In a recent annual study of LGBTQ+ human rights across the globe, the United States has received a disappointing “C” grade, indicating resistance to queer rights. This marks a significant drop from the “B” grade the US held in 2016 and makes it the lowest-scoring country among those that have legalized same-sex marriage. Countries like the UK, where equal marriage is legal, maintain “A” or “B” grades in the report.
The report assessed LGB and transgender rights separately, ranking the US 54th globally for gay rights and 62nd for trans rights. Notably, Yemen received an “F” for gay rights, while South Sudan earned the same score for trans rights, both signifying severe persecution.
Ten countries consistently received “A” grades in LGBTQ+ rights from 2011 to 2020, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Luxembourg, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay.
Susan Dicklitch-Nelson, a professor of government at Franklin & Marshall College, expressed concern that the US’s rating might further decline due to the intensifying wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. She explained that if one state violates the criteria examined in the study, the entire country’s rating can plummet. Recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws, such as anti-drag laws in Tennessee and Florida, have hindered the ability of LGBTQ+ rights organizations to assemble peacefully and safely.
While the study covers the period up to 2020, LGBTQ+ rights have continued to erode in the United States. In June, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) declared a “state of emergency” for LGBTQ+ individuals in the country, citing an “unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults.”
HRC President Kelley Robinson expressed deep concern, stating that LGBTQ+ Americans are facing real and tangible threats, including violence and the need to relocate to safer states. This hostile environment has given rise to increased homophobia and transphobia. Legislation introduced across the US this year includes trans sports bans, restrictions on gender-affirming care for trans individuals, attempted drag bans, and the expansion of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law in Florida, which restricts discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms.