In July 2005, Spain became the third country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Two decades later, this anniversary not only represents a historic triumph in terms of human rights, but also an opportunity to reflect on the journey taken—and the road still ahead—toward full equality for the LGTBIQ+ community on a global scale.
What has been achieved so far deserves to be celebrated. But it also calls for a critical look at the international context, because progress has not been universal, and setbacks, unfortunately, are a reality in many regions.
Two Decades of Progress: The Map of Advancement LGTBIQ+
Since 2001, when the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, the wave of rights has been growing. By 2024, 38 countries have approved marriage between same-sex couples, and many more have made progress in other civil rights such as adoption, legal recognition of gender identity, and protection against discrimination.
Some Notable Milestones:
- Europe has led much of this transformation: Belgium, Norway, Iceland, Germany, France, and more recently, countries with traditionally conservative backgrounds such as Greece, Slovenia, and Estonia, have passed inclusive laws.
- Latin America has been a regional benchmark. Argentina was a pioneer in 2010, followed by Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.
- In Oceania, Australia and New Zealand solidified their equal marriage laws through democratic processes and strong civic mobilization.
- Asia began to take its first steps with Taiwan in 2019, and Thailand approved same-sex marriage in 2024, becoming the second Asian country to do so.
- In Africa, only South Africa has legalized same-sex marriage (in 2006), although criminalization persists in more than 30 countries across the continent.
Much More Than Marriage: Rights That Build Dignity Of LGTBIQ+ Community
Same-sex marriage is a powerful symbol, but it does not exhaust the demands of the LGTBIQ+ community. Around it, significant progress has been made in many countries:
- Legal recognition of diverse families, including joint adoption, automatic parentage recognition in same-sex couples, and access to assisted reproduction.
- Gender identity laws that allow transgender and non-binary people to change their name and gender on official documents without pathologizing requirements or mandatory medical interventions.
- Protection against hate crimes, discrimination in the workplace, access to healthcare, education, or housing.
- Inclusive education promoting sexual and gender diversity in school curricula, although it remains highly uneven depending on the region.
LGTBIQ+ Pride as a Stronghold: Setbacks and Resistance
However, the global reality is far from homogeneous. While some countries are making progress, others are moving backward. In recent years, we have witnessed:
- Increased criminalization in countries such as Uganda, Nigeria, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. In some cases, even the death penalty is considered for same-sex relationships.
- Institutional hate speech: governments pushing “anti-LGTBIQ+ propaganda” laws, like in Hungary or Poland, or bans on educational or cultural content.
- Anti-trans laws in the U.S., where several states have restricted access for trans people to hormone treatments, public restrooms, or sports competitions.
- Rising social violence, including assaults, murders, and police persecution in many countries, even within democracies formally protected by law.
This context reveals that the rights won may not be final. They require vigilance, mobilization, and active public policies to sustain them.
What still needs to be achieved
On this anniversary, it is vital to recognize that the path to full equality is incomplete. Among the main global challenges are:
- Universal decriminalization: more than 60 countries still criminalize same-sex relationships.
- Legal recognition of transgender, non-binary, and intersex people: in many places, sterilization, psychiatric evaluations, or lengthy court processes are still required to recognize gender identity.
- Protection against discrimination: only 11 countries worldwide explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in all areas.
- Equal access to healthcare: from hormone therapies to prejudice-free mental health care, and the right to medical attention without discrimination.
- Visibility and representation: in media, workplaces, politics, and education, there is still a clear underrepresentation of LGTBIQ+ people in leadership roles.
Pride is not just a celebration, it is a political act
Twenty years after same-sex marriage in Spain, it is time to celebrate love, dignity, and equality. But also to look outward: there are still those who cannot live their orientation or identity freely, rights under threat, and new generations who deserve to grow up in a world without fear.
Equality is not a destination, it is a collective construction. And every Pride is a reminder that rights are won, defended, and expanded—together, every day.