Canadian military one of world’s most LGBT-friendly: study

Canada ranks above United States but below Australia and the UK

Canada’s military ranks sixth in the world for LGBT inclusion, according to a new report by the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). The study evaluated 103 military forces on a range of policies, including anti-discrimination measures and recognition of same-sex couples. Canada ranked below Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and New Zealand, which came in first place.

The United States came in 40th place, just below Malta, Romania and Chile. Many of the lowest rankings on the list are in Africa and the Middle East, in countries such as Nigeria and Iran where homosexuality is banned outright in society at large. Russia, India and China also scored well below the median.

The HCSS is an independent security and defence think-tank in the Netherlands. It will release a full study on LGBT inclusion in national military forces in May.

Read more about being gay in the army.

Niko Bell

Niko Bell is a writer, editor and translator from Vancouver. He writes about sexual health, science, food and language.

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