Through the LGBTQI Legal Aid Fund GiveOut is working with leading law firms to support organisations using the law and courts to advance equality, including in those places where same-sex relations and trans identities are criminalised.
67 jurisdictions criminalise sexual activity between adults of the same sex. The death penalty is a legal possibility in 11 of these jurisdictions.
LGBTQI people face legal barriers in coming together to register organisations to support their communities.
Gender expression and/or identity of trans people is criminalised through ‘crossdressing’, impersonation and disguise laws in 14 countries. Many more countries authorities use public order, vagrancy and misdemeanour offences to harass, arrest and prosecute trans people.
41 countries criminalise same-sex activity between women. Even where women are not specifically criminalised, lesbians and bisexual women are often arrested or threatened with arrest.
Trans people are unable to access legal gender recognition or vital medical treatments, while medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex are banned in only a handful of countries.
1012 asylum applications were lodged in the UK in 2020, where sexual orientation formed part of the basis of the claim.
In many countries, LGBTQI people face violence and discrimination without legal recourse or protections, such as anti-discrimination laws.
In many countries, LGBTQI people face violence and discrimination without legal recourse or prosecutions, such as anti-discrimination laws.
Working with local lawyers and international partners, LGBTQI activists are using the law and courts to:
• Challenge laws criminalising same-sex sexual activity and trans identities
• Advance legal protections against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and/or gender identity
• Challenge degrading and unfair treatment of LGBTQI people
• Uphold freedom of association rights for LGBTQI people to enable them to register organisations
• Protect and promote the rights of LGBTQI asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants
• Advance marriage equality
