"As of June 2023, 35 countries recognize same-sex marriage."
Learning about the legal rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, including marriage equality, adoption, and employment protections.
LGBT History: The history of the LGBTQ+ community and their struggle for equal rights, including significant events such as the Stonewall uprising and the AIDS epidemic.
Discrimination: The various forms of discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community, including employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and discrimination in healthcare.
Marriage Equality: The fight for the legalization of same-sex marriage and the impact it has had on LGBTQ+ rights.
Gender Identity: The ongoing struggle for transgender rights, including access to healthcare, education, and legal recognition.
Employment and Labor Law: The legal issues that arise in the workplace for LGBTQ+ individuals, including discrimination, harassment, and protections given by federal and state laws.
Family Law: Issues surrounding the rights of LGBTQ+ couples and their families, including adoption, surrogacy, and custody battles.
Healthcare and Insurance: The impact of healthcare policies on the LGBTQ+ community and the ongoing fight for equal access to medical care and insurance coverage.
Hate Crime Legislation: The legal protections available for victims of hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Immigration: The challenges faced by LGBTQ+ immigrants, including asylum seekers and those facing deportation, and the policies that govern their equitable treatment.
Religious Exemptions and Free Speech: The ongoing debate surrounding religious exemptions, free speech, and LGBTQ+ rights, including issues related to sex education and conversion therapy.
National and International Politics: The federal and international policies that impact LGBTQ+ rights.
Non-Discrimination Ordinances: Legal protection provided to LGBTQ+ individuals in various cities across America to ensure they have legal recourse if their rights are violated.
Prisoners’ Rights: LGBTQ+ prison inmates often face an unreasonable deprivation of their rights, particularly in the areas of housing eligibility, as well as access to gender confirmation surgery.
HIV/AIDS Laws: AIDS played a significant role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and policies around prevention, treatment, and research impact LGBTQ+ individuals unevenly.
Military and Veterans’ Issues: Until recently, members of the LGBTQ+ community were not allowed to serve openly in the military, and veterans who had served under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell or who had undergone a dishonorable discharge have faced mass discrimination.
Right to non-discrimination: All individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are entitled to equal treatment and protection under the law.
Right to freedom of expression: All individuals have the freedom to express themselves without fear of discrimination, retribution, or violence.
Right to privacy: All individuals have the right to privacy, including the privacy of their personal lives, relationships, and identities.
Right to marriage and partnership recognition: All individuals have the right to marry and start a family, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Right to adoption and foster care: All individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are entitled to adopt or foster children.
Right to healthcare: All individuals have the right to access healthcare services that are free of discrimination, stigma, and violence.
Right to asylum: Individuals who face persecution or violence based on their sexual orientation or gender identity are entitled to seek asylum in another country.
Right to education: All individuals have the right to access education that is free from discrimination, bullying, and harassment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Right to employment: All individuals have the right to access employment opportunities that are free from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Right to safe and accessible housing: All individuals have the right to safe and accessible housing that is free from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Right to freedom of association: All individuals have the right to form, join, and participate in organizations, groups, and communities that celebrate their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Right to gender recognition: All individuals have the right to have their gender identity recognized by the government and society.
"Iran and Afghanistan are believed to impose the death penalty on consensual same-sex sexual acts."
"LGBT people face extrajudicial killings in the Russian region of Chechnya."
"Sudan rescinded its unenforced death penalty for anal sex (hetero- or homosexual) in 2020."
"Fifteen countries have stoning on the books as a penalty for adultery."
"This is enforced by the legal authorities in Iran and Nigeria (in the northern third of the country)."
"In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights."
"The report documented violations of the rights of LGBT people, including hate crimes, criminalization of homosexual activity, and discrimination."
"The United Nations urged all countries which had not yet done so to enact laws protecting basic LGBT rights."
"A 2022 study found that LGBT rights were correlated with less HIV/AIDS incidence among gay and bisexual men independently of risky sexual behavior."
"The Nordics, Uruguay, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States are ranked among the best for LGBT rights."
"Yemen, Brunei, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mauritania, Palestine, and Iran are ranked among the worst."