ILGA warns of global surge in anti‑LGBTQ+ legislation

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) reports that far‑right movements are increasingly targeting LGBT+ rights worldwide. In 2025 the number of countries criminalising same‑sex relations rose for the first time in a decade to 65, after Niger and Burkina Faso introduced anti‑homosexuality laws and Trinidad and Tobago reversed its 2018 decriminalisation. While Saint Lucia removed its punitive law, the overall trend shows a shift toward new tactics that frame restrictions as child protection or family‑values measures, limiting public visibility and education on diversity.

ILGA notes that these coordinated efforts span Europe, Latin America and the United States, with the recent ultra‑right victory of Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella raising alarms about potential roll‑backs of rights. Parallel protests during Pride events, such as Spain’s national march, illustrate the growing resistance to these anti‑LGBTQ+ campaigns.