One third of the world believe same-sex marriage should be legal

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One in three people around the world believe in marriage equality, according to a new survey.

20th October 2016

 by Daniel Megarry

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The research, conducted by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA), asked almost 100,000 people in 65 countries for their opinions on LGBT rights.

It found that 32% of people believe same-sex marriage should be legal everywhere, 45% believe it shouldn’t be legal, and the remaining 23% say they don’t know or are unsure.

The survey also found that, at a global average, 67% of the world either strongly or somewhat agrees that human rights should be applied to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Aengus Carroll, co-author of the research, said: “All the countries surveyed returned results over 50% in favour of this proposition, even those considered among the most hostile to sexual and gender minorities.

“This clearly demonstrates that countries’ legal policy and international practice can be very contradictory when compared to attitudes declared by their citizens.”

The survey revealed that 38% of respondents globally feel that adults should be allowed to have private, consensual same-sex relationships, but only 26% of those opposed feel such relationships should be illegal.

46% of respondents say they know someone lesbian, gay, or bisexual, while only 28% of respondents know someone who is trans, and 65% say they would have ‘no concerns’ if a neighbour was gay or lesbian.

Executive Director at ILGA, Renato Sabbadini, said: “Public attitudes in both hostile and friendly nations are not as extremely negative as might have been feared.

“However, this does not erase the fact that violence and discrimination inflicted on sexually and gender diverse people all around the world continues unabated, and indeed is increasing in places.
“Too often we still see sexual and gender minorities being convenient scapegoats for leaders who are looking for support from more conservative sectors of their society.”

Read more on the survey at ilga.org

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