Scotland tops European ranking for LGBTI equality

Scotland is the best country in Europe for LGBTI legal equality, according to ILGA-Europe’s annual review of equality and human rights legislation across the continent.

The Equality Network welcomed the data, which shows that Scotland is ahead of both the rest of the UK and Europe in terms of legal protections offered to LGBTI people.

The “Rainbow Europe Index” measures progress against a 48-point criteria that includes legal protections from discrimination in employment and services, measures to tackle hate crime, rights and recognition for transgender and intersex people, and equality in family law including same-sex marriage and parenting rights.

Tom French, policy and public affairs co-ordinator for the Equality Network, said: “The fact that Scotland now ranks best in Europe overall on LGBTI legal equality is welcome recognition for the efforts of campaigners and the willingness of our politicians to properly consult with LGBTI people and then act on the evidence by passing progressive measures.

“However, the Equality Network warns against any complacency, as we know there is still much more to do to achieve full equality for LGBTI people in Scotland.

“As ILGA’s review shows there are still areas where Scotland is failing to respect LGBTI human rights and falling behind the progress in other countries, particularly when it comes to the rights of trans and intersex people.

“There is also a big difference between securing legal rights and full equality for LGBTI people in their everyday lives.

“Despite real progress in the law, LGBTI people in Scotland are still facing unacceptable levels of prejudice, discrimination and disadvantage throughout their lives.”

The charity says its main priority is now to bring in better legal protections for transgender and intersex people in Scotland.

Scotland (92 per cent) is joined in ILGA-Europe’s ranking of the top five countries for LGBTI legal equality by the rest of the UK (86 per cent), Belgium (83 per cent), Malta (77 per cent), and Sweden (72 per cent).

The five countries ranked worst for LGBTI legal equality in Europe include Azerbaijan (5 per cent), Russia (8 per cent), Armenia (9 per cent), Ukraine (10 per cent) and Monaco (11 per cent).