The top destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists in 2023 during Pride Month

Some nations may be preferable to others if you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community planning your next journey.

Travelling can increase LGBTQ+ travellers’ anxiety of discrimination, safety, and the difficulty of negotiating unfamiliar norms and regulations.

The fact that LGBTQ+ is a broad term itself makes travel more challenging. People that fit into one of these categories may also fit into or encompass the following others: skin tone, gender, wealth, and ethnicity, which are all factors that influence how travellers are treated.

Depending on why you’re travelling, it could be worthwhile to consider how LGBTQ+ friendly your destination is before you go or even choose your location based on this consideration.

It might not be a good — or sexy — idea to take a romantic vacation with your same-sex partner for your anniversary to a country with a high homophobia rate.

The legislation and social norms around same-sex marriage and the rights of LGBTQ+ persons all over the world have undergone significant transformation.

By nation, location, and level of economic development, public opinion on the acceptance of homosexuality in society remains fragmented.

The Stonewall riots of 1969, which broke out in June on account of how the New York City police handled LGBTQ+ persons, were remembered a year later with a protest march. Pride marches and parades are increasingly commonplace in nations where it is possible, including South Africa, which conducted its first in 1990, according to Human Rights Watch.

During Pride Month, it is important to consider both the achievements and remaining obstacles in the fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.

MyDatingAdviser.com’s groundbreaking new study identified the most gay-friendly locations and listed the top nations for LGBTQ+ travel.

The following elements from well-known locations around the world were taken into consideration: laws against discrimination and gender identity, society’s acceptance of homosexuality, sexual activity rights, civil union rights, marriage rights, adoption rights, and rights related to serving in the military.

MyDatingAdviser examined 34 nations based on eight important parameters of LGBTQ+ friendliness in order to identify the travel destinations with the best gay-friendliness.

The information is broken down into the following categories: acceptability of homosexuality by society, rights to sexual activity, civil unions, marriage, adoption, military service, anti-discrimination laws, and laws protecting gender identity.

Swedish views and laws are gay-friendly, outranking those of other fantastic nations in Europe and throughout the world, according to the dating website. However, attitudes might be shifting. According to a 2008 survey by the Other Foundation, 84% of South Africans did not think that homosexuality was ethically acceptable; however, by 2013, this number had reduced to 61%, with much more people supporting same-sex unions.

Human Rights Watch has reported on the harassment and violence experienced, in particular, by black lesbians and transgender men, while other findings, as published in Mamba Online, have shown a troubling reversal in this trend in Gauteng province.

“African Pride”, a 2014 documentary by journalist and filmmaker Laura Fletcher, touches on a few of these topics, including the inconsistencies between law and culture that shape South Africa’s nuanced opinions regarding homosexuality.

According to MyDatingAdviser.com, South Africa is ranked as the eleventh-best country for LGBTQ+ travellers. In addition, South Africa received a score of 86.2 on the LGBTQ+ travel index (out of a potential 100).

The Apartheid regime in South Africa, which was formally in place from 1948 until 1994, was described as discriminatory, segregated and oppressive.

Apartheid affected millions of people, but one group that has been overlooked throughout this time is the LGBT community.

It wasn’t until 1968, nearly 20 years after Apartheid’s inception, that the government began to specifically target homosexual people and carry out and quantify its purpose of separateness. The LGBT people whose lives were impacted by anti-homosexual laws under the apartheid and their ongoing struggle for equitable treatment will be highlighted.

South Africa was the first nation in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1998. It remains the only country in Africa to have legalised same-sex marriage, having done so as the fifth country in the world.

The campaign for more comprehensive LGBT rights persisted throughout the 2000s, which is appropriate for the nation known as the “rainbow nation“.

The court decided in 2002 that same-sex couples should be granted the same adoption rights as married couples. In addition to adopting their own children, same-sex couples are also permitted to adopt one another’s kids.

A law allowing same-sex civil marriage was decisively approved by the South African parliament in 2006. Additionally, transgender people are allowed to change their gender as recorded in the population registration, enabling them to get new passports and other identity documents, and openly gay people are allowed to serve in the South African armed services.

Since South Africa is by far the continent’s most tolerant nation, it attracts a lot of LGBTQ+ tourists. It boasts many LGBTQ-owned tour companies and lodgings.

Equality is a legal requirement, and there are several festivals and events across the nation honouring LGBTQ+ culture, such as Pride marches, film festivals, and street parties.

The ‘’Pink City’’ of South Africa, Cape Town, is known for its nightlife and LGBTQ+ culture, with one of the main centres being the De Waterkant neighbourhood, which is adjacent to Green Point and the V&A Waterfront. With information on accommodations, venues, and events, the South Africa Tourist Board has numerous pages on its website promoting LGBTQ+ travel.

Other towns, like Johannesburg, Durban, and Knysna, also have expanding gay scenes.

Below is the list of the 20 Best Countries for LGBTQ+ Travel in 2023, as compiled by MyDatingAdviser.com.

1. Sweden

2. Netherlands

3. Spain

4. France

5. United Kingdom

6. Germany

7. Canada

8. Australia

9. Brazil

10. Argentina

11. South Africa

12. Italy

13. Israel

14. United States

15. Czech Republic

16. Mexico

17. Greece

18. Poland

19. Slovakia

20. Philippines

South Africa is among the nations with the best gay-friendliness standards thanks to the following factors.

1. Homosexuality is accepted by the general public: According to a Pew Research survey titled “Global Attitudes & Trends” 54% of South Africans accept homosexuality.

2. Male sexual activity has been lawful since 1998 for same-sex couples. Women were always allowed to work.

3. Rights in civil unions: Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2006, limited recognition of unregistered relationships since 1998.

4. Rights to marriage have been recognised since 2006.

5. Rights to adoption have been recognised since 2002.

6. Military service rights are recognised by law as of 1998.

7. Anti-discrimination laws: All anti-gay discrimination is prohibited by the Constitution.

8. Laws governing gender identity: Legal gender can be changed following surgery or medical treatment, and anti-discrimination laws are construed to cover gender identity.