US is the no. 14 best LGBTQ+ travel destination in the world
To raise awareness of global attitudes for LGBTQ Pride Month, the dating reviews website MyDatingAdviser.com released a report on ‘The Best Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2023’. The United States has been named one of the best countries for LGBTQ+ travel, according to MyDatingAdviser.com. It has been ranked 14th globally, landing it in the top 20 most gay-friendly travel destinations. The US has been given an LGBTQ+ travel index score of 76.6 (out of a possible 100 points).
If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, some countries might be better than others for your next adventure.
There have been significant changes in laws and norms surrounding the issue of same-sex marriage and the rights of LGBT people around the world. However, public opinion on accepting homosexuality in society remains divided by country, region, and economic development.
The 20 Best Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2023:
Sweden
Netherlands
Spain
France
United Kingdom
Germany
Canada
Australia
Brazil
Argentina
South Africa
Italy
Israel
United States
Czech Republic
Mexico
Greece
Poland
Slovakia
Philippines
What makes the US one of the most gay-friendly countries?
Public acceptance towards homosexuality: 72% of the American public accepts homosexuality, according to a ‘Global Attitudes & Trends’ survey by Pew Research.
Sexual activity for same-sex couples: Legal in some states since 1962, nationwide since 2003.
Civil union rights: Domestic partnerships in California (1999), the District of Columbia (2002), Maine (2004), Washington (2007), Maryland (2008), Oregon (2008), Nevada (2009), and Wisconsin (2009). Civil unions in Vermont (2000), Connecticut (2005), New Jersey (2007), New Hampshire (2008), Illinois (2011), Rhode Island (2011), Delaware (2012), Hawaii (2012), and Colorado (2013).
Marriage rights: Legal in some states since 2004 and nationwide since 2015.
Adoption rights: Legal in some states since 1993 and nationwide since 2016.
Military service rights: Lesbians, gays, and bisexuals have been allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military since 2011, following the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Transgender people have been allowed to serve openly since 2021.
Anti-discrimination laws: Employment discrimination based on sexual orientation has been prohibited nationwide since 2020. More extensive protections exist in 23 states, DC, and some municipalities. Conversion therapy for minors is banned in 20 states, DC, and some cities. Sexual orientation has been covered by the federal hate crime law since 2009.
Gender identity laws: Gender change is legal, under varying conditions, in 48 states + DC. Nonbinary gender markers are available, under varying circumstances, in 25 states + DC. Employment discrimination based on gender identity has been prohibited nationwide since 2020. More extensive protections exist in 22 states, DC, and some municipalities. Gender identity has been covered by the federal hate crime law since 2009.
Where can the US improve LGBTQ+ rights?
Military service rights: Transvestites are currently banned from the military since 2012. Most openly Intersex people may be banned from the military under the Armed Forces ban of “hermaphrodites.”
Anti-discrimination laws: In FL, KS, MI, ND, NE, and PA, the state's nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state's civil/human rights commission has explicitly stated it interprets the state's existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity.
Methodology
To determine the most gay-friendly travel destinations, MyDatingAdviser compared 34 countries across eight key indicators of LGBTQ+-friendliness.
The data set focuses on the following categories: society's acceptance of homosexuality, sexual activity rights, civil union rights, marriage rights, adoption rights, military service rights, anti-discrimination laws, and gender identity laws.
To view ‘The Best Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2023’, visit https://mydatingadviser.com/gay-travel-destinations/.
