10 of the Worst Countries (and 2 of the Worst States) For LGBTQ+ People Today

The Caribbean nation has long been known for its antiquated "buggery" laws, rules from the 1800s that criminalize anal intercourse which are used to imprison gay men. Such views of LGBTQ+ persons have instilled an atmosphere of bias that perpetuates physical and sexual violence. While the attitude in Jamaica has improved, many LGBTQ+ persons in the country are driven to homelessness, escaping to gullies for safety.

The connected Caribbean countries are unfortunate siblings in their anti-gay hostility. While neither country openly criminalizes LGBTQ+ persons, the countries harbor hostile and often violent atmospheres for LGBTQ+ persons. Haitian pride festivals have been canceled amid fears of violence, and recently, the Haitian Senate has moved to make supporting LGBTQ+ rights illegal.

In the Dominican Republic, anti-gay Christian groups have become popular for conversion therapy, leading to public clashes over subjects like the American ambassador's same-sex relationship.

While Uganda's anti-gay laws were struck down by a 2014 court case, the country is still seen as fiercely homophobic, with human rights and conservative Christian beliefs clashing as the two ideologies meet.

The country continues to harbor a thriving anti-gay movement — which has been credited with leading to an influx in persecution — against persons of varying sexual and gender identities. This has resulted in halts to Pride celebrations.

Ranked as the least gay-friendly country by Spartacus's annual Gay Travel Index, Somalia has very drastic restrictions and punishments against LGBTQ+ persons that are tied to Islamic beliefs and sharia law.

The country criminalizes homosexuality very severely via three-year prison sentences or, in areas where the government has less of a presence, death. The country might not disallow the donation of blood by LGBTQ+ persons, but same-sex sexual activity and marriage are explicitly outlawed.

According to a 2015 report by the Department of State, LGBTQ+ persons in Qatar face lawful discrimination in line with conservative Muslim beliefs that do not tolerate homosexuality. One of the more pronounced prohibitions is against same-sex relationships between men — such relationships can be met with seven-year prison sentences in the country. With Qatar set to host the 2022 World Cup, activists are already urging boycotts of companies like Qatar Airways to voice concern.

Saudia Arabia — like Qatar and Somalia — is a very unkind place for LGBTQ+ persons. As the Department of State's 2015 human rights report details, consensual same-sex conduct is "punishable by death or flogging," while many LGBTQ+ organizations must operate in secret. The country also maintains a law that makes it illegal for men to "behave like women" and has made many headlines for anti-LGBTQ+ violence, from beheadings of gay men to the alleged torturing of transgender persons.

While jetting to Dubai is trendy, the United Arab Emirates' laws are quite unwelcoming to LGBTQ+ persons. The country does not prohibit LGBTQ+ persons, yet sexual relations outside of a heterosexual marriage or acts seen as "amoral" could subject a person to a year in prison — and homosexuality is considered a violation of morality. Stories of gay couples and transgender persons being detained in the country for their identities are alarmingly numerous.

Russia is notorious for its anti-LGBTQ+ stance. Between discrimination, hate crimes, and fines for "gay propaganda," the country is incredibly unwelcoming and dangerous. While being LGBTQ+ isn't illegal, it is heavily stigmatized, and Russia is far from achieving benchmarks like the legalization of gay marriage as the country's leaders toy with making being LGBTQ+ punishable by jail time, and the recent persecution of gay men in Chechnya makes the treatment of LGBTQ+ persons in the region especially concerning.

While most countries in the European Union may appear to be largely LGBTQ+ friendly, a handful have dicey points of view on the matter — and Latvia's are the most egregious. Homosexuality has been decriminalized in the country, but Latvia is proof of the tricky give and take between embracing one's origins and folding in progressive EU beliefs. (Russia's fundamentalist wing of Christianity heavily influences the country.) The country's LGBTQ+ phobia is reflected in antiqueer protests, the exporting of anti-gay hate crimes to America, and preventing same-sex education.

While Americans largely support LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, states like North Carolina are dragging down those efforts. The southeastern state has become famous for its now-repealed "bathroom bill" and for continuing to refuse to perform same-sex marriages (while pushing to ban them altogether). These efforts are often tied to the state's overwhelming Christian fundamentalist beliefs.

Alabama is tied with North Carolina as the Spartacus Gay Travel Index's least gay-friendly state. In 2017 alone, the state has made moves to block transgender persons from bathrooms and has passed an expensive law to prevent gay parents from adopting. Current state law also prevents schools from discussing homosexuality and, before 2014, consensual anal sex between two men was a criminal offense.