At the end of Pride Month, assessing the LGBTQIA+ communities’ rights: Data

Pride Month celebrated globally, LGBTQIA+ rights vary worldwide, India's legal status, discrimination, and adoption laws for queer individuals.

Every year, June is observed as Pride Month the world over. The contributions of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities are commemorated, and love, diversity, and acceptance are celebrated. This year, too, pride marches were held across India, not only in metropolises, but also in smaller towns.

The rights and status of the LGBTQIA+ communities vary across the world.

Map 1 | The map shows the legal status of same-sex acts in different countries as of 2024. At present, as many as 59 countries penalise any expression of queerness. In countries such as Ghana and Indonesia, those engaging in homosexual activities are punished with imprisonment or worse, death.

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While 79 countries have banned same-sex marriage, 37 have fully legalised it.

Map 2 | The map shows the status of same-sex marriage in different countries around the world as of 2024.

A few countries have also left the communities unrecognised, rendering their status ambiguous. India falls under this category. Some have allowed same-sex couples to opt for civil unions. While the Supreme Court decriminalised homosexuality in 2018 by partially striking down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the Indian queer communities’ plea to the Court to legalise same-sex unions was rejected in October 2023. Indian courts have acknowledged same-sex couples’ right to cohabitation.