Gay-friendly
Gay-friendly denotes environments, policies, or attitudes that accommodate homosexual individuals through legal protections against discrimination, decriminalization of same-sex relations, and social tolerance, often assessed via public surveys and indices evaluating safety and equality.[1][2] Globally, self-reported perceptions of local gay-friendliness have risen, with 45% of respondents across 175 countries in a 2023 Gallup poll viewing their city or area as a suitable place for gay or lesbian people to reside, up from 23% in 2007, reflecting shifts in attitudes driven by legal reforms and cultural changes in select regions.[1] Acceptance remains uneven, highest in Western Europe and parts of the Americas—where medians exceed 80% favorable views in some Pew surveys—contrasting with lower rates under 20% in much of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa, correlated with religious norms and governance structures.[2] Empirical indices, such as the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, score countries on statutory rights (e.g., anti-discrimination laws, marriage equality) and de facto conditions like reported violence risks, placing Canada, Iceland, and Malta among top performers in 2025, though such rankings from advocacy-oriented publishers warrant scrutiny for potential emphasis on traveler amenities over resident experiences.[3] The Williams Institute's Global Acceptance Index further quantifies societal views via composite metrics of knowledge, rights, and inclusion, highlighting progress in urban centers but persistent gaps in rural or conservative areas.[4] Controversies include "pinkwashing," where governments or businesses promote gay-friendly images for economic gain—evident in tourism campaigns—without addressing underlying hostilities, as critiqued in peer-reviewed analyses of destinations like Tel Aviv.[5] These measures underscore that gay-friendliness often hinges on causal factors like secularization and economic development rather than mere declarative policies.Definition and Terminology
Core Meaning and Historical Usage
The term "gay-friendly" refers to environments, policies, individuals, or institutions that exhibit tolerance or active support toward homosexual individuals, particularly by avoiding discrimination based on sexual orientation and permitting open expression of same-sex attraction without repercussions.[6][7] This usage centers on homosexuality as a behavioral or identity trait, distinct from mere neutrality, implying a welcoming stance that may include accommodations like non-discriminatory hiring or event hosting.[8] Unlike broader inclusivity claims, the descriptor historically emphasizes safety and acceptance for gay men, with "gay" retaining its mid-20th-century slang connotation for male homosexuality rather than its prior denotation of merriment.[9] The adjective "gay-friendly" first appeared in print in 1977, marking its entry into English usage amid rising visibility of homosexual subcultures in Western societies.[9] This timing aligns with post-Stonewall era shifts, where advocacy groups began labeling businesses, neighborhoods, and policies as accommodating to homosexuals to signal safe spaces amid pervasive legal and social stigma, including sodomy laws in many U.S. states until the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas ruling.[9] Early applications often targeted urban venues like bars or hotels marketed to homosexual clientele, reflecting practical needs for discretion in an era when public homosexuality risked arrest or violence, as documented in contemporaneous gay guides like the Bob Damron Address Book series starting in 1964.[10] By the 1980s and 1990s, "gay-friendly" proliferated in marketing and media to denote corporate or municipal endorsements of homosexual rights, such as anti-discrimination ordinances or pride event sponsorships, driven by economic incentives in tourism-heavy areas like San Francisco's Castro district.[11] Usage expanded beyond North America, appearing in European contexts by the late 1990s to describe progressive policies in nations like the Netherlands, which decriminalized homosexuality in 1811 but saw modern "gay-friendly" branding surge with same-sex marriage legalization in 2001.[12] However, the term's application has faced scrutiny for superficiality, as some self-proclaimed gay-friendly entities prioritized optics over substantive protections, evidenced by uneven enforcement in workplaces despite diversity pledges.Distinctions from Related Concepts
"Gay-friendly" differs from mere tolerance, which involves a passive allowance of homosexual presence without active endorsement or facilitation, as tolerance often permits existence but may harbor underlying discomfort or heteronormative assumptions. In contrast, gay-friendly environments or policies actively signal openness through measures like inclusive marketing or anti-discrimination practices aimed at attracting and retaining gay individuals, as evidenced in tourism sectors where businesses explicitly advertise to gay travelers to foster comfort and patronage.[13] This active dimension is further illustrated in workplaces conceptualized as gay-friendly when they seek to eliminate homophobia and heterosexism, extending beyond tolerance to create supportive structures.[14] The concept also contrasts with broader "LGBTQ-friendly" designations, which encompass not only homosexuality but also transgender identities, bisexuality, and queer expressions, potentially introducing tensions where gay-specific spaces prioritize sexual orientation acceptance over gender dysphoria-related accommodations. Historically, "gay-friendly" emerged in contexts like 1990s tourism and neighborhood development focused on gay male and lesbian communities, predating the widespread integration of transgender issues into inclusivity frameworks, leading to instances where gay-friendly areas become more heterogeneous by welcoming allies while diluting exclusively gay-oriented functions.[13][11] Empirical studies on gay neighborhoods highlight this shift, where broadening to "gay-friendly" attracts straight residents and dilutes prior concentrations of gay social infrastructure.[11] Unlike pro-gay activism, which entails advocacy for legal or cultural changes such as same-sex marriage or decriminalization, being gay-friendly pertains to social receptivity and practical accommodations without requiring alignment with activist agendas; for instance, conservative LGBTQ individuals may embody or support gay-friendly norms through personal acceptance while opposing expansive rights expansions.[15] This distinction underscores that gay-friendliness can coexist with traditional values, focusing on individual welcome rather than systemic overhaul, as seen in corporate policies that signal inclusivity for market reasons without endorsing activist causes.[16] In religious contexts, gay-friendly often aligns with "welcoming" or "inclusive" stances that permit gay participation and leadership but stop short of "affirming" doctrines that validate homosexual relationships theologically.[17]Historical Development
Early Emergence in the 1970s
The decade following the Stonewall riots of June 1969 witnessed the nascent development of localized environments and institutions tolerant toward homosexuals, driven by the gay liberation movement's push for visibility and community formation. In 1970, the inaugural Christopher Street Liberation Day March took place in New York City on June 28, drawing several thousand participants to commemorate Stonewall and assert public presence, while similar "gay-in" gatherings and parades emerged in Los Angeles and San Francisco.[18] These events represented early public affirmations of homosexual identity, fostering temporary spaces of relative acceptance amid broader societal hostility.[19] Urban neighborhoods began coalescing as de facto gay enclaves, where homosexuals could congregate with reduced fear of persecution. San Francisco's Castro District, centered around Harvey Milk's camera shop opened in 1973, evolved into a hub by the mid-1970s, with businesses like Castro Camera serving as community anchors and attracting migrants seeking tolerance; by 1976, the area hosted visible gay culture including street fairs and political organizing.[20] Similarly, New York City's Greenwich Village solidified its pre-existing role, bolstered by the proliferation of gay discos in Manhattan's less affluent areas, which provided nightlife venues blending homosexual patronage with emerging mainstream appeal through the disco phenomenon.[21] These districts emerged organically from economic factors like affordable housing and prior underground networks of bars, rather than formal policies, enabling informal tolerance in specific locales.[22] Religious institutions also showed tentative openness, with the establishment of the Metropolitan Community Church expanding from its 1968 founding to multiple congregations by the early 1970s, explicitly welcoming homosexuals; in 1972, Los Angeles saw the creation of the first synagogue for gay Jews, Beth Chaim Chabad, signaling doctrinal accommodations within Judaism./03:_U.S._Histories/3.01:_Chapter_4-_U.S._LGBTQ_History) The adjective "gay-friendly," denoting supportive attitudes or venues, entered documented usage in 1977, as recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary's earliest citation from the publication Albatross.[9] Political milestones included the 1974 election of Kathy Kozachenko as the first openly homosexual city council member in Ann Arbor, Michigan, reflecting localized electoral tolerance amid national polls showing limited broader acceptance, such as only 14% supporting homosexual adoption in 1977 Gallup surveys.[23][19] These developments, while confined to urban pockets and activist circles, laid groundwork for distinguishing tolerant spaces from prevailing norms of discrimination.Expansion Amid LGBTQ Rights Movements
The LGBTQ rights movements, building on the momentum from the 1970s, propelled the expansion of gay-friendly policies and attitudes through heightened activism, legal reforms, and cultural visibility, particularly from the 1980s onward. Annual pride parades, originating from the 1970 Stonewall anniversary marches, proliferated globally, with events in cities like New York, San Francisco, and London drawing increasing participation and fostering dedicated gay-friendly districts and businesses.[18] These gatherings not only celebrated identity but also advocated for decriminalization and anti-discrimination measures, leading to early policy wins such as Wisconsin's 1982 law—the first in the U.S. to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, and public accommodations.[18] In Europe, similar momentum emerged, with the adoption of the rainbow flag as a unifying symbol in the 1970s gaining widespread use by the 1980s, alongside the professionalization of advocacy groups that pressured governments for recognition.[24] The 1980s AIDS crisis, which disproportionately affected gay men and initially intensified stigma through associations with moral panic and government neglect, paradoxically catalyzed organizational growth and broader sympathy over time. Groups like the Gay Men's Health Crisis, founded in 1982, and ACT UP, established in 1987, mobilized protests and lobbying that highlighted health inequities, contributing to incremental shifts in public policy and perception.[25][18] Denmark's passage of the world's first registered partnership law in 1989 marked a pioneering step toward formal recognition of same-sex unions, influencing subsequent European reforms and signaling expanding institutional tolerance.[26] Gallup polling reflected gradual attitudinal changes, with U.S. support for the legality of gay relations rising from approximately 34% in the early 1980s to 44% by the early 1990s, amid persistent opposition from conservative factions.[27] By the 1990s and 2000s, these movements accelerated legal and social expansions, with over 20 U.S. cities enacting partner registry or domestic partnership laws by 2000, and European nations like the Netherlands legalizing same-sex marriage in 2001.[18] Pride events evolved into major cultural festivals, often sponsored by corporations adopting gay-friendly branding, while public opinion continued upward: Gallup data showed U.S. moral acceptance of gay relations climbing to 50% by 2001 and surpassing 60% by 2010.[27][28] This period saw causal links between activism, media coverage of pride and crises, and policy diffusion, though progress remained uneven, with backlash evident in failed referenda and ongoing criminalization in many regions outside the West.[29]Manifestations in Institutions
Businesses and Corporate Policies
Many corporations have adopted policies aimed at fostering environments supportive of homosexual employees, including explicit non-discrimination clauses based on sexual orientation in hiring, promotion, and termination practices. These often extend to providing health insurance coverage for same-sex domestic partners and, increasingly, transgender-inclusive medical benefits such as hormone therapy and surgeries.[30] Additional measures include employee resource groups for LGBTQ individuals, mandatory diversity training addressing sexual orientation, and public endorsements during events like Pride Month, such as corporate sponsorships or rainbow branding.[31] The Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates over 1,400 U.S.-based employers on such criteria, reports that 765 companies achieved perfect scores of 100, representing a 28% increase from the prior year and covering a significant portion of Fortune 500 firms.[31] Notably, 72% of Fortune 500 participants and 91% of all rated businesses now offer transgender-inclusive health coverage, a metric that has risen dramatically since early iterations of the index when few did so.[30] Sectors like banking, finance, law, and insurance lead in adoption rates, with these industries comprising about 15% of highly rated entities.[32] Empirical analyses indicate associations between these policies and enhanced corporate outcomes, including higher innovation metrics. Firms with LGBTQ-inclusive policies generate more patents and receive more citations per patent, suggesting improved creativity and knowledge production.[33] Separate studies link such policies to elevated firm value, productivity, and profitability, with implementing firms experiencing gains and discontinuing ones seeing declines.[34] [35] These patterns hold after controlling for factors like firm size and industry, though they reflect correlations rather than isolated causation. Early adopters, such as Microsoft, pioneered sexual orientation non-discrimination in the 1990s, influencing broader corporate norms.[36] Despite growth, adoption remains uneven globally, with U.S. firms often extending policies abroad selectively to align with local laws, and recent surveys show declining executive enthusiasm amid cultural pushback, potentially tempering future expansions.[37] [38]Religious Organizations and Doctrines
Several Christian denominations have adopted doctrines and policies affirming homosexuality, permitting the ordination of openly gay clergy and the solemnization of same-sex unions, often through reinterpretations of biblical texts emphasizing themes of love and justice over prohibitions in passages like Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26-27.[39] The United Church of Christ (UCC), a mainline Protestant denomination, ordained William R. Johnson as its first openly gay minister on June 25, 1972, marking the initial such ordination in a major Christian body. The UCC's General Synod affirmed this stance in 1985 by declaring the church "Open and Affirming," supporting full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in church life, including marriage equality endorsed in 2005. The Episcopal Church authorized blessings for same-sex unions in 2012 and revised its canons in 2015 to permit same-sex marriages using gender-neutral liturgy, aligning doctrinal practice with civil recognition following the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision.[40] This reflects a progressive Anglican tradition prioritizing contextual biblical interpretation and sacramental inclusion.[41] The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), founded in 1968 by Troy Perry—a defrocked Pentecostal pastor—in Los Angeles, explicitly ministers to LGBTQ individuals, conducting same-sex marriages and ordaining gay clergy as core to its evangelical yet affirming doctrine.[42] With over 200 congregations worldwide, MCC interprets scripture through a lens of God's unconditional love, rejecting condemnation of consensual same-sex relations.[43] Unitarian Universalism, drawing from liberal Christian and humanist roots, resolved in 1970 to support civil rights for homosexuals and has since affirmed LGBTQ ordination, marriage, and gender identity without doctrinal mandates on sexuality, emphasizing individual conscience and inherent worth.[44] In Judaism, Reform Judaism adopted a 1977 resolution by the Union for Reform Judaism affirming equal legal protection for homosexuals and has since permitted gay rabbis and same-sex commitment ceremonies, viewing Torah prohibitions as culturally contextual rather than eternally binding.[45] This contrasts with Orthodox and Conservative branches, which maintain stricter adherence to traditional halakha prohibiting male homosexual acts.[46] Other affirming groups include the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which in 2009 allowed ordination of partnered gay clergy, and certain Quaker meetings endorsing same-sex unions based on testimonies of equality.[47] These positions often arise from synodal votes reinterpreting doctrine amid broader societal shifts, though they provoke schisms with traditionalist factions upholding historical condemnations.[39]Educational and Media Environments
In educational settings, gay-friendliness manifests through policies promoting inclusion, such as the establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), student clubs aimed at fostering support for LGBTQ individuals and reducing harassment. As of 2023, GSAs were present in an estimated 44% of U.S. middle and high schools, providing spaces for advocacy and peer support. [48] Earlier data from 2014 indicated active GSAs in 38% of U.S. high schools, with prevalence varying by state; only nine states plus the District of Columbia reported GSAs in more than half of secondary schools as of 2021. [49] [50] Many schools also incorporate LGBTQ-inclusive curricula, covering topics like sexual orientation in history or health education, with studies linking such approaches to reported improvements in perceived school safety and reduced bullying incidents among LGBTQ students. [51] However, implementation remains uneven, as federal data from the CDC highlight ongoing disparities, with LGBTQ youth facing higher rates of school violence despite these measures. [52] In higher education, gay-friendly policies often include non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation, alongside dedicated resources like LGBTQ centers and inclusive housing options. Surveys indicate that while harassment rates are comparable between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ graduate students (around 19-20% reporting assault or bullying), universities with explicit inclusive policies report higher student satisfaction among sexual minorities. [53] Peer-reviewed analyses emphasize that supportive school climates, including curricula addressing LGBTQ history, correlate with better socioemotional outcomes for affected youth, though causal links require controlling for confounding factors like baseline prejudice levels. [54] Media environments demonstrate gay-friendliness via representation of homosexual characters and narratives, particularly in Western broadcast, cable, and streaming content. GLAAD's 2024 analysis of the 2023-2024 television season found fewer LGBTQ series regulars compared to prior years, with gay male characters comprising 48% of the 170 LGBTQ roles tracked across platforms. [55] [56] In film, LGBTQ-inclusive releases from major studios fell to 23.6% in 2024, down from 27.3% in 2023, reflecting a three-year low amid shifting production priorities. [57] Advertising has seen increased inclusion, with 90% of executives in a 2024 survey deeming LGBTQ visibility important, though empirical data on audience impact remain limited to self-reported perceptions from advocacy-led studies. [58] These trends, tracked by organizations like GLAAD—which advocate for such representation—indicate a historically elevated but recently plateauing presence, often prioritizing positive or normalized portrayals over critical examination of homosexuality.Geographical Variations
In Western Nations
In Western nations, homosexuality has been decriminalized for decades, with legal protections expanding significantly since the late 20th century to include anti-discrimination statutes, adoption rights, and same-sex marriage in most jurisdictions by 2025.[59][60] The Netherlands pioneered same-sex marriage legalization on April 1, 2001, followed by Belgium in 2003, Canada nationwide in 2005, Spain in 2005, and the United States via the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015; by 2025, all Western European countries, Australia (2017), and New Zealand (2013) recognize it.[60] Comprehensive equality laws, such as those prohibiting discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation, are standard across the European Union under directives like the 2000 Employment Equality Framework, and similar protections exist federally in the US (via 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County ruling) and Canada (Charter of Rights and Freedoms since 1982).[61][62] Public opinion surveys indicate strong overall acceptance, though with notable variations by demographics and region. In the United States, a 2025 Gallup poll found 69% of adults view gay and lesbian relations as morally acceptable, up from 40% in 2001 but stable since 2020, with a sharp partisan gap—92% of Democrats versus 39% of Republicans agreeing.[63] Western European countries show even higher support for same-sex marriage, with Pew Research in 2023 reporting 92% approval in Sweden, 88% in Spain, 87% in the Netherlands, and 85% in Germany; medians exceed 80% across the region.[64] In the United Kingdom, YouGov data from 2023 recorded 78% support for same-sex marriage, a record high a decade after its 2014 legalization.[65] Acceptance is generally higher among younger generations, urban residents, and the secular; rural areas lag, with US studies showing rural identifiers 10-20 percentage points less supportive due to cultural conservatism and lower exposure.[66][67] Legal and policy benchmarks, such as ILGA-Europe's 2024 Rainbow Index, rank Western nations highly for LGBTI frameworks, with Malta at 89%, Iceland at 85%, Belgium at 78%, Spain at 76%, and the UK at 74% (a drop from prior years due to asylum and sports policies); France scored 62%, reflecting gaps in family law conversions bans.[68][69] These scores emphasize legislative progress but may underweight enforcement or social realities, as European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights surveys in 2024 document persistent discrimination—42% of LGBTI respondents experienced harassment, highest among trans individuals but notable for gay men at 35%.[62] Cultural manifestations include widespread Pride events, such as those in San Francisco (since 1970) and Amsterdam, attended by millions annually, alongside corporate sponsorships and media normalization, though critics note urban-rural divides where rural gay individuals report higher concealment rates (up to 20% more than urban counterparts).[70] Despite advancements, acceptance is not uniform, with conservative subregions like the US Bible Belt or rural France exhibiting lower tolerance; Eurobarometer data from 2023 shows 10-15% of Western Europeans still view homosexuality negatively, often correlating with religious adherence.[2][71] Empirical indicators like reduced hate crime reporting—US FBI data showing gay-targeted incidents at 1,300 in 2023, down from peaks but concentrated in urban areas—suggest functional tolerance, yet surveys reveal 15-25% of gay Westerners avoid public affection due to safety fears.[72] Overall, Western nations lead globally in institutional gay-friendliness, driven by secularization and rights advocacy since the 1970s, but causal factors like urbanization and education explain persistent pockets of resistance rooted in traditional norms.[73]In Non-Western and Developing Regions
In non-Western and developing regions, societal and legal acceptance of homosexuality remains markedly lower than in Western nations, with criminalization prevalent and public opposition often exceeding 90% in surveyed populations. As of September 2025, homosexuality is illegal in approximately 65 countries, the majority located in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, where penalties range from imprisonment to, in extreme cases like Iran and parts of Nigeria, the death penalty under Sharia law.[74][75] In sub-Saharan Africa, acceptance rates are among the lowest globally, driven by religious and traditional norms emphasizing procreation and kinship structures. Pew Research Center surveys indicate that 90-98% of respondents in countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, and Senegal view homosexuality as morally unacceptable and advocate for its societal rejection.[76][2] Recent legislative actions, including Uganda's 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act imposing life imprisonment or death for aggravated cases, reflect entrenched opposition, with similar bills advancing in Ghana and other states.[77] Despite isolated decriminalizations, such as in Botswana (2019) and Angola (2020), enforcement and social stigma persist, limiting gay-friendly environments to urban enclaves in nations like South Africa, where acceptance has declined to 54% perceiving local friendliness per 2024 Gallup data.[1][78] Across the Middle East and North Africa, Islamic legal traditions underpin near-universal rejection, with 95-97% opposition in Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey according to Pew data.[76] Homosexuality carries severe punishments in countries like Saudi Arabia and Yemen, where it is criminalized under hudud codes, fostering underground networks rather than open gay-friendly spaces.[75] In Asia, patterns vary: East Asian societies like Taiwan, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, and Japan (68% acceptance) show relative tolerance influenced by secularism, yet Muslim-majority Indonesia and Pakistan maintain bans with public support for prohibition exceeding 90%.[2] India's 2018 decriminalization via Supreme Court ruling marked progress, but rural conservatism and familial pressures continue to suppress visibility.[60] In Latin American developing nations, Catholic and evangelical influences temper acceptance, though urban areas in Argentina (marriage legalized 2010) and Uruguay exhibit greater friendliness compared to conservative holdouts like Paraguay, where opposition hovers around 60-70%.[2] Overall, these regions prioritize communal and reproductive norms over individual sexual expression, with empirical data underscoring resistance to Western-style gay-friendliness amid fears of cultural erosion.[76] Isolated advancements, such as Thailand's 2024 marriage equality law effective 2025, occur in economically integrating hubs but do not broadly shift underlying attitudes.[60]Global Measurement and Recent Trends
The Global Acceptance Index (GAI), developed by the Williams Institute at UCLA using data from over 2,750 surveys across 175 countries and locations spanning 30 years, measures social acceptance of LGBTI people through indicators like beliefs about equal rights, comfort with proximity to LGBTI individuals, and views on morality. As of its latest update, the index shows Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Canada ranking highest, with scores reflecting high societal tolerance, while countries in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Eastern Europe score lowest due to widespread disapproval. Globally, average acceptance levels have risen steadily since 1980, driven by urbanization, education, and media exposure, though progress remains uneven and concentrated in wealthier, secular nations.[79] The Spartacus Gay Travel Index, an annual assessment of legal conditions and practical living environments for queer individuals in over 100 countries, rates destinations on factors including anti-discrimination laws, same-sex marriage, and risks of violence or prosecution. In its 2024 edition, Canada, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, and Iceland tied for the top score of 12 (indicating maximal safety), while nations like Russia, Egypt, and Iran received the lowest ratings of -15 or below, signaling severe legal perils. This index, informed by legal reviews and traveler reports, highlights a stark global divide, with Western and select Latin American countries dominating high scores, but cautions that even top-ranked places can vary by region due to enforcement gaps.[3][80] Recent surveys indicate modest global upticks in perceived gay-friendliness. A 2023 Gallup World Poll across dozens of countries found 45% of respondents viewing their city or area as a "good place" for gay or lesbian people to live, nearly double the figure from two decades prior, with strongest gains in Europe and parts of Asia. Pew Research data from 2020, building on earlier waves, confirmed rising acceptance in places like Mexico (from 49% in 2002 to 69% approving societal acceptance) and Japan (from 55% to 68%), yet a persistent chasm remains, with over 80% rejection in much of the Islamic world and sub-Saharan Africa. These trends correlate with legal reforms, such as expanding same-sex unions in 30+ countries since 2010, but surveys like those from Gallup and Pew, which rely on self-reported attitudes, may understate enforcement realities or cultural hostilities in low-scoring regions.[1][2]| Index | Top Countries (Recent Data) | Methodology Focus | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Acceptance Index | Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Canada | Social attitudes from surveys | Williams Institute (2021 update)[79] |
| Spartacus Gay Travel Index | Canada, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Iceland | Legal protections and safety risks | Spartacus (2024)[3] |