LGBT acceptance grew worldwide, but also polarized people
LGBT acceptance has grown around the world in the past years, but this has also polarized many nations, according to an updated study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.
This study updated and expanded a previous Williams Institute report entitled, “Polarized Progress: Social Acceptance of LGBT People in 141 Countries, 1981 to 2014.”
LGBT acceptance: From the highs…
In the study, Iceland ranked number 1 for being the most accepting nation in the world. Iceland was the first country to have a lesbian prime minister, Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir, from 2009 to 2013.
This was followed by Netherlands, Norway, Canada, and Spain. All five nations were estimated to have the highest levels of acceptance between 2014-2017 and have increased in their levels of acceptance
The US was ranked at number 23, climbing from number 25 in the 2004-2008 data. Malta, Uruguay, Argentina, and Australia all ranked higher than the US.
The study looked at survey data compiled from 2009 to 2013 and compared to responses from 2004 to 2008.
Likewise, the study asked respondents questions on their beliefs on the morality of homosexuality, the desire of an LGBT coworker, and the acceptability of discrimination.
Notably the top five most accepting nations did not change from the 2004-2008 initial survey to the 2009-2013 updated study.
LGBT acceptance:… To the lows
At the bottom of the list compiled by the Williams Institute were nations like Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Senegal, Tajikistan, and Somaliland.
Moreover, the study found that those nations that were homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic before had grown even more so during the years.
131 countries or 75 percent have experienced an increase in acceptance since 1981. On the other hand, 27 countries or nine percent had a decrease in acceptance.
Meanwhile, nine countries or 16 percent experienced no change. The report also found that levels of acceptance in countries near the global average were relatively stable.
Using the Global Acceptance Index
To update this study, the researchers used advanced statistical methods and computer modeling on survey data from 174 nations to come up with the Global Acceptance Index (GAI).
The GAI was used to measure the relative level of social acceptance of LGBT people and rights in each country.
“Sexual and gender minorities all over the world are heavily impacted by the attitudes and beliefs of those around them,” study author Andrew R. Flores, a visiting scholar at the Williams Institute, told The Advocate.
“More acceptance is related to less bullying and violence, better physical and mental health and less discrimination,” Flores said.
The report was produced as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) Global Development Partnership.