After the landmark Supreme Court decision finally legalized same-sex marriages in the USA, it is easy to think that there is finally equality in the world, but this list of the 11 worst countries for LGBT Travellers will tell you otherwise.
This list only reveals eleven countries listed and ranked according to their popularity as anti-LGBT nations, the existence of government-backed anti-LGBT sanctions, propaganda, or policies, LGBT-hate crime rates, and the public attitude toward members of the LGBT community. At the very least these countries do not allow members of the LGBT to be themselves; at worst, these nations can kick anyone into jail just for being homosexual or transsexual. These eleven nations, though known for having the worst attitudes toward LGBT community, are not exactly the only ones where the LGBT community is not so well received. In fact, there are currently 79 countries where homosexuality is still considered illegal. This list is based on the compilations of several websites including ResponsibleTravel, GlobalGayz, DestinationTips, and OutTraveler among many other sources.
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Whether you’re a member of the LGBT community looking for your next travel destination or just plainly searching for a country that shares your pro-equality stance, the countries on this list should be last on your itinerary or not there AT ALL.
Don’t forget to check out our other popular article about the countries with the biggest gay populations in the world.
11. Malaysia
In both the federal and Sharia laws that Malaysia honors, homosexuality and ‘homosexual acts’ are all considered illegal. These homosexual acts – including sodomy – can be punishable by fines, whipping, and even prison time of up to 20 years. Homosexuality became hot news in the Southeast Asian country after former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was convicted and given a nine-year jail sentence for committing sodomy with his then speech writer and close-in aide in 1998.
In 2012, the Malaysian Ministry of Education released controversial guidelines that are addressed towards parents who are looking to detect signs of homosexuality in their children. In 2015, current Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak came under fire from LGBT rights activists worldwide for comparing members of the LGBT to the terror group ISIS. It is rather safe to say that Malaysia can get hostile to members of the LGBT.
Traveling to Malaysia as an LGBT member may mean you’d have to be discreet about your sexuality, stay in the urban areas where people are more tolerant, and never show PDA at all!
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10. Belize
The Caribbean paradise of Belize, as small as it is, has one of the biggest anti-LGBT laws. The highly conservative community has retained its old laws against sodomy and homosexual intercourse. They also have an immigration law that bans homosexual foreigners from entering the country. Despite the fact that this law has been challenged in court, the ruling has yet to be released.
Belize is so adamant at retaining their anti-LGBT laws that its government has even dared to speak against Barack Obama’s appeal to nations to uphold LGBT rights, risking their foreign aid from the United States.
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9. Egypt
In a 2013 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, it has been found that a staggering 95% of all Egyptians believe that homosexuality is unacceptable. Egypt’s attitude towards LGBT is described by the travel website Frommer’s as being schizophrenic, the reason being is that on one hand, male homosexuality is considered a taboo but male-to-male sexual relations are not treated as a big deal. However, people who are identified as being outed homosexuals can face discrimination.
In recent years, however, Egypt’s security forces have been cracking down the LGBT community more rigorously than before with reports of arrests and even harassment.
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8. Kenya
Like most countries in Africa, Kenya enforces legal actions against homosexuality. In fact, people engaging in so-called homosexual acts can face up to fourteen years of jail time. Unfortunately, that is not the worst thing for the LGBT members in Kenya.
It has been known that locals are very hostile against members of the LGBT community. Out and identified homosexuals – foreigners included – can face discrimination, taunting, and even risk the instances of violence. The local police are of no help either as they are known to ignore complaints and reports of LGBT-related violence.
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7. Senegal
The 7th on this list of the 11 worst countries for LGBT travellers is Senegal. Like most of the countries in the African continent, Senegal outlaws homosexual activities, and there is a high rate of homophobia amongst its citizens.
Homosexual acts are punishable in Senegal by large fines, punishment, and even imprisonment – and minors are not exempted from said punishment! Reporting people for alleged engagement in homosexual activities and raids against suspected homosexuals are not uncommon. In fact, in June of 2015, seven people were convicted and jailed for six months after their home was raided and condoms were found.
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6. Guyana
While Brazil and Argentina’s gay rights are moving forward and their societies are becoming more accepting of the members of the LGBT community, Guyana is falling backwards. The small country remains to be the only nation in South America to criminalize homosexuality.
The LGBT community in Guyana may have experienced a minor triumph when the nation’s Supreme Court ruled that cross-dressing is now legal as long as it is not done for “indecent purposes”. However, in a country where the majority of its people cannot accept the LGBT, whatever gets within the scope of decency remains a major grey area.
LGBT locals and foreigners are pressured to be discreet about their sexuality lest they risk being discriminated against by the community, or even be imprisoned for it.
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5. Russia
Russia’s stand on LGBT rights came under fire at the height of the Sochi Olympics. The country’s law banning any “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” was enacted in 2013 and it made no exemption against foreign LGBT travellers.
This law does not clearly state what does and what does not count as ‘propaganda’ but it could possibly include plainly being an outed gay, lesbian, or trans people. Anyone found guilty of breaking this law can expect punishment ranging from large fines to imprisonment and deportation.
There has also been a noted rise in hate crimes committed against LGBT since the amendment and enactment of said law.
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4. UAE
This Middle Eastern economic giant takes one of the highest spots on this list of the 11 worst countries for LGBT travellers. While different Emirates are more tolerant than others, the fact remains that LGBT members in the UAE are in grave danger of facing fines or imprisonment; if found to be engaging in homosexual sexual activities, the death penalty can spare no one. It does not even matter if your sexual acts were done with mutual consent; if you do it you’re guilty!
Raids are not uncommon, and so are arrests for public displays of affection. Some were also imprisoned for cross-dressing. In a nutshell, UAE restricts any member of the LGBT not for being one but for simply expressing it.
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3. Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the most homophobic countries in the world, and it certainly is in the upper ranks on this list of the 11 worst countries for LGBT travellers. With widespread homophobia, high rates of LGBT hate crimes, and inhumane legal troubles for members of the LGBT community, Nigeria is definitely one place to avoid.
Case in point: the 2008 publishing of the names, photos, and addresses of members of a Lagos-based church that is known for being friendly to the LGBT community and the violence experienced by several members of that church soon after the information was published.
Depending on the area, homosexuality is punishable in Nigeria with a prison sentence, fines, physical punishments, and sometimes even death. Not to mention, the community is largely hostile and discriminating against indiscreet gays and lesbians.
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2. Jamaica
Far from its reputation as a Caribbean paradise, Jamaica may as well be a hellhole for members of the LGBT community. With high rates of violence against gays and lesbians, rampant homophobia, and threats of legal action against homosexuals, Jamaica is one dangerous country for members of the LGBT.
More than the colonial-era laws against sodomy, the country’s biggest LGBT nightmare is the citizens’ attitude towards homosexuals. Jamaica’s homophobia is so open that hate speech against LGBT comes out in popular songs (reggae, nonetheless) aptly called ‘murder music’.
Since 1997, there have been more than 30 gay men murdered in Jamaica, countless gays and lesbians beaten up, and an unaccountable amount of discrimination all throughout. Homosexual people traveling here should work their best and hardest to give their best straight people impression lest they risk getting discriminated on.
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1. Uganda
The home of the breathtaking Victoria Lake is also the home to one of the world’s worst countries for LGBT travellers. Same-sex relations and acts here are criminal offenses, with its maximum punishment: a life sentence.
In 2014, Uganda passed its most inhumane and worst LGBT rights offense: passing the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014 that imposes the death penalty for those found to be guilty of being homosexuals. The Act does not only punish individuals – but can also take action against NGO’s and companies that support same-sex relations or push for LGBT rights. This law was ruled invalid by the Constitutional Court of Uganda, but not before it has become infamous in the Western World as the ‘Kill the Gays Bill’.
There is widespread homophobia and hate crime which the authorities do not act on, and propaganda against homosexuality is constantly in the works. One of Uganda’s most famous anti-LGBT propaganda is the ‘Seminar on Exposing Homosexuals’ in 2009 that was organized by the Family Life Network.
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The 11 worst countries for LGBT travellers are proof enough that humanity has a long, long way to go as far as equality is concerned. Whether you’re an LGBT traveller or an LGBT rights supporter, these are the countries that you are better off avoiding.
