In 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized same-sex sex.
Paris:
Singapore announced on Sunday that it would repeal a law that criminalizes gay sex, but homosexuality is illegal in many other parts of the world and sometimes subject to the death penalty.
According to a report published in 2020 by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), homosexuality was banned in 69 countries, including 11 where it is punishable by death.
Here is an overview.
a crime in africa
Nearly 30 African countries have banned homosexuality, with the death penalty for homosexual relationships in Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan.
South Africa is the only country on the African continent to allow same-sex marriage, which it legalized in 2006.
In only a handful of countries, same-sex sex is criminalized: Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique and Seychelles.
Middle East: Repressed
Homosexuality still carries the death penalty in many countries in the conservative region, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Israel leads the way in terms of gay rights, recognizing same-sex marriage that is performed elsewhere, although the country itself does not allow such unions. Gay couples can adopt children.
Lebanon is also more tolerant than other Arab countries.
Taiwan, the first in Asia
While much of Asia is tolerant of homosexuality, Taiwan became the first country in the region to allow same-sex marriage in 2017 following a landmark ruling by its Constitutional Court.
Vietnam outlawed same-sex marriage ceremonies in 2015, but reduced full legal recognition for same-sex unions.
Thailand took a step towards same-sex marriage in June when lawmakers gave preliminary approval to legalize same-sex unions.
In 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized same-sex sex.
Gay marriage and adoption are allowed in New Zealand and Australia.
Europe, the pioneer of gay marriage
The Netherlands became the first country in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry in 2001.
Since then, 17 European countries have followed: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Some countries allow only gay civil partnerships, including the Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary and Italy.
In Russia, homosexuality was considered a crime until 1993 and a mental illness until 1999. Now legal, a 2013 law however penalizes the promotion of homosexuality among minors.
In Hungary, a law passed in 2021 introduced fines for “promoting” homosexuality or gender change to minors.
Many countries allow gay couples to adopt.
Assisted reproduction is allowed for same-sex couples in 12 European countries.
progress in america
Canada was the first US country to authorize same-sex marriage and adoption in 2005, and 10 years later the United States legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
In Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Chile and Uruguay allow same-sex marriage.
The federal capital of Mexico was a pioneer in this area, authorizing same-sex civil unions in 2007 and marriages in 2009. Nearly half of its 32 states have followed suit.
Cuba will hold a referendum in September on whether to adopt a fresh family law that would include legalizing same-sex marriage for the first time.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)