Today, the UK has dropped to 22nd place in the annual European Rainbow Index, which ranks European countries based on their laws regarding LGBTI equality. The UK is now the second-worst country in terms of overall LGBTI laws in Western Europe and Scandinavia, with only Italy ranking lower.
The UK held the top position in 2015 but has fallen in the index every year since. This year, the UK plummeted seven places due to a recent Supreme Court judgment and the UK government’s decision, which overturned two decades of recognition for transgender individuals.
The index is compiled annually by ILGA-Europe, the European LGBTI network, by analysing the laws in 49 European countries ranging from Iceland to Azerbaijan.
Why has the UK fallen so far down the European Rainbow Index?
Regarding the recognition of trans people’s gender identity, the UK now ranks 45th out of 49 countries following the Supreme Court ruling. ILGA-Europe believes that the Court’s ruling creates a legal barrier to the effective recognition of trans people’s identities. The only other European countries with such a legal barrier are Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, and Russia.
“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. Political leaders must lead by example and turn their words into action.”
ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director
Who ranks higher than the UK on the European Rainbow Index?
The UK’s overall score on the Rainbow Index is 46%. Countries that rank higher than the UK include: Malta (89%), Belgium (85%), Iceland (84%), Denmark (80%), and Spain (78%). Finland (70%), Greece, Germany, and Norway (69%), Luxembourg (68%), Portugal (67%), Sweden (66%), Netherlands (64%), Ireland (63%), France (61%), Austria (54%), Slovenia and Switzerland (50%), Montenegro and Croatia (49%), and Estonia (46%).
ILGA-Europe notes that Scotland made progress with its hate crime law when the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act was enacted last year. However, since this law applies only in Scotland, it has minimal impact on the UK’s overall index score.
How can I find out more?
You can visit ILGA and the live European Rainbow index here.
