Looking for a Little Equal Rights Throughout Europe

by Michael Jones · 2009-07-23 09:24:00 UTC
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Europe MapWhere in the world is Carmen Sandiego?  Well, if she were a lesbian, you can make a pretty good guess for where she'd be hanging out in Europe.  A new map released by the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association provides a country-by-country analysis of where the continent rocks on LGBT rights, and where it falls kind of short.

In Europe it's not so much of the Hatfields vs. the McCoys as much as it is Western Europe vs. Eastern Europe, at least on the subject of LGBT rights. The map points out that many countries within the Eastern bloc - Russia, Ukraine, Poland - have a long history of suppressing LGBT rights.  One very east territory, Northern Cyprus, still criminalizes homosexuality (at least between men).

The map is an interesting read through - kind of like the maps you find at rest stops along highways that tell you where camping grounds and restaurants are located (only with cool gay rights stuff added to this map).  Want to find out what countries allow you to get married?  Look for the little marriage equality symbol over places like Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway.  Want to know which countries have banned public rallies or pride marches?  Check out the little minus sign over countries like Moldova, Belarus, Latvia and Lithuania.

To view a full-size version of the map, click here.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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