For the eighth consecutive year, the annual Rainbow Map ranking has named Malta as the top European nation for LGBTQ+ rights. The ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Index ranks countries based on their legal and policy situation for LGBTQ+ individuals. The index score ranges from zero to 100 percent, with zero denoting gross human rights violations and 100 representing full equality. This year, Malta secured the top spot with a score of 89 percent.
A Shifting Landscape in Europe
Spain’s groundbreaking introduction of a self-ID law for transgender people has propelled the country to fourth place with a 74 percent score. The United Kingdom, which consistently held the top position until 2015, continues its downward trajectory. The UK ranked 10th in 2021 before dropping to 14th in 2021, and now sits at 17th place.
Reasons Behind the UK’s Decline
The UK’s slide in the rankings can be attributed to several factors, including the government’s immigration reforms that expose LGBTQ+ asylum seekers to unprecedented risks of violence. Additionally, long wait times for gender-affirming care and anti-trans rhetoric in the media have contributed to the UK’s diminishing score. Author JK Rowling has been specifically mentioned in previous ILGA-Europe reports for her “transphobic attacks.”
A Polarized Discourse on LGBTQ+ Rights
ILGA-Europe has condemned anti-LGBTQ+ discourse in the media and public sphere, asserting that discussions around the trans community have become increasingly polarized and violent. Challenges to the freedom of assembly have also been observed across Europe, with attempts to ban Pride gatherings in countries such as Serbia and Turkey.
Progress and Pushback in Europe
Despite intense anti-LGBTQ+ attacks in some countries, equality is still advancing across Europe. ILGA-Europe’s executive director, Evelyne Paradis, praised politicians who have made a stand for the fundamental human rights and equality of every citizen, and called for more leaders to push back against the far-right’s threats to democracy and human rights.