Introduction to LGBTQAI+ Rights Worldwide
The rights for LGBTQAI+ people vary strongly worldwide. What is punished with death in some countries is regularly celebrated elsewhere with colorful pride events. In Europe, too, both the legal situation and the social acceptance of the queer community vary from country to country.
Basically, the needs of lesbians, gays, trans* and everyone else are exactly the same as everyone else. People want to relax, have fun, meet new people, and be able to move freely. It can therefore be useful for queer travelers to maintain information about social norms, possible support centers, and their own rights in the country in advance.
European Countries’ Stance on LGBTQAI+ Rights
The EU is committed to the protection of LGBTQIA+ persons through various provisions. Nevertheless, some EU member states or candidate countries are currently moving in the opposite direction: Hungary and Georgia, for example, recently removed the "gender identity" from their equality laws. At the same time, however, there were positive developments: From this year, Austria’s Equal Treatment Act provides for "gender" gender characteristics, gender identity, and gender expression.
The Rainbow Map, compiled by the international lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- and intersex association (ILGA), is a good resource for assessing the legal and political situation of European travel destinations. Malta has taken first place in the ranking in the past 10 years, achieving a score of 88.83%, well above the European average. Germany is in eighth place with 69.1%.
National Customs and Practices
When preparing for a trip, it is also worthwhile to look beyond the legal situation of the country. LGBTQIA+ travel guides, travel blogs, apps, or the website of the German Foreign Office can be useful to learn about national customs and practices in advance. On the streets of the big cities in Portugal, for example, same-sex couples are not unusual, but the public representation of affection between adults, regardless of gender, is unusual.
Prevention Measures for Trans* People
For trans* people, it can be particularly difficult to get through border controls. If your passport does not say M or F, but instead is diverse, entry to certain countries can be a problem. Travelers should also be emotionally prepared for invasive questions, for example from security personnel at the airport. In Germany, it is possible to apply for a supplementary ID card that documents all self-selected personal data and a current passport photo, which can help prevent discrimination.
Popular Destinations for LGBTQAI+ Travelers
As soon as you arrive at your destination, it can be nice to network with the local community. There are apps that you can use to find other travelers or queer hostels. LGBTQIA+ travel agencies are also a good way to get to know people from the community if desired. Spain and Greece are the most popular countries for queer travelers, with a local culture that is sometimes even more progressive than in Germany. In most European countries, LGBTQIA+ people can generally travel without worry and be sure that they meet people from their community, especially in large cities. Nevertheless, caution is advised, since isolated attacks on queer people in Europe can also occur.
