The annual list by Spartacus praises Canada, but puts the United States under observation...
Iconic gay travel guide Spartacus released its annual Gay Travel Index of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly destinations. A source for finding queer friendly spaces worldwide for over five decades, the publication has been releasing the annual ranking since 2012.
Presented this year by Booking.com, the report declares five countries as the most friendly. It also shares which tumbled in the rankings, thanks to recent political changes, and which it is keeping a close eye on due to uncertainty.
Spartacus evaluates 18 categories to determine the rankings. It looks at whether a country has anti-discrimination legislation, transgender rights, same-sex adoption and if homosexuality is sentenced by death to name a few.
“We are convinced that there are holidaymakers who choose countries where the community is an accepted and loved part of society,” Spartacus said in the report. “There are also vacationers who consciously want to travel to a country in order to enter into a dialogue with the oppressed local queer community. The index is intended to offer both attitudes a valid evaluation basis for a decision.”
Iceland tops the index for the first time
Five countries tied for first place for the second year in a row. Canada, Malta, Spain and Portugal all remained the top LGBTQIA+ friendly countries in the world receiving 13 points. Iceland joins them for the first time after placing eighth last year. The country has been very progressive with LGBTQIA+ rights over the years and banned conversion therapy in 2023.
New Zealand fell from the top to sixth place tying with Germany. In eighth place on the Gay Travel Index was Australia, Norway, Uruguay, and Switzerland.
United States continues to fall and remains ‘under observation’
The USA’s ranking continues to decline, dropping from 41st to 48th place. It shares the spot with Liechtenstein, Czechia, Cyprus and Croatia. The country continues to be under observations as concerns around LGBTQIA+ rights and the elimination of resources, specifically for transgender people, continue.
Georgia declined 53 spots to 162nd place, marking the steepest drop. It is under observation after new anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation was introduced. Other countries the publication is watching closely include Moldova and Slovakia.
The United Kingdom, ranked 15th, isn’t under observation quite yet, but the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling that “trans women aren’t considered women,” might alter that. The country could follow the United States and face a decline in the rankings next year.
Queer friendly destinations to watch for
Countries enacting marriage equality laws experienced major gains. Greece rose from 38th place to 15th this year, though it’s unclear how the ban on surrogacy for gay men, single or in a relationship, could impact it in the future.
Thailand rose from 54th to 41st place after becoming the first Southeast Asian country to give same-sex marriage equal status to heterosexual marriage.
The Dutch island of Curaçao, off the coast of Venezuela, jumped 12 spots ranking 58th this year. Media have recently praised the island as a queer friendly paradise. Its crystal blue waters and brightly coloured Dutch architecture bring a European charm to the Caribbean that is adored by tourists.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your passports ready and pack those bags! There is plenty of exploring to do.
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