NLNetherlands
Marriage since 2001The original
- The first country in the world to open marriage to same-sex couples, on 1 April 2001. Not a joke.
- Visit the Homomonument by the Westerkerk, one of the first memorials to gay men and lesbians persecuted by the Nazis.
- Pride Amsterdam's Canal Parade in early August is a parade of decorated boats. Get a spot on a bridge early.
ESSpain
Marriage since 2005Party capital
- Madrid's Chueca neighbourhood is the centre of gravity. Madrid Pride in early July takes over the whole city.
- Sitges, south of Barcelona, has been a queer beach town for decades.
- Maspalomas on Gran Canaria is where half of Northern Europe's gays go in winter.
CACanada
Marriage since 2005Polite and proud
- Toronto's Church-Wellesley Village and Montréal's Village are two of North America's best gayborhoods.
- Pride Toronto runs through June and is one of the biggest in the world.
- Montréal's Fierté festival in August is the francophone alternative, with better food.
NONorway
Marriage since 2009Early adopter
- In 1981, Norway became one of the first countries to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Oslo Pride in June fills the city centre, and smaller Prides pop up all the way to the Arctic.
- Find your people in queer choirs, sports clubs and the many local Pride groups across the country.
ISIceland
Marriage since 2010Small but mighty
- Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became the world's first openly lesbian head of government in 2009.
- Reykjavík Pride in August draws a huge share of the whole country's population.
- A rainbow street in Reykjavík points straight at the city's famous church.
DKDenmark
Marriage since 2012Partnership pioneer
- In 1989, Denmark became the first country to legally recognise same-sex couples, with registered partnerships.
- Copenhagen Pride takes over City Hall Square every August.
- Hop over the bridge to Malmö for a two-country night out.
BRBrazil
Marriage since 2013Biggest parade
- São Paulo Pride regularly ranks as one of the largest Pride parades in the world, often with millions on Avenida Paulista.
- Rio's Ipanema beach has a famous rainbow-flag stretch. You'll know it when you see it.
- Brazil also has high rates of violence against trans people. Celebrate loudly, travel carefully.
UKUnited Kingdom
Marriage since 2014Pride every weekend
- Soho in London, Canal Street in Manchester and the whole of Brighton.
- Brighton Pride in August is the party. Pride in London in summer is the march.
- Small towns all over the UK now run their own Prides, which are often the sweetest ones.
USUnited States
Marriage since 2015Varies by state
- The Stonewall Inn in New York is a national monument. Go, have a drink, say thank you.
- San Francisco's Castro, Provincetown, Fire Island, Palm Springs and West Hollywood are the classic pilgrimages.
- Protections and the political climate differ a lot between states, especially for trans people. Check before you move.
IEIreland
Marriage since 2015Voted yes
- In 2015, Ireland became the first country to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote, and people flew home just to vote.
- Dublin Pride in June is warm, chaotic and very Irish.
- Drag queen and activist Panti Bliss is a national treasure. Look up her “Noble Call” speech.
DEGermany
Marriage since 2017History everywhere
- Berlin was a queer capital already in the 1920s, and Magnus Hirschfeld opened his Institute for Sexual Science there in 1919.
- Pride is called CSD (Christopher Street Day), after the street where Stonewall happened. Cologne's is one of Europe's biggest.
- Start in Schöneberg around Nollendorfplatz, then let Berlin take it from there.
MTMalta
Marriage since 2017Rainbow Map champion
- Malta has topped ILGA-Europe's Rainbow Map of legal equality for years in a row.
- It was the first country in Europe to ban conversion therapy, in 2016.
- Small island, warm sea, and a Pride in September when the summer crowds have gone.
AUAustralia
Marriage since 2017Mardi Gras
- Same-sex marriage passed in 2017 after a national postal survey where the yes side won clearly.
- The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras started as a protest in 1978. Now it's a parade down Oxford Street with hundreds of floats.
- Melbourne's Midsumma festival in summer is the more arty sibling.
TWTaiwan
Marriage since 2019Asia's first
- Taiwan was the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, in May 2019.
- Taiwan Pride in Taipei in late October is the largest in East Asia.
- The Red House in Ximending is the heart of the bar scene.
MXMexico
Nationwide since 2022Beach and city
- Mexico City led the way in 2010, and by 2022 marriage equality covered every state.
- Zona Rosa in Mexico City for nights out, Puerto Vallarta for beaches.
- Mexico City Pride in June is one of the biggest in Latin America.
THThailand
Marriage since 2025Newest member
- Marriage equality took effect in January 2025, the first in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of couples married on day one.
- Bangkok Pride has grown fast, and Silom is the neighbourhood to stay in.
- Phuket and Pattaya also have big queer scenes and their own Pride events.
ALLEverywhere else
Universal rules
- Find the local LGBTQ+ centre. It knows the safe bars, the good doctors and the next event.
- In more than 60 countries, same-sex relationships are still criminalised. Check ILGA World's maps and your government's travel advice before you go.
- Queer apps and local groups can tell you a lot, but be careful with strangers where it isn't legal.
- The 30 moves on the main page work almost everywhere.