United States 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

Gay-friendly

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Portal of the Church of Pilgrims, in Washington, DC, USA, with an LGBT banner

Gay-friendlyorLGBT-friendly places, policies, people, or institutions are those that are open and welcoming to gayorLGBT people. They typically aim to create an environment that is supportive, respectful, and non-judgmental towards the LGBT community. The term "gay-friendly" originated in the late 20th century in North America, as a byproduct of a gradual implementation of gay rights, greater acceptance of LGBT people in society, and the recognition of LGBT people as a distinct consumer group for businesses.

Businesses

A shop in Amsterdam selling LGBTQ+ merchandise and goods

Many businesses now identify as gay-friendly, allowing for a more diversified employee and customer base. The Human Rights Campaign works to achieve equality for gays, lesbians, and other marginalized minorities, and publishes a list of companies in relation to issues concerning LGBT people. Companies that are noted for gay-friendly work environments include Dell and Coca-Cola. Companies such as R Family Vacations, Manspray, Volkswagen, Ginch Gonch, and numerous others offer niche products and services for gay customers. Others, such as LOT Polish Airlines sends the message of gay-friendliness by offering travel to major gay destinations with a rainbow flag.^[1] Studies have shown that LGBT communities tend to favor gay-friendly businesses, even if the cost of a particular product or service is higher.^[2]

World

The Pew Research Center conducted a survey in 2019 to measure levels of acceptance of LGBT around the globe.^[3]

Country-specific percentage of people who say homosexuality should be accepted by society

Rank

Country

Percent

94%

92%

89%

86%

86%

85%

81%

76%

75%

Researchers at the Williams Institute at UCLA released a report in 2021 after analyzing findings from different surveys to develop their own LGBTQ Global Acceptance Index (GAI).^[4]

Most gay-friendly countries

Rank

Country

GAI

9.78

9.46

9.38

9.18

9.02

8.77

8.69

8.41

8.34

8.23

The Spartacus International Gay Guide publishes the Gay Travel Index, a ranking of gay-friendly countries. Points are added to countries for anti-discrimination legislation, equal marriage, partnership and adoption laws, and LGBT marketing. Meanwhile, points are subtracted for anti-LGBT laws, HIV travel restrictions, religious influence; and prosecution, murders, and death sentences.

In 2024, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index featured a majority of Western European countries in the top 12 spots (Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland), rounded out by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Uruguay. The bottom 4 places went to Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iran and Saudi Arabia.^[5]

List of countries by their Gay Travel Index (2024)^[6]

Rank

Country

Total

Anti-Discrimination Legislation

Marriage/Civil Partnership

Adoption Allowed

Transgender Rights

Intersex/3rd Option

Equal Age of Consent

"Conversion Therapy"

LGBT Marketing

Religious Influence

HIV Travel Restrictions

Anti-Gay Laws

Homosexuality Illegal

Pride Banned

Censorship

Locals Hostile

Prosecution

Murders

Death Sentences

–1

–1

–1

–1

–1

−1

−1

–1

–1

–1

–1

−1

–1

–1

−1

–1

Sweden

–1

−1

Taiwan

−1

Andorra

–1

−1

Argentina

−1

Belgium

−1

–1

−1

−1

−1

−1

United Kingdom^{[note 4]}

−1

−1

−1

−1

−1

−2

Cuba

−1

Estonia

−1

Guadeloupe

–1

−1

–1

Martinique

−1

–1

Slovenia

−1

–1

Greece

−1

–1

Israel^{[note 5]}

–1

South Africa

−1

–1

Mexico

–1

–2

Puerto Rico

−1

–1

–2

United States

–1

Ecuador

–1

−1

–1

−1

–1

Gibraltar

–1

−1

Guam

−1

–1

–1

−1

−1

−1

–1

−1

San Marino

−1

–1

−1

US Virgin Islands^{[note 6]}

−1

−1

−1

−1

−1

Bosnia and Herzegovina^{[note 7]}

-1

−1

Cyprus

-1

−1

–1

−1

–1

Italy

-1

−1

–1

Latvia

-1

−1

Montenegro

-1

−1

Vietnam

-1

−1

Albania

-2

−1

Bhutan

-2

−1

Singapore

-2

−1

Slovakia

-2

−1

–1

−1

South Korea

-2

−1

Ukraine

-2

−1

–1

Angola

-3

−1

Antigua and Barbuda

-3

–1

−1

–1

Belize

-3

−1

–1

−1

–1

Curaçao

-3

−1

–1

−1

Fiji

-3

–1

−1

–1

Japan

-3

–1

−1

–1

Laos

-3

−1

–1

−1

Marshall Islands

-3

−1

–1

−1

–1

Monaco

-3

–1

−1

–1

Mongolia

-3

−1

–1

−1

North Macedonia

-3

−1

–1

−1

Romania

-3

–1

−1

–1

Serbia

-3

−1

–1

Sint Maarten^{[note 8]}

-3

−1

Barbados

-4

−1

Botswana^{[note 9]}

-4

−1

Cabo Verde

-4

−1

–1

Cambodia

-4

−1

Kosovo

-4

−1

–2

–1

Lithuania

-4

−1

–1

−1

Macao

-4

−1

–1

−1

Micronesia

-4

−1

–1

−1

–1

Saint Lucia

-4

−1

British Virgin Islands

-5

−1

–2

−1

Bulgaria

-5

−1

–1

−1

China (incl. Hong Kong)

-5

−1

El Salvador

-5

–1

−1

Hungary

-5

−1

–1

−1

Kazakhstan

-5

−1

−2

Lesotho

-5

−1

Mauritius^{[note 10]}

-5

−1

–1

−1

Moldova

-5

−1

–1

−1

Mozambique

-5

−1

Niger

-5

−1

Panama

-5

−1

–1

−1

–1

−1

Peru^{[note 11]}

-5

−1

–1

−2

Samoa

-5

−1

–1

−2

−1

Seychelles^{[note 12]}

-5

−1

–1

Suriname

-5

−1

109

Armenia^{[note 13]}

-6

−1

109

Benin

-6

−1

–1

−1

109

Cook Islands

-6

−1

109

Georgia

-6

−1

−2

−1

109

Guinea-Bissau

-6

−1

–1

−1

109

Mali

-6

−1

109

São Tomé and Príncipe

-6

−1

–1

109

Sri Lanka^{[note 14]}

-6

−1

109

Vanuatu

-6

−1

118

Honduras^{[note 15]}

-7

−1

–1

−2

−1

118

Kiribati

-7

−1

118

Kyrgyzstan

-7

−1

−2

118

Pakistan

-7

−1

−2

−1

–1

−1

118

Palau

-7

−1

118

Philippines^{[note 16]}

-7

−1

118

Poland

-7

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

118

Saint Kitts and Nevis

-7

–1

−1

118

Trinidad and Tobago

-7

−1

–1

−1

–1

127

Burkina Faso

-8

−1

−2

−1

−2

127

Gabon

-8

−1

−2

127

Grenada

-8

−1

127

Lebanon^{[note 17]}

-8

−1

–1

−1

127

Namibia

-8

−1

–1

−1

127

Nicaragua

-8

−1

−2

−1

127

Paraguay

-8

−1

–1

−1

127

Tuvalu

-8

−1

–1

−1

–1

−1

127

Vatican City^{[note 18]}

-8

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

127

Venezuela

-8

−1

−2

137

Bahrain^{[note 19]}

-9

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

137

Bangladesh

-9

−1

−2

−1

–2

–1

137

Guatemala

-9

−1

−2

137

Guinea

-9

−1

–1

−1

137

Tajikistan

-9

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

137

Tonga

-9

−1

−2

−1

143

Azerbaijan

-10

−1

–1

−1

−2

143

Bahamas

-10

−1

–1

−2

−1

143

Burundi

-10

−1

−2

−1

143

Central African Republic

-10

−1

−2

−1

−2

143

Comoros

-10

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

143

Democratic Republic of the Congo

-10

−1

−2

–1

−2

−1

143

Equatorial Guinea

-10

−1

−2

−1

–2

−1

143

Guyana

-10

−1

−2

−1

143

Haiti

-10

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

143

Jordan

-10

−1

–2

−1

−2

−1

143

Kenya

-10

−1

−2

−1

143

Myanmar

-10

−1

–1

−1

143

Papua New Guinea

-10

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

−2

143

Republic of the Congo

-10

−1

−2

−1

−2

143

Rwanda

-10

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

−2

143

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

-10

−1

143

Sierra Leone

-10

−1

–1

−1

–1

−2

143

Togo

-10

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

143

Turkey^{[note 20]}

-10

−1

−2

−1

162

Belarus

-11

−1

−2

162

Chad

-11

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

−1

162

Djibouti^{[note 21]}

-11

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

162

Dominica

-11

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

−1

162

Dominican Republic

-11

−1

−2

−1

−2

162

Gambia

-11

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

–1

−2

−1

162

Liberia

-11

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

162

Madagascar

-11

−1

−2

162

Maldives

-11

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

162

North Korea

-11

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

162

Solomon Islands

-11

−1

−2

−1

−2

162

Uzbekistan

-11

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

174

Algeria

-12

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

174

Eswatini

-12

−1

−2

−1

−2

174

Ghana^{[note 22]}

-12

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

174

Ivory Coast

-12

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

−2

174

Jamaica

-12

−1

−2

−1

−2

174

Mauritania

-12

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

174

Oman

-12

−1

–1

−1

–1

−2

−1

–1

174

Sudan

-12

−1

−2

−1

–1

−2

−1

174

Zambia

-12

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

174

Zimbabwe

-12

−1

−2

−1

−2

184

Cameroon

-13

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

−2

184

Eritrea

-13

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

184

Indonesia

-13

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

184

Senegal

-13

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

184

Syria

-13

−1

–1

−1

–1

−2

−1

189

Brunei

-14

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

189

Egypt

-14

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

189

Ethiopia

-14

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

189

Aceh (Indonesia)

-14

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

189

Iraq^{[note 23]}

-14

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

–1

189

Malawi

-14

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

–2

189

Morocco

-14

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

189

South Sudan

-14

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

−1

189

Tunisia

-14

−1

−2

−1

189

Turkmenistan

-14

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

199

Malaysia

-15

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

199

Tanzania

-15

−1

−2

−1

−2

–1

201

Kuwait

-16

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

201

Libya

-16

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

201

Qatar

-16

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

−1

201

United Arab Emirates

-16

−1

–1

−1

−2

−1

–1

−2

–1

−1

205

Nigeria^{[note 24]}

-17

−1

−2

–3

205

Russia^{[note 25]}

-17

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

207

Somalia^{[note 26]}

-18

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

−2

−5

207

Uganda

-18

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

−3

209

Yemen

-19

−1

−2

−1

−2

−1

210

Afghanistan

-21

−1

−2

−1

−2

–2

−5

210

Chechnya (Russia)

-21

−1

−2

−1

−2

−5

210

Iran

-21

−1

−2

−1

−2

−5

210

Saudi Arabia

-21

−1

–1

−1

−2

–1

−1

−2

−1

−5

Not Included in Data

Abkhazia

American Samoa

East Timor

Mayotte

Nauru

Niue

Northern Cyprus

Northern Mariana Islands

United States

Spartacus also publishes a Gay Travel Index for US states, listing the 50 states plus the District of Columbia with the same criteria as the country rankings. In 2024, the top spot went to New York while the bottom ten states were mainly the southern and the mountain states, with Oklahoma being the overall worst-ranked state for LGBT people.^[5]

List of U.S. states by their Gay Travel Index (2024)^[6]

Rank

State

Total

Anti-Discrimination Legislation

Transgender Rights

Intersex/3rd Option

Hate Crime Law

Censorship

"Conversion Therapy"

LGBT Marketing

Queer Infrastructure

Gay and Trans Panic Defence

Locals Hostile

−1

−1

−1

−1

−1

–1

−1

–1

−1

−1

−1

–1

−1

−1

−1

−1

−1

−1

−1

–1

−1

Missouri

−1

–1

−1

South Carolina

−1

–1

Iowa

-1

−1

Kansas

-1

−1

Kentucky

-1

−1

Nebraska

-1

−1

Texas

-1

−1

Wyoming

-1

−1

Florida^{[note 27]}

-2

−1

−2

−1

–1

−1

North Carolina

-2

−1

North Dakota

-2

−1

South Dakota

-2

−1

West Virginia

-3

−1

Alabama

-4

−1

Mississippi

-4

−1

Tennessee

-4

–1

−1

Montana

-5

−1

Oklahoma

-6

−1

−2

−1

Notes

^ InCanada the adoption laws vary per province. Same-sex-adoption is however possible countrywide.

^ InGermany, due to federal government system, there are varying regulations regarding arrival/residence HIV. For example, in Bavaria someone who is HIV-positive can be denied entry. The Federal Constitutional Court has stipulated in several renditions of judgment that the politicians implement the same rights for gay men and lesbians which apply to heterosexuals.

^ The Employment Equality Act allows religious-run workplaces exemption from its anti-discrimination provisions to protect their ethos.

^ InNorthern Ireland the legal situation for same-sex adoption is unclear.

^ InIsrael a civil marriage for both homosexual and heterosexual couples is not possible as marriage can only be performed by a Rabbi. This problem does not only apply to gays and lesbians but also heterosexuals belonging to different religious affiliations. There are limited anti-discrimination laws (exception: certain religious groups).

^ The United States Virgin Islands have the same legal status as Puerto Rico regarding the USA. There is also a ban on hate crimes. After the Supreme Court decided in favor of same-sex marriage in the US, there are plans to implement same-sex marriage in Puerto Rico as well.

^ Bosnia and Herzegovina passed an unclear anti-discrimination law in 2009 in which a ban on discrimination against "sexual expression" is mentioned. There is a reference that "sexual identity" is not meant in this case. It is obvious that an attempt to adhere to the minimum requirements from the EU has been made, to be accepted into the EU.

^ As an overseas territory of the Netherlands Sint Maarten recognizes same-sex marriages which are performed in the Netherlands. In St. Maarten itself gay marriage is still not possible, but changes can soon follow. There are no adoption laws.

^ InBotswana homosexuality is practically illegally on the basis of the ban on "unnatural act", but in the labor law there is still an explicit prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

^ InMauritius, the sodomy law tends to find application with the heterosexual population. The Equal Opportunities Act protects homosexuals against discrimination at work. It is therefore questionable whether homosexuality is classified as illegal or not.

^ Consensual homosexual acts in Peru between adults are legal. An exception applies for members of the military and police, who can be prosecuted with a prison sentence ranging from 60 days to 20 years or suspension from duty.

^ In May 2016 the Parliament of Seychelles decided to make homosexuality legal.

^ Armenia has received many reports of illegal violence from police against homosexuals.

^ At the request of the UNHCR Sri Lanka has announced that discrimination of homosexuals is constitutionally forbidden. It was further stressed that the anti-sodomy law is not aimed against homosexuals, but applies for all to protect public morals.

^ InHonduras an anti-discrimination law has recently been passed, but in practice it is ignored.

^ There are regional differences in the laws relating to homosexuals. In addition, the local religion is just as crucial, whether a law is implemented or not.

^ There are reports of a different judicial interpretations of the law on "sex against nature".

^ The Vatican City adheres to Italian law, but restrictions are possible if the ecclesiastical law contradicts Italian law. Therefore, there are conflicting opinions that homosexuality is not illegal or just not happily seen, but tolerated.

^ InBahrain although the paragraph referring to sodomy was abolished in 1976 from the local legal code, gay men can still be punished with imprisonment according to the laws regarding "unmoral" behavior.

^ Police stopped violently the Gay Pride on 29th June, 2015. This can be considered a de facto ban on the Pride.

^ The Shariah-law in Djibouti is often superior to the constitutional laws, so it could be expected that homosexuality is punishable.

^ InGhana there is a ban on unnatural sex. The government recognizes in this a clear ban on homosexuality.

^ Homosexuality in Iraq is formally legal, but police and military track down homosexuals, and reports of murder and rape exist.

^ InNigeria the death penalty only applies for homosexuals according to the Shariah laws and therefore relates only to Muslims in the north of Nigeria.

^ The LGBT rights movement was declared an 'extremist organization' by authorities in Russia in 2023.

^ Shariah laws applies in Somalia since 2012. There is however contradictory information, since, on the other hand the maximum penalty is up to 3 years in prison, nevertheless in 2013 a homosexual was stoned to death after a judgment.

^ In 2015 Florida explicitly lifted the adoption ban for homosexuals after federal judges ruled it unconstitutional in 2010.