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Map of LGBT Rights in Asia: DARK BLUE: Equal marriage and non-discrimination law; LIGHT BLUE: Limited recognition of same-sex unions and discrimination banned in certain regions only; PURPLE: Foreign same-sex marriages recognized, adoption legal, and discrimination banned; GREEN: At least some sexual orientation discrimination banned nationwide; PALE GREEN: Sexual orientation discrimination banned only in certain regions; BEIGE: Crackdowns on LGBT rights advocacy and expression, but homosexuality legal, if only technically; ORANGE: Sodomy illegal; MAGENTA: Sodomy illegal, but discrimination against trans people prohibited.

2025 LGBTQ rights update: Many bright spots in Asia amid the gloom

One of a series of updates about LGBTQ rights internationally, region by region

Guadeloupean performer Admiral T is known for his homophobic lyrics.
Homophobic song by Guadeloupe artist Admiral T removed from streaming platforms
2025 LGBTQ rights update: Progress and backsliding in Latin America and Caribbean

Resources

This site's activist journalists have laid the groundwork for Project Not Alone, which frees imprisoned victims of African homophobia. This illustration shows two gay men waiting for donations that will pay their fines and set them free.
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Map of 66 countries that criminalize homosexuality
Homosexuality is now illegal in 65 nations
21 varieties of traditional African homosexuality
Death penalty, ex-gay therapy, 100s of prisoners, the Commonwealth, more

Upbeat news

Guadeloupean performer Admiral T is known for his homophobic lyrics.
Homophobic song by Guadeloupe artist Admiral T removed from streaming platforms
2025 LGBTQ rights update: Progress and backsliding in Latin America and Caribbean
Saint Lucia carnival scene (Photo courtesy of Saint Lucia Tourist Authority)
St. Lucia election mirrors an increasing acceptance of island’s LGBTQ community
Word cloud showing the names (pseudonyms) of the 56 prisoners for whom Project Not Alone has won early release.
Readers’ donations have freed a total of 56 victims of African homophobia

Important work funded by our readers

Marriage was a gay man’s shield. Exposure forced him to start again
Word cloud showing the names (pseudonyms) of the 56 prisoners for whom Project Not Alone has won early release.
Readers’ donations have freed a total of 56 victims of African homophobia
Rainbow flag: St. Paul's Foundation for International Reconciliation needs your financial support for its work advancing LGBT rights. Click the image to donate.
To support LGBT rights, include St. Paul’s Foundation in your year-end giving
We freed four Muslim men imprisoned when their imam called them gay

Africa

Anita Among, speaker of Uganda's parliament
Backlash against Uganda Parliament Speaker over homophobic remarks
Donald Trump on the campaign trail in 2016 (David Becker photo courtesy of Reuters)
Annus Horribilis: After the grim revelations of 2025, what next?
Uganda urged to repeal anti-gay law to combat HIV
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni , who signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law in May 2023. (Photo courtesy of the BBC)
Uganda LGBTQI advocacy groups denounce human rights abuses

Caribbean

Guadeloupean performer Admiral T is known for his homophobic lyrics.

Homophobic song by Guadeloupe artist Admiral T removed from streaming platforms

2025 LGBTQ rights update: Progress and backsliding in Latin America and Caribbean

Biphobia is an issue when viewing new Guadeloupe film ‘Dream On’

Europe

Guadeloupean performer Admiral T is known for his homophobic lyrics.
Homophobic song by Guadeloupe artist Admiral T removed from streaming platforms
Logo of the conference Shaping Tomorrow: Queer Asylum in Europe
LGBTQ rights reports ‘mean the difference between life and death’
Biphobia is an issue when viewing new Guadeloupe film ‘Dream On’
Costume party in Tomsk, Siberia. (Photo courtesy of Novaya Gazeta Europe)
Russia’s police hunt for gays, but find clowns

Asia

Map of LGBT Rights in Asia: DARK BLUE: Equal marriage and non-discrimination law; LIGHT BLUE: Limited recognition of same-sex unions and discrimination banned in certain regions only; PURPLE: Foreign same-sex marriages recognized, adoption legal, and discrimination banned; GREEN: At least some sexual orientation discrimination banned nationwide; PALE GREEN: Sexual orientation discrimination banned only in certain regions; BEIGE: Crackdowns on LGBT rights advocacy and expression, but homosexuality legal, if only technically; ORANGE: Sodomy illegal; MAGENTA: Sodomy illegal, but discrimination against trans people prohibited.
2025 LGBTQ rights update: Many bright spots in Asia amid the gloom
Donald Trump on the campaign trail in 2016 (David Becker photo courtesy of Reuters)
Annus Horribilis: After the grim revelations of 2025, what next?
Logo of the conference Shaping Tomorrow: Queer Asylum in Europe
LGBTQ rights reports ‘mean the difference between life and death’
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Noushad Thekkayil photo courtesy of Euractiv / NurPhoto / Getty Images)
Kazakhstan Senate approves ban on positive depictions of LGBTQ people

Middle East/North Africa

Iran, captained by Alireza Jahanbakhsh (pictured), is scheduled to face Egypt in what's set to be a pride match in Seattle at the FIFA World Cup. (Etsuo Hara photo courtesy of ABC / Getty)
Iran and Egypt protest World Cup match scheduled amid Pride celebrations
Rainbow flag: St. Paul's Foundation for International Reconciliation needs your financial support for its work advancing LGBT rights. Click the image to donate.
To support LGBT rights, include St. Paul’s Foundation in your year-end giving
Ibtissame (Betty) Lachgar (Photo courtesy of Chnge.org)
Coalition demands release of Morocco LGBT activist after 100 days in prison
Illustration from Damj's Facebook page.
More than 70 arrested in Tunisia’s anti-LGBT crackdown

Americas

Guadeloupean performer Admiral T is known for his homophobic lyrics.

Homophobic song by Guadeloupe artist Admiral T removed from streaming platforms

Admiral T song incites hatred against gays in Guadeloupe 

2025 LGBTQ rights update: Progress and backsliding in Latin America and Caribbean
Donald Trump on the campaign trail in 2016 (David Becker photo courtesy of Reuters)
Annus Horribilis: After the grim revelations of 2025, what next?
Biphobia is an issue when viewing new Guadeloupe film ‘Dream On’

Oceania

Logo of Outright International

Outright launches important reports on LGBTQ rights in every country

Pride marcher in New Zealand poses with the flag of the tiny island nation Niue. (Claire-Eastham-Farrelly photo courtesy of NZTV)

Niue: Tally of nations with anti-homosexuality laws drops to 65

WorldPride is happening in Washington, D.C., from May 17 to June 8. (Photo courtesy of CBS and Getty)

Whose Pride is it, anyway?