As we approach 2020, it’s difficult to believe that for LGBTQ+ people, planning a trip can still be a minefield.
An overwhelming number of countries around the world have very few protections for the queer community and many still openly criminalise homosexuality, making it difficult for LGBTQ+ people to travel safely.
Asher and Lyric, a website promoting safe, healthy travel, has taken a deep dive into LGBTQ+ rights to create the LGBTQ+ Danger Index to give travellers a sense of the worst and safest countries for travel.
The index takes the 150 countries with the most international tourists to see which are the worst and safest for queer folk based on eight factors: legalised same-sex marriage, worker protections, protections against discrimination, criminalisation of hate crimes, adoption recognition, whether it’s a good place to live, if same-sex relationships are illegal and if there are propaganda and morality laws in place.
These are the top 10 most dangerous destinations for LGBTQ+ people:
- Nigeria
- Qatar
- Yemen
- Saudi Arabia
- Tanzania
- Iran
- Sudan
- Barbados
- Malaysia
- Malawi
The top 10 safest are:
- Sweden
- Canada
- Norway
- Portugal
- Belgium
- United Kingdom
- Finland
- France
- Iceland
- France
Australia ranked as the 134th most dangerous, in between Uraguay and Ireland, because of our lack of protections against hate crimes.
For more information and some great tips from a gay travel expert, check out the full index here.
