If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community and have concerns about your safety when it comes to international travel, the 2019 LGBTQ+ Danger Index was recently published by Asher and Lyric, a website that promotes health and safety advice for international travelers. Featuring a study of the world’s most and least dangerous countries for LGBTQ+ travel, the report reveals the “good, the average and the utterly grotesque.”
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According to the website, “instead of relying on hearsay and anecdotes from other travelers, we took a deep look at LGBTQ+ rights, country by country. We’ve gathered data from a variety of trusted international sources to create a ‘LGBTQ+ Danger Index’ that will help you find the worst (and safest) countries for LGBTQ+ travel.”
The report takes into consideration a range of concerns including protection against discrimination, hate crimes, illegal same-sex relationships, and more. Weighing these issues, the list ranks 150 countries from least to most safe.
“To measure LGBTQ+ safety abroad, one cannot look only at data on whether or not same-sex marriage is legal and if anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination laws are in place. It also depends on the general attitude of the culture, minutiae of the legal system, and oppression of LGBTQ+ rights. These issues can affect everything, from your ability to show public displays of affection to being able to share a hotel room bed to the capacity at which you can use dating apps without being caught by the local police,” says the Asher and Lyric website.
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Sweden and Canada top the list for the safest countries, with legalized same-sex marriage, worker protections, protections against discrimination, and the criminalization of violence.
Here are the top 10 safest countries for LGBTQ+ travelers, according to the 2019 index:
- Sweden
- Canada
- Norway
- Portugal
- Belgium
- United Kingdom
- Finland
- France
- Iceland
- Spain
Although this list acts as a helpful guide, it is important to note that you should always take precautions while traveling, learn local social customs, and check travel.state.gov for more details on LGBTQ+ safety before you leave home.