A Brief Look at the Current State of LGBTQ Rights Globally
The state of LGBTQ rights from a global perspective is very disparate. While some countries are progressing towards a more open stance on LGBTQ rights (i.e. the legalization of same-sex marriage in Ireland) others remain opposed to non traditional lifestyles and in some cases promote the harshest of punishments.
Across the globe, the LGBTQ community faces discrimination, and in some cases, penalties reserved for the harshest…www.newsup.me
The International Landscape
Earlier this week, Ireland, a country where over 70% of citizens identify as Catholic, voted yes to legalize same-sex marriage in the world’s first national vote on the issue. 62.1 percent of Irish voters said “yes” to changing the nation’s constitution to define marriage as a union between two people regardless of their sex. However, this landmark victory for international human rights was underscored by what the Vatican Secretary of State called a “disaster for humanity”.
DUBLIN (AP) - Ireland's citizens have voted in a landslide to legalize gay marriage, electoral officials announced…www.huffingtonpost.com
The response from the Vatican, while not surprising, illustrates the polarizing effect of LGBTQ equality. Meanwhile in Nigeria,, legislation drafted by the administration of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan has outlawed same-sex marriage. The law, which contradicts Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights treaties, criminalizes public displays of affection between same-sex couples and penalizes organizations advocating the rights of LGBT people.
Anti-LGBTQ sentiment is not unique to developing nations. Russia, one of the most advanced countries in the world, enacted a policy that would allow people attending the 2014 Sochi Olympics to be arrested on suspicion of being gay. You might remember this Dan Savage piece on boycotting Russian vodka.
So what accounts for these vast differences between pro-and-anti-LGTBQ equality stances across the international community? In an attempt to answer this question, the Pew Research Center conducted a study entitled “The Global Divide on Homosexuality”. The report is chock full of interesting statistics and comparisons ranging from age and gender to religion and economic standing. The study found greater acceptance of the LGBTQ community in more secular and affluent countries. Take a look at the full report.
Meanwhile in ‘Merica
Pew’s conclusion that secularized nations are more accepting of the LGBTQ community is a salient point for the United States of America. Particularly because Republicans have voted in support of religious-Freedom Laws, which could hurt a progressive movement towards LGBTQ equality. While same-sex marriage is currently legal in 37 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, 13 states, and five territories have banned same-sex marriage outright.
Even in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, LGBTQ equality remains a divisive issue. It’s apparent that while progress is being made, there is a long road ahead in the fight for LGBT equality both in the United States and around the globe.
Whether it’s a surprising fact, an informative map, or a contextual quiz — as a news organization our goal is to provide understanding around key current events and promote thoughtful conversation. Let us know what you think about the state of LGBT rights globally in the comment section below.
