Opposition to LGBTQ rights

Opposition to legal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people exists worldwide. Some people and groups do not support laws that allow same-sex relationships, same-sex marriage, or the rights of transgender individuals to live and express their gender identity.

Organizations that oppose these rights often work against laws that would allow same-sex marriage, protect LGBTQ people from unfair treatment, or help stop bullying in schools. Many of these groups are based on strong religious or traditional values.

Scholars and experts have noted that beliefs tied to religion often play a big role in why some people oppose LGBTQ rights. Understanding these different views helps us see why conversations about fairness and equality for everyone can sometimes be difficult.

History

The first organized movement for rights of people who love others of the same gender started in the late 1800s in Germany.

In the 1920s, cities like Berlin had communities of people who loved others of the same gender. A German doctor named Magnus Hirschfeld was a well-known voice supporting these rights. However, when a strict government took power in 1933, they destroyed his research center. Later, many men who loved other men were removed from the government and sent to difficult labor camps.

After World War II, some countries became less accepting of people who loved others of the same gender. But many decided to live openly after meeting others who felt the same way. This led to the creation of special places and groups for them. By the late 1960s, some countries began to change laws to be more fair toward these individuals, influenced by movements that encouraged personal freedom and challenged old ideas about health and mind.

Public opinion

Main article: Societal attitudes toward homosexuality

People in different places and times have had many different ideas about relationships and love. Some cultures accept love between people of the same sex, while others do not.

Surveys have shown that many people in Western Europe and parts of the Americas are open to ideas about same-sex relationships. But in places like the United States, Japan, and some other countries, fewer people feel the same way. In many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, there is even less acceptance of these relationships.

More recently, polls have found that most people in the United States and Japan support allowing people to marry someone of the same sex. Views about how society should treat transgender people also differ, with some studies linking opposition to a desire for strict rules about how people should behave.

Religious reasons for opposition

Main article: Religion and homosexuality

See also: Human sexuality § Religious sexual morality

Many religions, such as Abrahamic faiths, do not support same-sex relationships. For example, Evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, Mormonism, Orthodox Judaism, and Islam view same-sex relationships as wrong and believe they can weaken society's values.

Christian opposition

Main articles: Christianity and homosexuality, Christianity and transgender people, List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality, and The Bible and homosexuality

Some parts of the Old Testament and stories like Sodom and Gomorrah have been used to argue against same-sex relationships. Different Christian groups interpret these parts in different ways. The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church do not support same-sex relationships, and many Protestant groups agree.

Islamic opposition

Further information: LGBTQ people and Islam

In many Islamic countries, same-sex relationships are not allowed under Sharia law. Some countries have serious punishments for these actions. However, in places like Turkey, same-sex relationships have been allowed since 1858.

Asian religious opposition

Further information: Homosexuality and Hinduism, Buddhism and sexual orientation, and Homosexuality in China

Religions from India, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, have different views on same-sex relationships. Some leaders have spoken against same-sex marriages, but these religions often have many different ideas about this topic.

Scientology opposition

Main article: Scientology and sexual orientation

The founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, thought that same-sex relationships were a mental problem. Some members have left the group because of its views on this topic.

Opposition in different countries

Belarus

See also: LGBTQ rights in Belarus

A report from the United Kingdom in 2014 talked about concerns for people in Belarus. In 2013, the government there made it harder for groups supporting these communities. Members were often stopped and questioned by police. Events were disrupted, and some places were closed.

Georgia

See also: 2021 attack on Tbilisi Pride, 2023 attack on Tbilisi Pride, and 2013 Tbilisi anti-homophobia rally protests

In July 2023, more than 2,000 people in the capital of Georgia stopped a celebration for these communities. There have been problems before too.

India

See also: Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code

In 1860, laws were made in India that made certain relationships against the law. These laws were changed later, but some parts stayed until 2018.

Indonesia

Traditionally, people in Indonesia were okay as long as these communities stayed private. But in 2016, some leaders spoke against them publicly. Some groups on university campuses were not allowed to meet. Some leaders have defended these communities, saying they should be treated like everyone else.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, certain relationships are against the law. In 2018, the government made it harder for these communities.

Poland

See also: LGBT-free zone and Operation Hyacinth

In Poland, some leaders and groups do not support equal rights for these communities. Public opinion is changing, with more people supporting equal rights now.

Russia

See also: LGBTQ rights in Russia

In Russia, leaders have made laws that limit talking about these communities. Some groups have been very against them, leading to problems.

Sweden

Sweden has seen more talks against equal rights for these communities. Some political groups and leaders have spoken against changes that support these communities.

United Kingdom

See also: LGBTQ rights in the United Kingdom, LGBTQ rights in Scotland, and Anti-transgender movement in the United Kingdom

In 1988, a law was passed in the United Kingdom that limited what schools and local governments could say about these communities. This changed in 2003. In 2013, marriage for these couples was allowed.

United States

History

Main article: LGBTQ history in the United States

1950s and 1960s

See also: Stonewall riots § Background

In the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, many people did not talk openly about these communities. Laws against certain behaviors existed in every state. During this time, some leaders described these communities as a threat to the country.

1970s and 1980s

Beginning in the 1970s, some groups began to speak out against these communities, saying they were trying to influence children. During the 1980s, when a health crisis affected these communities, they faced more stigma and unfair treatment.

1990s and 2000s

In the 1990s and 2000s, some groups continued to speak out against equal rights for these communities.

2010s and 2020s

Main article: 2020s anti-LGBTQ movement in the United States

During the presidency of Donald Trump, some leaders began to focus more on issues involving transgender people. This led to new laws and rules that limited rights for these communities.

U.S. public opinion

See also: Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States

Over time, more people in the United States have started to accept these communities and support equal rights. Surveys show that support has grown since the late 1970s.

United States Armed Forces

Main article: Don't ask, don't tell

For many years, certain people were not allowed to serve in the military. In 2010, this rule changed, and people could serve openly.

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America now allows people from these communities to join. In the past, there were rules that stopped some from being leaders or members. These rules have changed over time.