Abstract
Across Europe and beyond, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other sexual orientations (LGBTQIA+)
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individuals are at a crossroads as they are celebrated in some places while being under attack or resisted in others. The recent Rainbow Map (ILGA-Europe, 2025a) shows that while progress has been made in some countries, legal protections for LGBTQ+ people have declined or have not made any progress in several other countries. More than 60 countries still outlaw same-sex relationships (ILGA, 2024; Human Dignity Trust, 2024). Moreover, rights concerning transgender
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individuals are often not recognized or subject to ongoing debate. One example is the United Kingdom, where a Supreme Court ruling clarified that the term "woman" in the Equality Act 2010 refers strictly to biological sex (House of Commons, 2025). This decision has provoked debate over the recognition of trans individuals and raised broader questions about the evolving scope of anti-discrimination law.