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Russia -

In Russia, LGBTQ+ individuals face significant discrimination, violence, and persecution. Many anti-gay laws have been implemented in recent years, and this has fostered an environment of intolerance and has legitimized hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.

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Saudi Arabia -

Saudi Arabia enforces strict Sharia law, where homosexuality is criminalized and punishable by death, public whippings, or even chemical castration. LGBTQ+ individuals live in constant fear of the general public inflicting violence as well.

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Italy -

Despite being an advanced nation with many pro-LGBTQ+ laws in place, Italy is one of the most dangerous countries for the queer community, especially for transgender individuals. Not all anti-gay discrimination is banned, which means that many acts of violence are reported.

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Nigeria -

In Nigeria, the mere discussion of LGBTQ+ rights is a criminal offense. Since the nation's Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act was passed in 2013, violence and extortion against the LGBTQ+ community has risen significantly.

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Iran -

Even though Iran carries out more sex reassignment surgeries than any other country in the world after Thailand, anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is still extreme. LGBTQ+ individuals are often subject to arrest, torture, and execution at the hands of police and the public.

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Germany -

In Germany, hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community have shockingly been on the rise in recent years. The country’s LGBTQ+ rights are some of the most progressive in the world, and yet public sentiment towards queer individuals has rapidly declined.

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Ghana -

Homosexuality in Ghana is generally viewed as shameful and as a disgrace. Many times throughout recent decades, the Ghanaian government has been at the forefront of violence against the LGBTQ+ community by ordering families and landlords to expel anyone suspected of being queer.

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Uganda -

Uganda is notorious for its harsh anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including the "Anti-Homosexuality Act." Queer people in the country face extreme violence, persecution, and widespread societal discrimination.

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Qatar -

Qatar has been known to condone police brutality against LGBTQ+ people for years. Many queer individuals in the country have reported brutal abuse at the hands of Qatari police after they were arrested.

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Argentina -

In early 2024 in Argentina, four lesbians were set on fire in what has been described as a hate crime, with only one of them surviving. The country has seen many incursions of violence against LGBTQ+ people, and it has only escalated over time.

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Brunei -

Brunei is one of the few nations in the world to still use stoning as a form of death sentence, which has been passed down to many queer people. As such, the LGBTQ+ community in the country remains incredibly hidden and secret.

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Egypt -

Despite Egypt’s status as an incredibly popular tourist destination, it has been ranked as one of the worst for LGBTQ+ individuals. Most prominently, Egyptian police have been known to 'hunt' LGBTQ+ people on dating apps and systemically abuse and torture them after arrest.

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Tanzania -

Tanzania has intensified its crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in recent years, with authorities conducting “witch hunts” and arrests. Political authorities are the driving force of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, which has led to widespread violence.

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Sudan -

According to an index by the European Journal of Public Health, Sudan is considered the most homophobic country in the world. LGBTQ+ individuals are constantly at risk of extreme violence, including hate crimes and social ostracization.

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Somalia -

Militant groups like Al-Shabaab have often taken it upon themselves to persecute LGBTQ+ Somalians under the guise of Islamic law. Hate crimes are rampant, and there is no legal protection for LGBTQ+ rights.

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Ethiopia -

Hate crimes against queer people are incredibly common in Ethiopia, often fueled by religious and cultural beliefs that view homosexuality as unnatural and immoral.

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South Africa -

In South Africa, homosexuality is largely believed to be a product of white supremacy and colonization. Despite the fact that the nation was the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage (and the only African country to date), many members of the LGBTQ+ community suffer from violent hate crimes.

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Turkey -

Government vitriol towards LGBTQ+ people in Turkey has been on the rise, which has spurned public hostility towards queer individuals. Even the once-beloved Istanbul Pride March has been banned since 2015 due to religious and ideological perspectives.

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Indonesia -

In Indonesia, queer people face increasing persecution, especially in conservative provinces like Aceh, where Sharia law is enforced. Public canings (pictured) and social ostracization are common, and hate crimes often go unpunished due to widespread societal support.

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Bangladesh -

Bangladesh criminalizes homosexuality under Section 377 of the Penal Code. Harassment and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals is widespread, and hate crimes are often ignored by law enforcement and allowed to continue.

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India -

Public opinion on LGBTQ+ rights in India has become more positive in recent years, although the country is still classed as one of the most violent towards queer individuals. The nation has some of the highest rates of murder against transgender people.

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Pakistan -

Pakistan's LGBTQ+ community faces severe discrimination, violence, and persecution. Trans people are impacted the most in the country, with many of them being sexually assaulted and violently killed across the nation.

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Philippines -

Although the Philippines is one of the few Asian countries that has banned anti-gay discrimination, there are still widespread reports of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in the areas of emotional and sexual abuse.

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Peru -

Peruvian society is generally incredibly hostile towards LGBTQ+ people, due to the heavy influence held by the Roman Catholic Church. Police brutality has been skewed towards queer individuals, and recent reports have surfaced of a gay man who was tortured while in police custody.

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Ecuador -

Ecuador has legalized same-sex marriage and banned all anti-gay discrimination, but the country still has some of the highest rates of violence against queer people in the world, especially toward transgender individuals.

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Colombia -

Colombia sees some of the most violent acts towards queer people in the world, although public sentiment has become increasingly positive over the years. Indeed, Colombia’s government has taken a strong stance in ensuring the protection of LGBTQ+ individuals by implementing various rights over the years.

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United States -

Unsurprisingly, the United States is also included on this list, due to its incredibly tumultuous history with LGBTQ+ rights. The number of violent attacks against queer folk has skyrocketed in the past few years, and human rights groups believe that the issue will only become worse.

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Mexico -

Despite the substantial LGBTQ+ community that openly exists in Mexico, public sentiment towards queer individuals is increasingly negative. Murders of gay and transgender people are often reported and comprise some of the most harrowing statistics in the world.

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Brazil -

Brazil has afforded many equal rights to LGBTQ+ individuals (including same-sex marriage), yet the country is considered one of the most violent towards the community. In 2023 alone, more than 100 transgender people were murdered in Brazil, the most of any country in the world.

Sources: (Statista) (World Population Review) (Forbes) (Stonewall) (Gay Times) (ILGA)

See also: The world's biggest LGBTQ+ pride celebrations

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