Azerbaijan once again is the most phobic country in Europe

ILGA-Europe International LGBTQI+ organisation presented the next Rainbow Map in 2023.

This map reflects the rights and policies related to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans, and intersex individuals in Europe. The map has been created since 2009, and ratings are conducted based on 74 criteria. These include equality and non-discrimination, family, hate crime and hate speech, recognition of gender rights, bodily integrity of intersex individuals, civic space, asylum, and other measures.

According to the results published in 2023, Malta is ranked the highest among 49 countries, with a score of 89%. The next highest-ranking countries are Belgium and Denmark with 76%, followed by Spain with 74%, Iceland with 71%, Finland with 70%, Luxembourg and Sweden with 68%, Norway with 67%, and France with 63%.

Azerbaijan ranks last on the list as the worst country for LGBTQI+ rights, with a score of only 2%. Turkey ranks second to last with 4%. Russia and Armenia share the third-worst ranking with 8%. It should be noted that Azerbaijan has consistently ranked last on the Rainbow Map since 2015.

In the past 12 months, banning surgeries on intersex genitalia has raised the rankings of several countries.

Spain has climbed six places thanks to the recognition of gender rights and the banning of intersex genital surgeries. Greece has also moved up four places for banning the same operation. Moldova has moved up 14 places for positive engagement with sexual orientation and gender identity, provision of education, products and services, health, hate crime and hate speech laws.

Slovenia and Switzerland have legalized same-sex marriage and joint adoption. Switzerland also allows same-sex couples to undergo assisted reproductive treatment. Croatia has moved up one place by legalizing same-sex couples' adoption.