The Netherlands is the best place in the world for gays, according to a new global study by research firm Gallup.
Gallup asked 1,000 adults 15 and older in each of 123 countries if the city or area where they live is a good place or not a good place to live for gay or lesbian people.
The Netherlands has a long history of tolerance in all areas of society and demonstrated its acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders in the new study. Eight-out-of-10 Dutch (83 percent) feel the Netherlands is a good place for gays to live. The country was the first in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, passing legislation in 2001.
Iceland was nearly as welcoming with 82 percent responding positively. Other countries where at least two-thirds of the population think gay and alternative lifestyles will fit in well are, in descending order, Canada, Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Australia, Malta, Uruguay, Denmark, United States, New Zealand, Sweden, Argentina and Brazil.
Regionally, Europe is the best and Africa the worst. In the countries where residents are least likely to feel their city or area is a good place for gays, it is illegal to be openly gay. For example, Senegal’s anti-gay law dictates that an improper or unnatural act with a person of the same sex warrants punishment for up to five years in prison and fines of up to US$3,000. Imprisonment also is on the books in Pakistan, Uganda, Ethiopia and Afghanistan.
In Senegal, 98 percent of those responding to the question say their country is not a good place for gays. Ninety-five percent or more in Malawi, Gabon, Niger, Mali and Uganda had similar feelings.
Even worse, the rankings do not include data from more than a dozen countries where the question is too sensitive to even ask. Those countries are Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Nigeria, Bahrain, Bhutan, Iraq, Kuwait, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
On a brighter note, of the countries where more than three-fourths of the population welcomes gays, all have marriage equality laws, except for Ireland, which will vote on marriage equality in 2015.