Top 10 least gay-friendly holiday destinations worldwide
Responsibletravel.com, with help from the Human Dignity Trust, an NGO (Non-governmental organization) fighting for LGBT rights globally, has compiled a list of what it believes to be the least friendly vacation destinations for the LGBT community. The list is in no particular order.
Uganda: Land of the awe-inspiring mountain gorilla, with an equally jaw-dropping stance on LGBT rights. Chillingly the Ugandan President has pledged to sign a bill, which will see homosexuals face a life sentence in jail. This could become law at any time.
Russia: The Winter Olympics has invited the world to Russia, but to us it seems that the Olympic ethos of equality hasn’t extended to LGBT rights. Recent legislations make it illegal to educate minors about “non-traditional” relationships and there are a large number of reports documenting hate groups persecuting homosexuals.
Malaysia: This paradise of island beaches, unique wildlife and vibrant cultures has made our list not only for its British colonial-era anti-LGBT laws, but also for its laws criminalizing cross-dressing. It is also reported that the Ministry of Education has given guidelines to parents on how to spot the ‘symptoms’ of homosexuality in their children.
Jamaica: It’s not all sunshine and a smile in this famously upbeat Caribbean nation – the danger of violence towards LGBT persons is high, driven in part by the popularity of “hate music,” with some major and popular artists recording extremely homophobic lyrics.
India: When it reversed its 2009 legislation decriminalizing homosexuality, India’s Supreme Court has essentially declared that an estimated 30-40million LGBT persons are now living as criminals. Although prosecutions are rare, police and vigilantes now have the power to harass homosexuals.
Nigeria: Not a particularly popular tourist destination we admit, but it’s truly shocking stance on LGBT rights earns its place in the list. Homosexual activity is punishable by death in certain Nigerian states and the country has passed a law criminalizing LGBT organizations.
Kenya: Well-known for its fabulous wildlife, less well known for its colonial-era laws criminalizing homosexuality. Currently prosecutions are rare, but Kenyan lawmakers have responded to President Obama’s recent call for African nations to respect LGBT rights by calling for the enforcement of these laws.
Ukraine: Ukraine makes the list as the government is considering similar legislation to Russia, against “propaganda of homosexuality” and NGOs have already been declared as “foreign agents.”
Certain parts of Latin America: At a glance Latin America looks like a great place for gay travel; most countries have decriminalized or indeed never criminalized homosexuality, major cities like Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires have flourishing gay scenes, and Argentina has led the way in equality laws. However, according to the 2012 Trans Murder Monitoring Project, between 2008 and 2011, 79 percent of the murders of transgender people reported throughout the world took place in Latin America.
Turkey: Despite the tranquility of its pristine beaches and the sparkling Mediterranean, levels of violence are high. Turkey registered the second highest number of murders of transgender people after Latin America in the same study.
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