Hong Kong’s top court on Tuesday ruled in favour of allowing same-sex partnerships, marking another victory for global LGBTQ rights.
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But the court stopped short of giving same-sex couples full marriage rights.

More than 30 countries allow same-sex marriage, while others recognise same-sex civil unions.

But in some parts of the world, homosexuality is illegal and in seven countries, it is still subject to the death penalty, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Association (ILGA).

– A crime in Africa –
Around 30 African countries ban homosexuality.

Uganda, Mauritania and several Nigerian states punish same-sex relations extremely harshly, with those accused possibly facing the death penalty.
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South Africa is the sole nation on the African continent to allow gay marriage, which it legalised in 2006.

Gay sex has been decriminalised in only a handful of countries: Cape Verde, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mozambique, and the Seychelles, according to ILGA.

– Middle East: repressed –
Several countries in the conservative region still have the death penalty for homosexuality, including Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Israel leads the way in terms of gay rights, recognising same-sex marriages that are performed elsewhere although not allowing such unions in the country itself. Gay couples can adopt children.

Lebanon is also more tolerant than other Arab countries.

– Taiwan, first in Asia –

While much of Asia is tolerant of homosexuality, Taiwan became the first in the region to allow gay marriage after a landmark ruling by its Constitutional Court in 2017.
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Nepal’s Supreme Court in late June 2023 issued an interim decision to allow all citizens to register their marriages, including same-sex and transgender couples, although implementation of it appears to have stalled.

Vietnam decriminalised gay marriage celebrations in 2015 but stopped short of full legal recognition for same-sex unions.

Thailand took a step towards same-sex marriage in June when lawmakers gave initial approval to legalising same-sex unions.

In 2018, India’s Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex.

Gay marriage and adoption are allowed in New Zealand and Australia.

– Europe, gay marriage pioneers –
The Netherlands in 2001 became the first country in the world to allow gay couples to marry.

Since then, 18 European countries have followed: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia and Switzerland.
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In Russia, homosexuality is not a crime, but President Vladimir Putin’s administration has implemented tough laws on so-called “gay propaganda”.

Hungary, too, has banned materials that it says promote homosexuality and gender changes.

– Progress in the Americas –

Canada was the first country in the Americas to authorise same-sex marriage and adoptions in 2005, and 10 years later, the United States legalised gay marriage nationwide.

In Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Uruguay all allow same-sex marriage.
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