text: Andrei Constantin

illustration: Cristina Radoaica

The term LGBTQIA+ refers to a broad category of people, including people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex, although we can identify numerous other terms that could be used to define sexual or gender orientation. However, people in the LGBTQIA+ community are criticized even today. Globally, acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people has increased since the 1980s, but there are still countries that do not recognize the rights of these people, or have implemented laws against them, or even /in some countries reaching even death penalty. 

In the past, the concept of a distinct sexual identity did not exist, although people lived lives similar to how we perceive community membership in modern times.

Today we are more protected against discrimination related to sexual orientation, gender identity or expression of sexual characteristics through the International Court of Human Rights. However, authorities in several countries that have signed international treaties agreeing to protect human rights continue to implement legislation that discriminates against individuals on the basis of sexual or gender orientation.

There are 64 countries that have laws against homosexuality. In several countries such as Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Uganda, etc., people can receive the death penalty if they participate in same-sex sexual acts. The most dangerous country for LGBTQIA+ people is considered to be Nigeria.

 LGBTQIA+ rights in Africa

With the exception of South Africa and Cape Verde, LGBTQIA+ rights in Africa are limited compared to the US, Canada, Western Europe and New Zealand. Of the 55 states recognized by the United Nations or the African Union, the ILGA organization has declared that homosexuality is against the law in 34 African countries. LGBTQIA+ people are killed and verbally and physically assaulted every day in Africa, but the leaders of the countries are not that interested in improving the situation on the continent.

LGBTQIA+ rights in South America

In the last decade, Latin America has stood out for its recognition of LGBTQIA+ rights. With the exception of the Caribbean, most countries in the region have decriminalized same-sex relationships between adults. In Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, LGBTQIA+ people are constitutionally protected against discrimination. Since 2010, 8 countries have passed laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Safest regions for LGBTQIA+

1. Iceland - score 9.97

2. The Netherlands - score 9.92

3. Norway - score 9.91

4. Sweden - score 9.88

5. Canada- score 9.85

6. Spain - score 9.82

7. Denmark - score 9.80

8. United Kingdom - score 9.75

9. Malta- score 9.70

10. Belgium - score 9.69

source: panorama.ro

Currently, same-sex marriages are not allowed in Romania. However, according to the ECHR, Romania is obliged to grant this right to people from the LGBTQIA+ community. 

"The supervision mechanism is a diplomatic one. If it wants to reach an equal footing with the other European states, Romania has every interest in fulfilling its international obligations, which represent an important lever in this direction. It's the turn of same-sex couples," says lawyer Iustina Ionescu for Panorama.ro. 

sources: 

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/safest-countries-for-lgbtq-peoplehttps://www.jpost.com/international/ksa-iran-qatar-west-bank-and-gaza-among-most-dangerous-places-for-lgbtq-665426

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/state-lgbtq-rights-latin-america-0

https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/discrimination/lgbti-rights/î

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/5/6/homophobia-africas-moral-blind-spot

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Africa

https://medium.com/queer-history-for-the-people/a-brief-history-of-the-lgbtq-initialism-e89db1cf06e3

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/global-acceptance-index-lgbt/

https://panorama.ro/romania-cedo-cupluri-gay-casatorie-drepturi/