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Here Are All the World’s Biggest LGBTQ Rights Wins in 2022

Being gay remains a crime for a quarter of the world's population and LGBTQ people face violence and repression across the globe. But in 2022 there were still dozens of important rights breakthroughs.
lgbtq rights victories 2022
Mamiko Moda (left) and her partner Satoko Nagamura with their son holds a same-sex partnership certificate as they pose for a photograph after a press conference at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Tokyo. Photo: UICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images

Canada banned conversion therapy.

Greece lifted the ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men.

Israel ended surrogacy restrictions for same-sex couples.

New Zealand banned conversion therapy on anyone under 18 or with impaired decision-making capacity, and banned conversion practices that cause “serious harm”, regardless of an individual’s age.

Kuwait overturned a law used to criminalise transgender people.

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People march during the 23rd annual Pride Parade in Bogotá, Colombia, in July. Photo: JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images

People march during the 23rd annual Pride Parade in Bogotá, Colombia, in July. Photo: JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s Health Ministry banned conversion therapy.

The first same-sex marriages took place in Chile following a law change.

France opened blood donations by gay and bisexual men with no preconditions.

Colombia legally recognised non-binary people

The US included an "X" gender option in passport applications, in addition to "F" and "M".

Austria lifted restrictions on blood donations by LGBTQ people.

US President Joe Biden signed an executive order to advance LGBTQ equality.

Youth activist Javier Gomez (3rd right) reacts as US President Joe Biden hands him a pen after signing an executive order advancing LGBTQ equality. Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Youth activist Javier Gomez (3rd right) reacts as US President Joe Biden hands him a pen after signing an executive order advancing LGBTQ equality. Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Switzerland legalised same-sex marriages.

A court in Antigua and Barbuda ruled that a ban on gay sex is unconstitutional

Colonial-era anti-LGBTQ laws in Saint Kitts and Nevis were declared unconstitutional

Vietnam declared being LGBTQ is “not an illness”.

India classified conversion therapy as “professional misconduct”.

People in Cuba voted to legalise same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption.

Slovenia legalised same-sex marriage.

Laure (left) and Aline kiss each other after their wedding ceremony in Geneva after the marriage for all Swiss law entered into force as of the 1st of July. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

Laure (left) and Aline kiss each other after their wedding ceremony in Geneva after the marriage for all Swiss law entered into force as of the 1st of July. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

Tokyo’s metropolitan government issued its first partnership certificates to same-sex couples, although same-sex marriage is not legal in Japan and the partnership certificates do not have the same full rights as marriage.

Same-sex marriage became legal in every state in Mexico.

The US passed the Respect For Marriage Act, to protect same-sex and interracial marriage.

Singapore legalised gay sex, (but still opposes same-sex marriages) 

The High Court in Barbados decriminalised gay sex.