They say Poland has made the most progress in the world regarding safety for LGBT travelers. And where is Belarus in the ranking?

Photo: spartacus.gayguide.travel

The German publication Spartacus International Gay Guide annually publishes a ranking of countries based on the level of safety and legal protection for LGBTQ+ people. The guide itself has existed since the 1970s and is considered one of the oldest specialized tourist publications in this field. Since 2012, the editorial board has compiled a separate global index comparing the situation in different parts of the world.

When compiling the ranking, 18 criteria are analyzed — from anti-discrimination legislation and the possibility of marriage or civil partnership to bans on pride parades, cases of criminal prosecution, and the existence of laws providing for severe penalties for homosexual relations. Countries receive positive and negative scores, which ultimately determine their place on the list.

The Gay Travel Index 2026 covers 216 countries and territories. The authors separately analyze the situation in each US state, as legislation there differs significantly, and also highlight specific regions — for example, Chechnya, which is listed separately from Russia in the ranking.

Who are the leaders

As last year, Iceland took first place. Malta and Spain shared second place. They are immediately followed by Belgium, Canada, Portugal, and Germany. These are countries where legislation guarantees extensive rights and protection, and the social environment is considered relatively safe.

Among the most notable changes of the year is Poland's sharp rise. The country climbed from 118th to 59th place. The authors attribute this to political changes and an improvement in the legal situation, including for transgender people.

Another significant shift is Nepal, which rose 21 positions to 32nd place thanks to new self-identification rules and growing recognition of transgender rights.

Belarus and its neighbors

Belarus is in the bottom third of the list. Compared to last year, it improved its position — from 174th to 132nd place.

In the same group as our country, with the same number of points, are two dozen countries and territories, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Vatican City, Kazakhstan, and North Korea.

Compared to neighboring countries, Belarus holds a significantly lower position. Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland are currently around the middle of the list — in the group of countries sharing 59th place.

Along with them are Italy, Curaçao, Japan, Vietnam, and Montenegro. Ukraine took 74th place and is in the same group as Serbia, Singapore, and Albania.

Russia took 202nd place in 2026 — which is slightly better than last year when it was in 206th position. In the overall list, it found itself in the company of Nigeria, Qatar, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, and South Sudan.

Chechnya is listed separately in the ranking (212th place). Along with it in this part of the list are Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Iran (215th place) and Yemen (216th) close the ranking.

• 1
• 0
• 3
• 1
• 1
• 0
• 1
• 0