After Greece issues travel warning for LGBTQ+ tourists, here are the European countries that are most welcoming to queer people.
advertisement
LGBTQ+ activists rejoiced when same-sex marriage was legalized in Greece in February.
But now the UK Foreign Office has issued new travel advice for queer people travelling to the UK.
An update posted on the UK government’s international travel advice page warned that same-sex couples may face discrimination in certain parts of Greece.
“There is a generally welcoming attitude in Athens and on many of the Greek islands, particularly Lesbos, Mykonos and Skiathos,” the report said, but there are concerns that gay visitors elsewhere may face prejudice.
The government advice adds: “Public attitudes to same-sex sexual activity vary across the country and, particularly in rural areas, public displays of affection between same-sex couples may be viewed as unwelcome.”
The warning comes after a mob attack on two transgender people in Thessaloniki last month, in which the victims were subjected to verbal abuse and hurled bottles.
What is Greece’s position on same-sex marriage currently?
Greece has made great strides in LGBTQ+ acceptance, banning so-called “conversion therapy” on minors in 2022 and passing a same-sex marriage bill in February by a 176-76 majority vote in parliament.
But the practice remains divided in the popular tourist destination.
As soon as the vote was passed, protests led by the Orthodox Church erupted across the country.
About 1,500 people rallied in Athens’ Syntagma Square to protest the change. A poll in the Greek national newspaper Proto Thema found that only 55% of Greeks support legalizing same-sex marriage, and even fewer support gay people’s right to adopt.
Despite opposition, Greece has legalised same-sex marriage, joining 15 other EU member states and 35 countries worldwide, and becoming the only country in south-eastern Europe to do so.
But which places on the African continent and further afield are most accepting of the LGBTQ+ community?
Lisbon, Copenhagen and Amsterdam are among the most LGBTQ+ welcoming destinations in the world.
Experts from Emisil, a company that provides prosthetics to transgender men, scoured Europe and the world for the most queer-friendly locations.
Lisbon, Copenhagen and Amsterdam came in first, second and fourth on the top 10 list respectively.
Emişil’s study used information on same-sex marriage and gender recognition laws, safety indexes, information from the Global Transgender Index 2023, and also looked at the number of queer clubs and bars listed on Google Maps, which gave a larger picture and a final ranking based on all these criteria, with each city surveyed given a score out of 10.
Lisbon is officially the most queer-friendly city in the world, receiving a score of 9.26, reflecting the city’s high level of safety and general positive attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Overall, Portugal received the highest score of any country surveyed, scoring 248 out of 250 on the Global Transgender Index, which covers gender recognition, anti-discrimination laws and low rates of hate crime.
The capital also hosts countless queer events, such as Lisbon Bear Pride and Lisbon Gay Pride.
advertisement
Just behind the Portuguese city was Copenhagen, Denmark.
Coming in second with a score of 9.22, this Scandinavian city has a small queer scene, with just 12 queer bars and clubs listed on Google Maps, but it received a very high score due to the sheer number of annual events for residents and tourists, including Drag House Copenhagen Presents and Copenhagen Winter Pride, as well as a positive attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Coming in fourth place, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Amsterdam. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, and added a gender recognition law in 2014.
According to Google Maps, Amsterdam has an exceptionally high safety index of 9.18, and the city is home to over 20 queer bars and clubs.
Outside of Europe, New York City and Taipei, Taiwan rounded out the top five. In New York, tourists can enjoy a vibrant queer scene that includes the New York Pride March and the annual Stonewall Riots anniversary, while Taipei has the highest safety score of any city on the ranking.
advertisement
What other country is most accepting of LGBTQ+ people?
Overall, Emisil found that six of the top 10 most accepting countries are in Europe.
Coming in at No. 6 on the list is Barcelona, which received a score of 8.83 thanks in part to its high ranking in the 2023 Global Transgender Index and the fact that it has over 30 queer bars and clubs for locals and tourists to enjoy.
The Barcelona Circuit Festival and Barcelona Gay Pride are among the most popular LGBTQ+ events, drawing people from all over Europe to the city.
Reykjavik, Iceland, ranked 7th with a score of 8.80, despite only having five queer nightlife spots.
Iceland’s capital boasts a high level of safety throughout the city and is home to a number of LGBTQ+ events, including Rainbow Reykjavik, Reykjavik Bear and Reykjavik Queer City Walk.
advertisement
Toronto, Canada and Tokyo, Japan are ranked 8th and 9th, respectively.
Toronto is known as an extremely safe place for queer people and Canada ranks particularly highly on the Global Transgender Index, coming in second on the list after Portugal.
Interestingly, Japan is the only country on this ranking where same-sex marriage is not legally recognised, yet Tokyo is still home to over 40 queer nightlife spaces and its Tokyo Rainbow Pride is a major drawcard for LGBTQ+ tourists.
Coming in at number 10 on Emily’s list is Paris.
The French capital, Paris, has the lowest safety index compared to all other cities in the ranking, but makes up for it by being home to over 30 queer clubs and bars. It is also known for its many LGBTQ+ events, including the Festival des Cultures LGBT, the Marché des Fierte LGBT (Gay Pride Parade) and the Paris International Lesbian and Feminist Film Festival.
advertisement
The cities on the list are generally very safe for LGBTQ+ people, but Emisil suggests double-checking your destination’s laws and attitudes before traveling.
“The survey shows that Europe is the leading travel destination for queer people, but there is a growing number of queer-friendly destinations around the world,” an Emisil spokesperson told EuronewsTravel. “That said, it’s important to check the laws and traveller tips before travelling to any country to ensure a safe experience.”
