Malta is safest European nation for LGBTQ people
Malta has registered as the safest and welcoming European nation for LGBTQ people in the latest Rainbow Europe study for 2022.
This study was conducted by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Association (ILGA), which annually ranks European countries based on their laws and policies protecting LGBTQ rights since 2009.
Malta stays at the top
This isn’t a surprise as the archipelagic nation of Malta in the Mediterranean has been topping the ILGA list for seven years in a row.
The ILGA report ranks each nation from a score of zero at the lowest and 100 at the highest. For this year, Malta scored the highest with 92.
Malta scored the highest in terms of legislating equal rights for LGBTQ folks at the national level, as well as legalizing same-sex marriage and joint adoption policies.
They also scored points for banning conversion therapy, granting legal recognition of gender identity, and establishing anti-discrimination laws, legal protections against hate speech and violence, and more.
Ranking of European nations
Following Malta on the ILGA list is Denmark with 74 points, having achieved their current score with legislation against discrimination and hate crimes. At third place is Belgium with a rating of 72.
These were followed by: Norway, Luxembourg, and Sweden (68); France (64); Montenegro (63); and Portugal and Spain (62).
At the other end of the scale were nations like Azerbaijan (2), Turkey (4), Armenia and Russia (8). These nations only received single-digit scores.
Meanwhile, Poland got the lowest ranking in the EU with 13. Likewise, the rank of the UK dropped from ten to 14, the most dramatic of any country in the list.
ILGA said this was primarily due to “widespread political and media anti-trans sentiment” in the UK, as well as their refusal to extend its conversion therapy ban to all LGBTQ people.
Criteria behind the scores
The countries that received low scores were due to not providing protection for LGBTQ people against discrimination and violence.
In particular, Poland dropped in rankings due to authorities’ banning of Pride events.
However, it was noted that attitudes were trending in a positive direction overall. There was an increasing number of nations that were legislating greater rights, freedoms, and protections for the LGBTQ people.
ILGA Europe’s criteria for the scores include the categories: equality and non-discrimination; family; hate crime and hate speech; legal gender recognition; intersex bodily integrity; civil society space; and asylum.
The organization considers these all interconnected and are considered equally essential for “the full enjoyment of human rights” by LGBTQ people.
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