The global unacceptance of the LGBTQ+ community
By: Riley Duignan
It’s been a common pattern throughout history; gay, lesbian, and other such homosexual tendencies have been seen throughout history in every part of the world and even in animals. But it’s almost always been doubted, belittled, and discriminated against by humans, even now. Gay marriage was only legalized in the USA in 2015, around 10 years ago today.
Homosexuality has always been around
It is a common misbelief among people who are anti-gay or homophobic that homosexuality is a new occurrence. But it actually isn’t; labels such as “bisexual,” “gay,” or “pansexual” were coined and used in the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century, which are arguably ‘newer’. But the term “lesbian” has been used dating back all the way to the 16th century. Most terms to label one’s sexuality may be newer, which is why they are often unfamiliar to older generations, but just because there was not a name for these sexualities does not mean they did not exist. Homosexual tendencies have existed as long as Homo sapiens and the earliest humans have existed. For example, there is evidence on the tomb of Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum of Egypt embracing, said to be the first recorded homosexual couple. In addition, in China, recordings in literature often described and welcomed homosexuality as harmonious as early as 600 BCE. Not only that, but since the 16th century China has had a Taoist deity by the name “Tu’er Shen” that manages and represents love and sex between two men. And the most known are Greek gods in Greek mythology, with endless stories and tales of Greek gods engaging in sexual or romantic relations as two men. This includes some of the most known gods, Zeus, Apollo, and Poseidon, who had romantic relationships with other men. Zeus and Ganymede, Apollo and Hyacinthus and Admetus, and Poseidon with Nerites and Pelops. Though it’s just mythology, these stories date back all the way to around 1600 BCE, showing that humans have always acted upon or embraced the idea of homosexuality.
Homosexuality is also seen in over 1500 animal species, all ranging from birds to fish to insects to reptiles, according to the National History Museum.
Different country punishment for being homosexual
Some countries are extremely homophobic, jailing or inflicting harm onto people who embrace or act on homosexual tendencies. As of 2025, according to fairplanet.org, homosexuality is criminalized in 63-64 countries, with 6 legally imposing the death penalty, and 57 other countries completely outlawing homosexuality
Death Penalty
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Yemen
Brunei
Nigeria
Mauritania
Outlawed (ones stated above not included)
Algeria
Burundi
Cameroon
Comoros
Egypt
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Liberia
Libya
Malawi
Mauritius
Morocco
Namibia
Palestinian Territory (Gaza Strip)
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Iraq
Kuwait
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Myanmar
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Syria
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Dominica
Grenada
Jamaica
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
Cook Islands
Kiribati
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Though some countries, such as Russia, Indonesia, and India, have not explicitly outlawed homosexuality, they do little to prevent violence and discrimination against members of the LGBTQ and can even persecute people for being part of the LGBTQ under certain circumstances.
Since Barack Obama’s terms, the USA has expanded their support and legality for homosexuality, but people fear as we continue Donald Trump’s term, support will be pulled back, even fearing that the administration may pull back on the legalization of gay marriage.
As of now, Trump has ended the National Suicide Prevention Hotline for LGBTQ and cut federal funding for organizations that contribute their research to LGBTQ health and support.
It’s not just about homosexuality either; the Trump Administration has pulled back and tried to eliminate gender-affirming care for transgender individuals and also has withdrawn transgender rights protections, which are laws that make gender identity and sexual orientation illegal to discriminate against in fields of healthcare, housing, and other such necessities. The Trump administration has also ordered a termination of DEI programs, which help prevent discrimination or give fair opportunities to people of the LGBTQ, POC, or minority gender groups (typically women).
Some countries are growing and accepting it
As of 2025, 2 countries have legalized gay marriage: Liechtenstein and Thailand. Thailand especially is such an important point in history, as it is the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize gay marriage and the third in Asia to legalize it, behind Taiwan and Nepal. Thailand still faces homophobia and societal challenges, but since the mid-20th century, Thailand has opened their arms more to the LGBTQ community, especially in the Bangkok area. Thailand is also typically a safe haven for transgender individuals seeking gender-affirming care and protection. Taiwan is also one of the most impactful points in history for the LGBTQ community in Asia. It was the first country in Asia to legalize gay marriage, and since then has made it illegal to discriminate based off of someones sexual orientation in the workplace, made it legal for same sex couples to adopt a child, and made it legal to change your gender.
Though many parts of the world have a history of same-sex relationships being looked down upon or accepted at points in history, some governments still look down on them and don’t seem necessarily close to legalizing same-sex marriage any time soon.
According to pewresearch.org, A total of 38 countries have legalized gay marriage, with the Netherlands being the first country in 2001 to legalize it
Legal gay marriage
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Ecuador
Mexico
Uruguay
Canada
United States
Australia
New Zealand
Taiwan
Thailand
Nepal
South Africa
It’s important that we support those who are surprised, even if it’s from afar. Being somebody who supports and will fight for your community members, whether you’re part of the LGBTQ community, is good enough. It’s also important to acknowledge as a society we have so much to work on; love is not to be criminalized, which is why educating yourself and fighting for the underprivileged is especially important in today’s society.
Sources
https://www.hrc.org/resources/marriage-equality-around-the-world
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/same-sex-marriage-around-the-world/
https://www.cnn.com/world/same-sex-marriage-legal-countries-map-dg#:~:text=Where%20same%2Dsex%20marriage%20is,the%20Americas%2C%20Europe%20and%20Oceania.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/bangkok-pride-largest-in-asia-11756961#:~:text=This%20year’s%20Bangkok%20Pride%20Festival,have%20over%20one%20million%20attendees.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly92g14edro
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/01/30/thailand-invests-trans-health#:~:text=Thailand%20has%20a%20growing%20international,surgery%20and%20transgender%20health%20care.
https://www.taiwanembassy.org/usmia_en/post/5090.html#:~:text=Taipei%2C%20May%2017%20(CNA)%20Taiwan%20made%20history,gay%20couples%20the%20right%20to%20get%20married.
https://www.fairplanet.org/story/death-penalty-homosexualty-illegal/
https://www.out.com/2016/9/12/20-gay-greek-gods
https://www.teensource.org/hookup/lgbt-history-lesson
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-to-know-about-the-supreme-court-ruling-that-legalized-same-sex-marriage-10-years-ago
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/news/short-history-word-bisexuality#:~:text=Bi%20terminology%20and%20politics%20have,there%20are%20only%20two%20genders%E2%80%9D.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/lesbianism
Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions Impacting LGBTQ+ Health
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/background-on-trump-day-one-executive-orders-impacting-the-lgbtq-community#:~:text=Halt%20Federal%20Funding%20%2D%20including%20Grants,to%20access%20domestic%20violence%20shelters.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/gay-natural-history.html
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-10-03/homosexuality-in-mammals-has-evolutionary-utility-new-study-finds.html#:~:text=Science%20has%20documented%20homosexual%20behavior,in%20the%20most%20social%20species