Support the European LGBTI movement

As Pride season gets into full swing, we’re reminded not only of our shared struggles but of the extraordinary power we hold as a movement and as a community of LGBTI people and allies. In every march, banner, and act of resistance, we see the strength of our communities.

This strength doesn't come from nowhere. It is built on care, resilience, and a collective commitment to justice. The support of our donors is an example of these, for which we at ILGA-Europe sincerely thank you.

It is also a testament to the fact that everyone has a role to play, and that each donation matters – it is thanks to the support of our donors we were able to publish our annual Rainbow Map this quarter.

ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map reveals a sobering picture of LGBTI rights in Europe, where hard-won legal protections are increasingly under threat. While progress continues in some countries, the most notable changes this year are alarming drops in ranking and scores for the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Georgia – countries where authoritarian tactics and anti-LGBTI laws are converging with broader attacks on democracy.

As Hungary bans Pride events, Georgia adopts sweeping anti-LGBTI legislation, and the UK Supreme Court redefines the legal understanding of sex and gender, ILGA-Europe’s findings underscore a disturbing regional trend: rights rollbacks are no longer isolated incidents, but rather part of a coordinated push to limit dissent and marginalise minority communities. The Rainbow Map 2025 paints a clear picture – legal protections remain the most reliable guarantee of fundamental rights, and without sustained political will, they can be undone.

Explore this year’s full country data and interactive map here.

Click here to learn more about our work to protect freedom of assembly in Hungary.

RAINBOW MAP EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2025

Malta holds the top spot for the 10th consecutive year, followed by Belgium, Iceland, Denmark and Spain. At the bottom of the scale, Russia (49th) remains the lowest-ranked country, preceded by Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia, and Belarus.

Some countries made notable progress:

• Austria climbed four places after expanding the Federal Equal Treatment Act to include gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics – though these gains are now under threat from planned rollbacks.
• Latvia rose four places with a new civil union law for same-sex couples.
• Germany advanced three places thanks to its new Self-Determination Act, which simplifies legal gender recognition.
• Czechia introduced a new law extending rights to same-sex couples through registered partnerships, moving it three places up the ranking.
• Poland also gained three places by abolishing its remaining so-called ‘LGBT-free zones’ and ending state-level barriers to LGBTI public events.

At the other end of the spectrum:

• Hungary dropped seven places to 37th following the criminalisation of Pride events, the erasure of gender identity protections, and constitutional changes reinforcing strict binary gender norms.
• Georgia also fell seven places (to 44th), adopting a sweeping package of anti-LGBTI laws that include bans on legal gender recognition, trans-specific healthcare, and public expressions of LGBTI identities.
• The United Kingdom, once a global leader on LGBTI rights, dropped six places to 22nd – its lowest ever position – after a Supreme Court ruling narrowed the legal definition of sex to “biological sex,” undermining the legal gender recognition framework.

Despite growing far-right influence, some countries strengthened protections against hate crimes:

• Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Scotland (UK), the Netherlands, and the Brcko District (Bosnia and Herzegovina) all improved their legislative frameworks.
• However, no country adopted new bans on conversion practices or passed legislation to protect the bodily integrity of intersex children this year.

Courtrooms continue to be key battlegrounds for rights:

• The Court of Justice of the EU ruled against Hungary for denying legal gender recognition to trans refugees.
• France’s gender-based train ticketing system was ruled discriminatory.
• Lithuania, Czechia, Spain, and Slovenia all saw constitutional court rulings affirming rights for LGBTI people, while strategic litigation continues in countries like Croatia and Italy.

As ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director Chaber said:

“The Rainbow Map 2025 offers a stark snapshot of where Europe stands on LGBTI human rights, and highlights the pressing need to defend and advance these rights in the context of acute democratic erosion. The time to push back is now, before the targeted attacks we’re seeing in countries like Hungary, the UK and Georgia become the norm rather than the exception.”

ILGA-Europe works with institutions and governments to improve laws and protections, and provides vital support to the LGBTI movement in Europe and Central Asia, so that change can happen effectively at every level.

The impact of supporters and allies is felt now more than ever. Please consider making a donation today to help continue the vital work to counter growing attacks, not only on LGBTI communities but on the cornerstones of freedom and democracy. 

• 2025 Rainbow Map (PDF)
  
• 2025 Rainbow Index (PDF)