Top 10 Least Gay-Friendly Travel Destinations In The World

With the spotlight recently on Russia for the winter Olympics, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) rights are a hot topic, UK-based online travel agency Responsibletravel.com says.

According to a 2012 GETA (Gay European Travel Association) report, European LGBT travelers alone are estimated to spend £39-42 billion annually, making this a market many countries cannot afford to ignore.

Responsibletravel.com, with help from the Human Dignity Trust, an NGO fighting for LGBT rights globally, has compiled a list of what it believes to be the least friendly holiday destinations for the LGBT community. The list is put together in no particular order.

Top 10 least gay-friendly holiday destinations worldwide

– 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 has also been 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 smiles 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 its 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 also passed a law criminalizing LGBT organisations.
– Kenya: Well-known for its fabulous wildlife, less well known for its colonial-era laws criminalizing homosexuality. Currently prosecutions are rare, but Kenyan law-makers 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.”
– 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.

What can travelers do?

According to Justin Francis, Managing Director of responsibletravel.com, if travelers decide to visit these countries, by traveling responsibly and choosing to support local craftspeople, hoteliers, guides, farmers and traders, their trip can help enlighten and educate, bringing benefits to the people that need it most, rather than supporting government regimes.

“If you do choose to boycott a destination make sure your reasons are voiced to the people with power to make a change,” Mr. Francis concludes.

Should travelers boycott these destinations? Responsibletravel.com welcomes comments at responsibletravel.com/top-10-least-gay-friendly-travel-destinations