EUROPE

Population: 1.2 million

Influence of the socially conservative Greek Orthodox Church was mitigated in 2004 when Cyprus joined the European Union, leading to progressive laws around sexual orientation and gender identity

Timeline:

1858: Ottoman Empire liberalises laws making same-sex sexual activity legal

1929: British Criminal Law Amendment Act incorporated into Cyprus law making male homosexuality a criminal act; female homosexuality is not recognised or mentioned in the law

1987: The Cypriot Gay Liberation Movement is created

1998: Same-sex sexual activity is legalised

2000: Ban on "promoting" homosexuality is lifted

2004: Employment anti-discrimination law explicitly forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

2009: Accept-LGBT Cyprus is created

2014: First Pride parade in Cyprus

2015: Same-sex civil unions are legalised granting grant several of the rights and benefits of marriage

2022: Accept-LGBT Cyprus releases a report on conversion therapy and backs draft law banning the practice

Prior to colonial contact, Cyprus did not criminalise same-sex sexual activity. When British laws came into effect in 1929, male same-sex sexual contact was made illegal but female same-sex sexual contact was not addressed. The LGBTQ+ rights movement in Cyprus dates back to the mid-80s when the Cypriot Gay Liberation Movement formed and began advocating for rights and protections. Their first major win came in 1998 when same-sex activity was decriminalised.

The year 2004 was significant for LGBTQ+ Cypriots because the nation joined the European Union and to do so, had to change some of its legislation around sexual orientation and gender identity. Currently, LGBTQ+ Cypriots enjoy several rights including civil unions and anti-discrimination legislation on the basis of sexual orientation, but same-sex marriage and protections for gender minorities are yet to come.

Population: 56 million

Recent virulent anti-transgender rhetoric is damaging England’s long-standing reputation as one of the most advanced and progressive places in the world for LGBTQ+ rights

Timeline:

1967: Same-sex sexual activity between men is decriminalised; sexual activity between women was never subject to the same legal restriction

1988: Section 28 of the Local Government Act includes a provision prohibiting "the intentional promotion of homosexuality" by any local authority and "the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship."

2003: Section 28 repealed

2005: Transgender people are able to legally change their gender; same-sex couples are able to enter into civil partnerships and adopt

2010: Equality Act provides anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity

2014: Same-sex marriage is legalised

2016: Ban on LGBTQ+ people serving in the military is lifted

2017: Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May announces plan to simplify process to change legal gender, a move that seems to ignite anti-trans campaigners who claim concerns over the safety of “woman-only spaces”

2022: Prime Minister Boris Johnson decides to ban conversion therapy for sexual orientation but not gender identity, a decision that further fuels intense anti-transgender rhetoric across the UK

Across the UK

LGBTQ+ people living in Great Britain and Northern Ireland some of the broadest rights in the world, including anti-discrimination protections, same-sex marriage, and the legal right to change their gender. In 1967, male homosexuality was decriminalised in England (female homosexuality was never acknowledged in the law), beginning a new era of progressive legislation. The country has lived through several setbacks, however, including Section 28 of the Thatcher-era Local Government Act which criminalised “promotion of homosexuality”. This legislation was repealed in 2003 but now, in 2022, the nation is once again divided. So-called “gender critical” feminists have been successful in placing transgender rights front-and-centre in a hostile media landscape that misrepresents and vilifies trans people. As a result, there has been increased discrimination and violence against trans people.

Population: 33.6 thousand

A border closure between 1969 and 1982 left Gibraltar out of some key social movements in Europe during that era but since the early 2000s, the Rock has mostly caught up to other nations in the region

Timeline:

1993: Same-sex sexual activity is legalised

2002: Gibraltarian Felix Alvarez founds Gib Gay Rights, Gibraltar’s LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation

2013: The Supreme Court of Gibraltar rules that same-sex couples have the right to adopt

2014: Parliament passes a civil partnership law, granting same-sex couples most of the rights of marriage, including allowing the adoption of children by civil partners

2016: Parliament passes the Civil Marriage Amendment Act legalising same-sex marriage

Caught in a territorial conflict between England and Spain, Gibraltar was completely cut off to outside influences for 13 years beginning in 1969 which goes some way to explaining why LGBTQ+ rights in the nation were so late to materialise. It wasn’t until 1993 that homosexual acts were legalised, but the age of consent wasn’t equalised until 2012. Things started to change rapidly in the early 2000s and by 2016, same-sex marriage was legal, same-sex couples could adopt, and there was anti-discrimination legislation in place to protect LBGTQ+ people in Gibraltar. LGBTQ+ Gibraltarians can serve openly in the military, which in this case is the British Armed Forces. Trans people do not yet have the right to legally change their gender markers, but this is currently under consideration.  

Population: 63.4 thousand

LGBTQ+ people in Guernsey have all the rights and protections of their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts

Timeline:

1984: Same-sex sexual activity legalised

2004: Both sexual orientation and gender identity are prohibited grounds for discrimination

2007: Transgender people can change their legal gender

2017: Same-sex marriage is legalised

The legalisation of same-sex sexual activity in Guernsey in 1984 was the first step towards full equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, a result that has come to almost complete fruition as of present day.

Population: 85.7 thousand

LGBTQ+ rights have improved vastly in the last several decades and now LGBTQ+ people in the Isle of Man enjoy the same rights and protections as other citizens

Timeline:

1992: Male same-sex activity decriminalised

2006: Employment discrimination protection on the basis of sexual orientation extended

2009: Gender identity recognition

2016: Same-sex marriage legalised

2019: Equality act covers gender identity as a protected class

LGBTQ+ rights took great stride in the 2000s and now there are rights and protections in place for LGBTQ+ citizens that are on par with the rest of the citizenry.

Population: 301.6 thousand

LGBTQ+ people in Jersey are broadly accepted and enjoy the same rights and protections as other citizens

Timeline:

1990: Same-sex sexual activity decriminalised

2010: Transgender people can change their legal gender

2015: Anti-discrimination legislation on the basis of "sexual orientation, gender reassignment and intersex status"; Jersey is the only British territory that explicitly names intersex status as a protected ground

2018: Same-sex marriage is legalised

LGBTQ+ people in Jersey enjoy the same rights and protections as other citizens. Intersex people are explicitly named in their anti-discrimination protections, making Jersey the only British territory to do so. LGBTQ+ people are accepted socially and culturally.  

Population: 444 thousand

LGBTQ+ rights in Malta are excellent, even compared to other European countries

Timeline:

1973: Same-sex sexual activity legalised

2004: Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity prohibited

2015: Transgender people have the right to change their legal gender

2016: Malta becomes the first country in the European Union to ban conversion therapy

2017: Same-sex marriage is legalised

Although Malta adopted the British Penal Code during colonisation which criminalised sex between men, in more recent history it has become one of the safest and most welcoming places for LGBTQ+ citizens and tourists. LGBTQ+ people enjoy all the rights and protections of other citizens.

Population: 1.89 million

Opponents of LGBTQ+ rights who previously held sway in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing system were able to slow progress in this part of the UK - but with direct rule from the UK accelerating equality, social attitudes appear to be shifting

Timeline:

1982: Same-sex sexual activity between men is decriminalised following a landmark European Court of Human Rights ruling, which came 25 years after limited decriminalisation was enacted in England and Wales; sexual activity between women was never subject to the same legal restriction

2005: Transgender people are able to legally change their gender; same-sex couples are able to enter into civil partnerships

2010: Equality Act provides anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity

2013: Legislation is passed allowing same-sex couples in Northern Irleand to adopt, four years after their English and Wales counterparts

2016: Northern Ireland's lifetime ban on gay men donating blood is lifted, five years after England, Scotland and Wales had done the same

2017: Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May announces plan to simplify process to change legal gender, a move that seems to ignite anti-trans campaigners who claim concerns over the safety of “woman-only spaces”

2020: Same-sex marriage is legalised, six years after being enacted in England and Wales and five years after neighbours Ireland

2022: Prime Minister Boris Johnson decides to ban conversion therapy for sexual orientation but not gender identity, a decision that further fuels intense anti-transgender rhetoric across the UK

Across the UK

LGBTQ+ people living in Great Britain and Northern Ireland enjoy some of the broadest rights in the world, including anti-discrimination protections, same-sex marriage, and the legal right to change their gender. In 1967, male homosexuality was decriminalised in England (female homosexuality was never acknowledged in the law), beginning a new era of progressive legislation. The country has lived through several setbacks, however, including Section 28 of the Thatcher-era Local Government Act which criminalised “promotion of homosexuality”. This legislation was repealed in 2003 but now, in 2022, the nation is once again divided. So-called “gender critical” feminists have been successful in placing transgender rights front-and-centre in a hostile media landscape that misrepresents and vilifies trans people. As a result, there has been increased discrimination and violence against trans people.

Population: 5.45 million

As recently as 2016, Scotland was ranked among the most LGBTQ+-friendly nations in Europe - but while advances on inclusive education and hate crime laws have been made ahead of England, planned reforms on gender recognition laws are stalling, despite majority support from Scots

Timeline:

1981: Same-sex sexual activity between men is decriminalised, 14 years after limited decriminalisation was enacted in England and Wales; sexual activity between women was never subject to the same legal restriction

1988: Section 28 (called Section 2A in Scotland) of the Local Government Act includes a provision prohibiting "the intentional promotion of homosexuality" by any local authority and "the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship."

2000: Section 2A repealed

2005: Transgender people are able to legally change their gender; same-sex couples are able to enter into civil partnerships 

2009: Legislation is passed allowing same-sex couples in Scotland to adopt, four years after their English and Wales counterparts

2010: Equality Act provides anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity

2014: Same-sex marriage is legalised

2017: Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May announces plan to simplify process to change legal gender, a move that seems to ignite anti-trans campaigners who claim concerns over the safety of “woman-only spaces”

2021: MSPs pass new Hate Crime and Public Order Bill (Scotland), introducing greater protections against prejudice on basis of sexual orientation and gender identity

2021: Scotland becomes first country in the world to implement and embed an LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum, with all state schools required to teach students about the history of the movement and equality issues

2022: Prime Minister Boris Johnson decides to ban conversion therapy for sexual orientation but not gender identity, a decision that further fuels intense anti-transgender rhetoric across the UK

2022: Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill under consideration by Scottish Parliament

2022: Church of Scotland votes to allow clergy to conduct same-sex marriages

Across the UK

LGBTQ+ people living in Great Britain and Northern Ireland enjoy some of the broadest rights in the world, including anti-discrimination protections, same-sex marriage, and the legal right to change their gender. In 1967, male homosexuality was decriminalised in England (female homosexuality was never acknowledged in the law), beginning a new era of progressive legislation. The country has lived through several setbacks, however, including Section 28 of the Thatcher-era Local Government Act which criminalised “promotion of homosexuality”. This legislation was repealed in 2003 but now, in 2022, the nation is once again divided. So-called “gender critical” feminists have been successful in placing transgender rights front-and-centre in a hostile media landscape that misrepresents and vilifies trans people. As a result, there has been increased discrimination and violence against trans people.

Population: 3.136 million

Since the establishment of Wales’ National Assembly via the 1997 devolution referendum, LGBTQ+ rights have been in step with those enacted in England - but the Welsh Government is now forging ahead with an ambition to make Wales “the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe”

Timeline:

1967: Same-sex sexual activity between men is decriminalised; sexual activity between women was never subject to the same legal restriction

1988: Section 28 of the Local Government Act includes a provision prohibiting "the intentional promotion of homosexuality" by any local authority and "the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship."

2003: Section 28 repealed

2005: Transgender people are able to legally change their gender; same-sex couples are able to enter into civil partnerships and adopt

2010: Equality Act provides anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity

2014: Same-sex marriage is legalised

2017: Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May announces plan to simplify process to change legal gender, a move that seems to ignite anti-trans campaigners who claim concerns over the safety of “woman-only spaces”

2021: Welsh Government holds three-month consultation on its LGBTQ+ Action Plan, which focuses on tackling inequalities, challenging discrimination, and creating a free and open society

2021: The Church in Wales votes to allow formal blessings of same-sex married couples, putting it at odds with the Church of England

2022: Prime Minister Boris Johnson decides to ban conversion therapy for sexual orientation but not gender identity, a decision that further fuels intense anti-transgender rhetoric across the UK

2022: New LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum for Welsh schools, due to be implemented in September, is subject of legal challenge from group seeking to prevent it being made compulsory

Across the UK

LGBTQ+ people living in Great Britain and Northern Ireland enjoy some of the broadest rights in the world, including anti-discrimination protections, same-sex marriage, and the legal right to change their gender. In 1967, male homosexuality was decriminalised in England (female homosexuality was never acknowledged in the law), beginning a new era of progressive legislation. The country has lived through several setbacks, however, including Section 28 of the Thatcher-era Local Government Act which criminalised “promotion of homosexuality”. This legislation was repealed in 2003 but now, in 2022, the nation is once again divided. So-called “gender critical” feminists have been successful in placing transgender rights front-and-centre in a hostile media landscape that misrepresents and vilifies trans people. As a result, there has been increased discrimination and violence against trans people.