Which is the most gay-friendly country in Europe?

Holland

Denmark

Spain

Luxembourg.

Norway. Most tolerant social laws, least likely to get publicly bashed.

You know there are entire websites dedicated to this? And its Malta.

Malta? Hahahahaha.

Spain and Netherlands

Malta is not

Malta seems a strange choice. It shows up as #1 in some travel lists of gay-friendly countries TO VISIT, in part because it was the first European country to outlaw conversion therapy in 2017, but , now somewhat stale newsworthiness aside, Malta gets a lot of attention for homophobia.

Here's a list from Expatica showing a Europe-heavy list of top countries for gays and lesbians TO LIVE:

Wikipedia has a table showing the ratings of countries by their gay and lesbian TRAVEL index from Spartacus Gay Guide (who knew they still exist?). Ratings are in bands by score: Portugal and Sweden in the very top tier with a ranking of #1; ten more European countries in the second with a ranking of #4; the U.S. in the 14th tier with a ranking of #101; etc.

None of these scoring systems provide more than a general picture of legislation in place to protects gays and lesbians, or some other tick the box measure. The difference between Spain and Sweden & Portugal is that the latter two each have scored one additional point in a measure of anti-gay legislation, though in deciding which of these to visit or which of these to live in, the lack of difference is such that it should come down to things that are not gay or lesbian related.

Sweden, if you avoid the Muslim areas.

Having been to pretty much every European country, I'd say Iceland. For a country that 50 years ago nobody went to and which was basically a large fishing village at the time, the attitudes are surprisingly sophisticated and liberal, even in remote rat's ass towns near the Arctic circle.

Spain. The Northern Europeans like Netherlands and Sweden just tolerate gays on a personal level because it's the progressive thing to do but Spaniards embrace the culture.

Holland, or The Netherlands officially, legalized gay marriages in 2001. One of the first countries to do so.

Spain is largely very religious and traditional. LThey are definitely not the most progressive Europeans.

I went to Malta a few years ago - unfortunately in July and it was a damn inferno - I don't see how it ranks first. Although there was a fun gay bar dedicated to bears, which there are a lot of there.

R13 is right, R15. Spain is similar to Ireland in many ways, especially in dropping the Catholic church like a hot potato in modern times. The church is not much a part of daily life. Asked, older people will say that they are Catholic, but for most people they are Catholic in the way others say that they are culturally Jewish—their parents were of that faith, they are familiar to some extent with its basic principles, but they are not active in attending religious services or praying.

The churches and convents still exist everywhere in Spain, but mostly it's one old priest and a couple of old people stopping in for a few minutes. Normal services are mostly empty in the churches that have normal services (many do not.) The buildings are maintained for their art and architecture, maybe with a small group of old, cloistered nuns making sweets to sell, or fraternal groups organizing big spectacles for holy days (the fundraising for which keeps the doors from shuttering), and weddings. Weddings, showy tourist processions and events, and government grants for restoration of art and architecture and events keep the whole thing lurching along. But the influence on government, on legislation, on daily life...it's very minimal, especially compared to other places.

Pew Research data report on "How do European Countries Differ in Religious Commitment" shows Spain 14th out of 32 places with (2018 data) with 23% saying they pray daily. For comparison, the U.S. figure is 55%. Rated by people categorized as highly religious, Spain is 16th of 34 countries at 21%, with the percentage of adults in 34 European countries ranging from 7% to 55%.

Portugal has indeed embraced a lot of anti-gay legislation, which is great, but this has been more like a top down thing than an actual reflection on attitudes to gay people. That said, it has worked wonders in that respect but it still as a way to go in comparison to Spain.

Agreed R18. I would be perfectly comfortable living in Portugal, and it's a great place to live, but you don't see so strong an influence of gays being embraced in and a part of everyday life, whether in media, in advertising, in government, and all without any fuss in Spain.

[quote] Portugal has indeed embraced a lot of anti-gay legislation, which is great

Agreed.

I think Spain is a great country for gays to go on vacation. Cities like Barcelona and Madrid are also great to live, but I know quite a lot of Spanish gays that moved to London bc it was very hard for them to find work and lots of trouble with family, neighbours, collegues etc. outside the gay friendly cities/areas.

The Netherlands. They were first with everything and it is inbuilt into them.

[quote]Normal services are mostly empty in the churches.

That's not what I experienced when I visited Barcelona and southern Spain (Granada, Cordoba, Seville) a couple of years back.

Almost the same picture you see in Austria (Vienna). Churches are packed, people are very pious.

America!!!! America is better than everywhere else and we're in Europe!

Thailand.

Egypt

Thanks for recommending Thailand and Egypt, R25 & R26. I'll check them out on my next trip to Europe.

Spain is ridden with grim Catholics who hate gays. I'd say the UK overall. Lots of gay characters in their soaps, dramas and hosting chat shows. Places like Holland and Denmark have a lot of homophobes outside the big cities.

London is the most gay friendly city in the world.

[quote]Spain is ridden with grim Catholics who hate gays.

"Ridden with"? That's ridiculous.

Definitely San Marino. All three of their gays are well accepted by the local community.

EVERYONE barely tolerates or hates gays

Here in Romania a year ago they actually had travel deals to Iran...a friend of my roommate and her girlfriend went and brought back some spectacular pictures of Isfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis and I felt anger at the fact that neither she or I could go regardless of whether we bearded for each other as we did in Morocco. Very sad.

There is only one country in Europe that is truly genuinely gay friendly

Spain

The others just tolerate gays.

[quote] I felt anger at the fact that neither she or I could go regardless of whether we bearded for each other as we did in Morocco.

Why can't you go?

The UK too, r34.

Poland? No.