150 Countries Ranked by Safety in New LGBTQ Travel Study

Your passport is ready. Your frequent flyer miles, sitting dormant for more than a year, are poised for use.

But where to go?

Many of us might stay close to home as we venture once again to the great beyond, but others are prepared to exchange currency and fly the friendly skies.

But when you land, "friendly" becomes subjective. Travel experts and LGBTQ allies Asher and Lyric Ferguson (Asher & Lyric) have been traveling the world, offering insights and advice for wanderlust warriors for more than a decade. The couple spent more than 250 hours studying dozens of surveys, studies, facts, and figures to create a master document that can serve as a valuable tool for the LGBTQ traveler.

Asher and Lyric ranked 150 countries based on nine criteria, including:
1. Legalized same-sex marriage
2. Worker protections
3. Protections against discrimination
4. Criminalization of violence
5. Adoption recognition
6. Is it a good place to live? (based on Gallup poll results)
7. Transgender legal identity laws
8. Illegal same-sex relationships
9. Propaganda/morality laws.

LGBTQ travelers have often ventured to less-than-welcoming countries, discovering queer locals, hoteliers, tour operators, and restaurateurs who advocate for diversity and inclusion. Knowledge is power. For those traveling to a country with discriminatory laws, as recently exemplified by a gay couple's arrest on a Mexican beach, it's essential to know your rights...or lack thereof.

Asher & Lyric analyzed the top 150 most-visited countries in the world, then consulted with Dr. Eliot Assoudeh to "design the methodology and cross-reference all data."

Surprisingly, the United States ranked #20 among the safest countries, primarily because of its lack of national LGBTQ protections. Canada secured the number one spot as "most safe," followed by the Netherlands, Sweden and Malta. Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia ranked as the countries with the "highest danger," which hasn't stopped some Nigerians from capitalizing on OnlyFans or publically coming out.

Asher & Lyric also recognized that their allyship and expertise could only strengthen with input from on-the-ground LGBTQ travel experts. They consulted with several industry experts to compile a list of 37 LGBTQ travel safety tips. Highlights include:

Aaron Edwards – A transgender travel blogger, Edwards stresses that it's important to bring all of your travel and identification documents and "at minimum, make sure your photo reflects how you currently look. Also, have a doctor's letter in hand if you're traveling with hormone replacement therapy medication.

Robe Trotting – American couple and travel bloggers Derek and Mike, currently based in Copenhagen, suggest booking an LGBTQ tour if you're worried about safety; always know the local laws of the country you plan to visit.

Every Queer (formally Dopes on the Road) – Meg Cale suggests you share your itinerary and contact information abroad with someone, including flights and hotels. And if you're not sure where to begin planning, consider using the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association's thorough website for trip-planning ideas, including LGBTQ-friendly hotels and tour operators.