Countries where it is still illegal to be gay

• Which are the most anti-gay countries?
• What are the punishments?
• Which nations are more tolerant?

In the 21st century, one might assume that we’ve gotten past this kind of discrimination, but the reality is that there are still countries where it’s illegal to be gay.

According to the BBC, there are more than 70 countries around the world where homosexuality is criminalized.

Flogging, imprisonment, and even the death penalty, are some of the absurd punishments.

Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, are among the Latin American countries that condemn gay people.

Uganda is one of the most anti-gay countries

Uganda is among the anti-gay countries, where any behavior that could be considered gay is prohibited.

To make matters worse, this law also mandates punishment for those who fail to report homosexual activities.

In 2009, former President Barack Obama referred to these laws as «odious.»

Furthermore, gay relationships  are considered a crime in other African countries like Liberia and Nigeria.

The situation isn’t much different in Cameroon

Next, we delve into the case of Cameroon, another of the anti-gay countries.

According to a report from Amnesty International, people there can be arrested based on their appearance or mere rumors they are gay.

The report also notes that several individuals were imprisoned for as long as three years without trial due to these accusations.

Lastly, those who were released reported being physically abused in jail, including forced rectal exams.

What’s happening in India?

In India, a person used to face up to 10 years in prison simply for being gay.

Near the end of December 2013, India’s Supreme Court made it illegal to be gay in that country but this decision was reversed in 2018.

While homosexuality is no longer criminalized, same-sex marriage is still not legal.

«It’s been a constant struggle to hold my head high, to walk with pride… and no one should care about who I sleep with,» said activist Sunil Mehra.

Are there Latin American countries where it’s illegal to be gay?

The Caribbean is the only region in Latin America where homosexuality is illegal in some places.

In fact, it’s important to highlight that Latin America is at the forefront in terms of LGBTQ+ rights.

Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and Cuba provide constitutional protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, as do Argentina and Brazil.

Chile, Colombia, Peru, Honduras and Uruguay offer «broad protection» against discrimination based on sexual orientation. A significant achievement.

Contrasting the Americas and Africa

It’s essential to underscore the differences between the Americas and Africa.

According to the BBC, while the Americas offer hope, the situation is quite the opposite in Africa.

There are 32 anti-gay countries in Africa, making it one of the most challenging regions for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Lately, there has been increased scrutiny of transgender individuals in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as of LGBTQ+ individuals in Poland and Hungary.