Historically, state-sanctioned persecution of homosexuals was mostly limited to male homosexuality, termed "sodomy". During the medieval and early modern period, the penalty for sodomy was usually death. During the modern period (from the 19th century to the mid-20th century) in the Western world, the penalty was usually a fine or imprisonment.
69 countries where homosexuality is outlawed.
34 of them are members of the UN.
36 are members of the Commonwealth.
Here is the full list of the countries where the LGBTQ are criminalized:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua & Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Brunei, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cook Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territory (Gaza Strip), Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
DEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is the legally prescribed punishment for same-sex sexual acts in 6 UN member states: Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and in the northern states in Nigeria.
SUDAN
One of the latest countries to repeal the death penalty for consensual same-sex sexual acts in 2020 was Sudan.
U.N. MEMBER STATES
In 5 additional UN member states Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia (including Somaliland) and the United Arab Emirates, certain sources indicate that the death penalty could potentially be imposed for consensual same-sex conduct, but there is less legal certainty on the matter.
RESTRICTIONS OF RIGHTS
At least 42 UN member States have legal barriers to freedom of expression on sexual orientation and gender identity issues and 51 UN member States have legal barriers to the formation, establishment or registration of NGOs working on issues related sexual and gender diversity.
CHANGING TREND
There is a global trend towards decriminalising same-sex acts. So far, 28 countries in the world recognise same-sex marriages, and 34 others provide for some partnership recognition for same-sex couples, ILGA says. As of December 2020, 81 countries had laws against discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation. Twenty years ago, there were only 15.
RECOGNITION RAINBOW FAMILIES
28 UN member States recognise same-sex marriage. One non-UN member jurisdiction (Taiwan) has also legalised same-sex marriage. 34 UN member States provide for some partnership recognition 28 States have joint adoption laws, while 32 States allow for same-sex second parent adoption.
