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LGBT rights

Members of a gay rights organization hold hands during a protest (Getty images)

The UK believes that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are entitled to enjoy the full range of human rights, without fear of discrimination or criminalisation.

The UK fully supports equality in the enjoyment of human rights without discrimination on any grounds. But this attitude is not universally shared.

Over 70 countries still criminalise same-sex relationships. This illegality has an adverse effect on other areas of human rights: democratic governance and sustainable development cannot take place where groups of people are excluded from enjoying their civil liberties.

Major concerns include:

  • Physical and verbal violence
  • Undue restrictions on freedom of expression
  • Freedom of assembly and association
  • Violations of the right to enjoy respect for one's private and family life
  • Violations of rights to education, work and health
  • Social stigmatisation

The UK plays an active role in promoting the rights of LGBT people internationally, including through intergovernmental organisations such as the EU, Council of Europe and UN, and through our overseas missions.

Polish riot police look on as participants in the Gay Pride rally wave flags and balloons in Warsaw (Getty images)Our LGBT rights toolkit [PDF, opens in a new window] guides UK missions in advocating for the rights of LGBT people in their host country.

We focus on those aspects of equality and non-discrimination that have a major impact on the enjoyment of other rights, and/or where our intervention will have a positive impact.  

These include:

  1. Decriminalisation of same sex relationships
  2. Equality and non-discrimination in the application of human rights
  3. Human rights defenders
  4. Sexual health, reproductive rights and health education

The UK supports the efforts of civil society to change laws and social attitudes by:

  • Using political dialogue to raise LGBT rights
  • Using international mechanisms to raise the awareness of LGBT issues
  • Providing messages of support when requested
  • Providing public information on laws and practices regarding LGBT people in the UK
  • Encouraging our Embassies overseas to host debates and seminars on relevant issues, and including LGBT aspects and speakers in seminars on other, more general, issues.
  • Ensuring that the LGBT aspects are included in any local activities promoting British cultural life
  • Using local resources to support civil society work for LGBT rights
  • Showing (where appropriate) support for gay Pride events. Each will decide on a case-by-case basis how best to mark a particular event.

In June 2010, the Government published Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality [PDF, opens in a new window]  to guide our future work both at home and abroad. This will ensure a more co-ordinated approach across Government and includes an unequivocal commitment to support gay rights internationally.  

In March 2011 an action plan to underpin implementation of the commitments in the cross-government strategy was published.  This includes commitments to using political dialogue with other countries to push for the greater recognition of the rights of LGBT people and working through intergovernmental institutions to further progress LGBT equality worldwide.

This was followed in November 2011 with the launch of the Government’s first ever action plan to advance transgender equality, “Advancing Transgender Equality – a plan for action”, which includes international commitments to advance transgender equality through the UN.

For more information on what the FCO is doing to promote LGBT rights internationally, contact the equalities team:

MSU.PublicIn@fco.gsi.gov.uk