Recently, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) launched, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the 10th edition of its annual report on State-Sponsored Homophobia, a world survey of laws: criminalization, protection and recognition of same-sex love, with Aengus Carroll and Lucas Paoli Itaborahy authoring this year.
Among some of the highlights:
—There are 117 countries (UN members) where same sex sexual acts between adults in private are legal. Mozambique and Palau have decriminalized same-sex acts in 2014, and Lesotho did the same in 2010.
—There are 76 countries where same-sex sexual acts are still illegal (down from 92 in 2006). Chad introduced a new Penal Code in 2014, punishing anyone who has sex with persons of the same sex.
—Seven countries have constitutional bans on discrimination based on sexual orientation, including Mexico (2011) and Virgin Islands (2007).
—Incitement of hatred based on sexual orientation is prohibited in 31 countries. Austria introduced such a law in 2011, Hungary in 2013, Montenegro in 2010 and Switzerland in 2015.
The full report is at old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2015.pdf. The 2015 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Map of World Laws can be found here old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_WorldMap_2015.pdf.