Una map to understand how much equality matters. Every year, the ILGA-European association photographs the state of LGBTQIA+ rights in the continent countries. The result It is the Rainbow Map, a ranking that evaluates the laws, public policies and protections for the Queer community in 49 European countries. It is not enough to organize a pride or make declarations of principle: what matters, according to the report, are the concrete measures against discrimination, the protection of rainbow families. The contrast to hatred crimes, the recognition of the genre and access to kindergarten for reasons related to sexual identity. Also this year the map shows a two -speed Europe, between those who advance and those who retreat. And Italy? Stay back, with a 35th place which tells more than many words.
Malta remains at the top, Italy arranges in the rights LGBTQIA+
For the tenth consecutive year, Malta leads the ranking as the most inclusive country in Europe. The island has obtained an almost perfect score thanks to advanced laws on the recognition of the genre and a low rate of crimes motivated by hatred. Follow the Belgiumwho passed Iceland, and then Denmark, Spain and Finland. In the upper part of the ranking we also find Greece and Germany, a sign that Western and northern Europe continues to be the engine of LGBTQIA+rights. Italy, on the other hand, remains in the lower part, in 35th place, exceeded not only from the Nordic countries, but also by the reality of the East such as Montenegro and Croatia. Our country pays for the absence of laws against reparative therapies, the gaps on the egalitarian marriage and still too fragile legal protection.
Rights in the balance: between those who retreat and those who try to trace
While some states make small but important steps forward – such as Poland, who earns positions (today is in 39th place) after years among the last – others mark a sharp step back. The United kingdom, for example, went down to 22nd placethe worst result since entered the Rainbow Map. Worse still for Georgia, where recent laws have prohibited not only the legal recognition of the genre, but also the adoption by pairs of the same sex and the possibility of organizing public events LGBTQIA+. In the queue, countries like Russia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Belarusiawhere repression is systemic and the rights are denied at an institutional level. The Rainbow Map is not only a list, but a tool to read the rights as democratic indicators: where the protections for minorities are missing, the quality of democracy also falters.
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