Where is the best place for LGTBI rights in Europe (clue: it's definitely not Russia)?
The Rainbow Europe survey ranked the UK top in a list of 49 countries
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The UK has been ranked number one in Europe for LGBTI rights.
The Rainbow Europe survey, carried out by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), named the UK the best out of 49 countries in terms of legislation and policies that have a “direct impact on the enjoyment of human rights by LGBTI people”.
With a tally of 82 per cent, the UK scored highly across six categories: equality and non-discrimination; family; bias motivated speech/violence; legal gender recognition; freedom of assembly, association and expression; and asylum.
The result marks a five per cent increase since last year’s survey, helped in particular by marriage equality legislation, which saw the first same-sex couples tie the knot in March.
Belgium was in second place, with a score of 78 per cent, followed by Spain with 73 per cent. The Netherlands, Norway and Portugal came in joint fourth place with 70 per cent, while Sweden, France and Iceland completed the top five with equal scores of 65 per cent.
Unsurprisingly, Russia was revealed to be the worst place for LGBTI people to live, scoring just six per cent. It was closely followed by Monaco, Armenia and Azerbaijan with joint scores of 10 per cent.
Launched to mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia on 17 May, the survey showed that the European average for LGBTI rights stands at 36 per cent – with the average for EU countries only slightly higher at 46 per cent.
But vast improvements were seen in Malta, which had a score 22 points higher than in last year’s survey, and Montenegro, which was up by 20 points.
However, the report's authors stressed that discrimination against LGBTI people continues to occur all across Europe. It also highlighted concerns regarding new anti-gay legislation, including Russia’s law banning gay “propaganda”.
Gabi Calleja, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s executive board, said: "ILGA-Europe’s 2014 edition of its Rainbow Europe package shows that while the human rights of LGBTI people have undoubtedly gained great visibility across Europe, progress in terms of real legal, political and social changes vary considerably from one country to another, in large part depending on levels of societal acceptance, of political leadership and political will, as well as the strength of civil society in a given country."
Read more: A great ambassador for gender diversity
Russia must leave Eurovision, says MP
Gay marriage UK
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments