They’re gay in both senses of the word
The World Happiness Report 2019 has been released and all of the top ten countries have an exemplary record on LGBTI rights.
The report, produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network in partnership with the Ernesto Illy Foundation, has ranked 156 countries on how happy their citizens think they are.
Finland came out on top as happiest place, followed Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
All of the top 10 didn’t just come up top for happiness, but they all have extensive laws and legal protections to protect LGBTI people.
The only exception is Switzerland (6), who have civil partnerships instead of same-sex marriages. Joint adoption is illegal, as only married couples can adopt. However, same-sex partners can adopt step-children.
Finland also have a law requiring transgender people to be sterilized before they can legally change their gender. This has been challenged by the country’s legal watchdogs and is expected to change soon.
They are all in the Spartacus Gay Travel Index‘s joint top first position or fourth position, except Switzerland, which is joint seventeenth. Spartacus judge their list on protections and laws for LGBTI people against state-sponsored homophobia.
The United Kingdom came in at 15th, whereas the United States ranked 19th. Both countries are experiencing political turmoil at the moment, which may explain why they aren’t higher.
So the next time you’re planning your big gay trip away, you might want to bear this in mind.
1 Finland
Legal: Since 1972
Equal age of consent: Since 1999
Legal gender change: Only after sterilization
Serve in military: All LGBTI people can serve
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Yes
Same-sex marriage: Yes
2 Denmark
Legal: Since 1933
Equal age of consent: 1977
Legal gender change: Self-identification
Serve in military: Gay, lesbian and bisexual people can serve
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Yes
Same-sex marriage: Yes
3 Norway
Legal: Since 1972
Equal age of consent: Since 1972
Legal gender change: Legal gender change
Serve in military: All LGBTI people can serve
Discrimination protections: Yes – including specific intersex protections
Same-sex adoption: Married and committed same-sex partners
Same-sex marriage: Yes
4 Iceland
Legal: Since 1940
Equal age of consent: Since 1992
Legal gender change: Self-identification
Serve in military: No army
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Couples
Same-sex marriage: Yes
5 Netherlands
Legal: Since 1811
Equal age of consent: Since 1971
Legal gender change: Only after a diagnosis but without surgery/hormone therapy
Serve in military: All LGBTI people are allowed to serve
Discrimination protections: Protections for sexual orientations
Same-sex adoption: Couples
Same-sex marriage: Yes
6 Switzerland
Legal: Since 1942
Equal age of consent: Since 1992
Legal gender change: Yes
Serve in military: Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are allowed to serve
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Step-child only
Same-sex marriage: Civil Partnerships
7 Sweden
Legal: Since 1994
Equal age of consent: Since 1972
Legal gender change: Legal change
Serve in military: All LGBTI people can serve
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Couples
Same-sex marriage: Yes
8 New Zealand
Legal: Male since 1986
Equal age of consent: Since 1986
Legal gender change: Change without surgery
Serve in military: Gay, lesbian and bisexual people can serve
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Yes
Same-sex marriage: Yes
9 Canada
Legal: Since 1969
Equal age of consent: Since 1969
Legal gender change: Without surgery
Serve in military: All LGBTI people can serve
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Yes – varies per region
Same-sex marriage: Yes
10 Austria
Legal: Since 1971
Equal age of consent: Since 202
Legal gender change: Without surgery
Serve in military: All LGBTI people can serve
Discrimination protections: Yes
Same-sex adoption: Couples
Same-sex marriage: Yes
by Tom Capon
Source – Gay Star News
