Safest countries for transgender people

Other issues, such as class and race, only exacerbate the difficulties that transgender people face. Many trans people are ostracized from family, education, the workplace, religious institutions, and more. Many governments are struggling to keep up with the ever-changing conversation around transgender issues, and many countries are patently resistant to supporting their own citizens who identify as trans for a variety of reasons.

In fact, of the countries included in our Global Trans Rights Index, only 43 countries allow trans individuals to change their legal gender ID without surgery or hormone therapy. Trans people are experiencing barriers to safety, comfort, and medical services at far higher rates than the average person in society.

See the map, the methodology, and the sources for each country's score and ranking. This often leads transgender people to the margins of society, where poverty, substance use, and suicide rates skyrocket. According to the index, Canada, Iceland, Malta, Portugal and Spain are jointly considered the safest and most open places for LGBT+ travelers in , with each of these five.

Discover the best countries for transgender expats, where progressive policies & inclusive communities ensure a welcoming environment for all. Transgender individuals are four times more likely to experience violence, according to one research study. But this does not necessarily constitute a trans-friendly country and does not mean that a country has codified legislation for trans rights.

Often, gender identity experiences will differ significantly between individuals and will also vary by culture. In much of the world, daring to live authentically is a dangerous, or even deadly, act. Few countries openly accept transgender people as part of society. Here are our top picks for transgender-friendly countries.

Transgender people face barriers to employment, inclusion in society, acceptance by family, ostracization from religion, and so much more. An additional 46 allow legal gender to be changed after the individual undergoes often rigorous stipulations, like HRT, surgery, psychological diagnoses, extended and lengthy waiting times, and more.

A comprehensive study of trans rights and safety around the world, based on legal protections, discrimination, violence, and identity laws. 1. Rates of violence and murder against transgender people are only growing in the United States , while violence against trans people remains a global and underreported problem.

Here are their 20 best countries for transgender people. Additionally, many countries have ambiguous or no legislation addressing trans people and trans issues at all, leaving their citizens in a confusing limbo regarding their legal, medical, and safety rights. Transgender people are dealing with unprecedented issues around the world.

Many countries severely limit or outright criminalize transgender access to self-identification. While many countries are starting to find acceptance towards gay and lesbian relationships, there are still significant barriers for trans people. There is either no legislation or processes in place to recognize a change in gender ID.

And a further 27 countries outright criminalize legal gender change and impose harsh punishments including jail time on those who enter spaces or dress out of alignment with their assigned gender at birth. Asher & Lyric note that year-olds can apply for legal gender ID change with parental consent.

Travel experts Asher & Lyric analyzed countries’ worker protections, laws against discrimination, laws against violence, legal identity laws and murder rates to find the best 20 countries for trans rights in Here is what to know about the top ten and the rest of the best: 1.

Malta. Malta. All data was fact-checked and cross-referenced with individual country legislation to find the most up-to-date information about trans rights. Photo Credit: Shutterstock. Feeling safe, comfortable, and affirmed are important when it comes to where you live or travel.

New legislation is being introduced all the time, as are new restrictions or legislative rollbacks. Some trans people around the world are individually petitioning their governments for legal gender change, and some have been successful. This means that the government where they live does not recognize their gender ID or has significant roadblocks in place to gain that recognition.

Because of this, certain countries may be more trans-friendly or trans-antagonistic than our study can depict based on the lived experiences of trans people. Part of this has to do with a misunderstanding about transgender identities. Despite Malta’s strong Catholic presence, the Mediterranean island is often named tops for LGBTQIA+.

Transgender individuals often lack basic rights to self-determination and gender expression, necessary healthcare services, and a place in their community. Presenting as anything besides your gender assigned at birth carries criminal sentences in some countries.

Whether you're looking for the safest places for LGBTQ+ travel or the most homophobic countries to avoid, a new report has the answers.