The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association has published an online guide that allows travelers to explore which countries and regions around the world offer same-sex marriage. In addition to marriage equality, the guide also features an application that sources LGBTQ+ rights and protections in over 250 countries and regions around the world. 

The application was developed in partnership with Destination Pride, a data-driven platform that reimagines the Pride flag as a dynamic bar graph, then uses it to visualize the world’s LGBTQ+ laws, rights and social sentiment. The platform, which was created by PFLAG Canada, brings together thousands of data points from around the globe—including marriage equality laws, census data and real-time social sentiment—to generate a Pride flag visualization for each destination.

Currently, just 29 countries recognize same-sex marriage. More than 70 countries currently have laws that allow for the punishment of same-sex activity between consenting adults, including more than 10 that allow for those ‘crimes’ to be punished with the death penalty.

This is the latest IGLTA resource to help LGBTQ+ travelers explore the world more safely, and to provide tourism professionals with easily accessible information on LGBTQ+ rights and protections to better serve their clients. The content complements IGLTA’s other site offerings, which include tips on finding LGBTQ+ welcoming tourism businesses around the world.

“IGLTA has been working for nearly 40 years to make travel safe and welcoming for the LGBTQ+ community,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “So on this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which draws attention to the discrimination experienced by LGBTQ+ people around the world, we wanted to make a contribution to improving awareness of LGBTQ+ rights within our global community of travelers and industry professionals.”

Companies and organizations that join IGLTA agree to a code of conduct and will not discriminate on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. 

For more information, please visit: www.iglta.org/Guide-to-Same-Sex-Marriage

About 17 May: The date was chosen as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia to commemorate the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. 

About IGLTA

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ+ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. IGLTA’s mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally by demonstrating its significant social and economic impact. IGLTA membership includes LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in 80 countries. The philanthropic IGLTA Foundation empowers LGBTQ+ welcoming travel businesses globally through leadership, research and education. For more information: iglta.org, igltaconvention.org or iglta.org/foundation and follow us on Facebook @IGLTA, @IGLTABusiness or @IGLTAFoundation, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram @iglta.