Belgium, the 2nd most gay-friendly country in Europe

20/05/2016

On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on 17 May, the annual ranking of public laws and policies for sexual minorities was published. A Rainbow Map by ILGA-Europe places Belgium in second place, behind Scotland, out of the 47 States analysed.

The European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe), created in 1996, is the European section of the ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association). Based in Brussels, this NGO brings together 408 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organisations, and carries out awareness-raising work among European institutions in order to ensure the eradication of discrimination against LGBT.

Every year, in May, ILGA-Europe publishes its Rainbow Europe review in order to announce the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia of 17 May. This study rates 49 European countries on a scale from 0% (blatant violations of human rights and discrimination) to 100% (compliance with human rights, complete equality).

This year, Belgium is rated among the most welcoming countries for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, appearing in 2nd position in the ranking (82.4%), outdistanced by the United Kingdom by 3%, especially Scotland which legalised marriage for all in 2014. The countries at the "bottom of the class" are Monaco (11%), Ukraine (10%), Armenia (9%), Russia (8%) and Azerbaijan (8%), none of which have adopted any measures in favour of equality or the protection of their citizens against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Therefore, Belgium serves as a model, but concrete measures and actions still need to be set up in order to recall that Belgium is a pioneer in the field of LGTB rights.