 Congress in Colombia have approved a bill to grant homosexual couples the same rights to social security benefits as heterosexual couples.  Although Same-Sex marriage is not legal in Columbia, the current Columbian government is very progressive and will most likely allow for marriage equality soon. COLUMBIA

Gay marriage is not legal in Pakistan. Pakistani law punishes sodomy with imprisonment ranging from two years to life. Some Islamic provisions prescribe 100 lashes for the act or even death by stoning. PAKISTAN

Canada offers its LGBT citizens more legal rights than do many other nations where homosexuality is legal. Since 2005, Canada has offered civil marriage rights nationwide to same-sex couples. CANADA

PERU In Peru, Homosexual acts among consenting adults are legal. An exception is made for all military and police personnel, who can be punished with between 60 days to 20 years imprisonment or discharge from the forces. Homosexuality can also be used as grounds for separation or divorce. Laws meant to protect "public morals" are often used against lesbians and gays. Society's attitude towards homosexuals is generally hostile and is heavily influenced by the Catholic Church.

A panel of judges in a Brazilian state ruled in favor of same-sex marriages in The southern state of Rio Grande do Sul is the first state to do so. The ruling gives same-sex couples broad rights in areas like inheritance, child custody, insurance & benefits and pensions. BRAZIL

On Wednesday, 10th September, 2008, police arrested 2 Female to Male transgender individuals in Kampala. The two individuals are still in custody and are being held without charge. They have been denied bail. Moreover, the Police and CID are now on the hunt for other LGBTI individuals. Kenyan Penal Code criminalize homosexual behavior and attempted homosexual behavior between men, which is referred to as "carnal knowledge against the order of nature". The penalty is 5 to 14 years' imprisonment. In Kenya, Homosexuality is against norms and traditions, even in religion it is Considered a great sin. KENYA

The majority of the public is supportive of homosexuality. In February 2009 a minority government took office, headed by Johanna Siguroroardóttir, the world's first openly gay head of government in modern times. Laws governing homosexuality were repealed in In 1992 the age of consent was made equal for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. ICELAND

Same-sex marriage is not legal in China. The Chinese government does not explicitly state whether same-sex marriage is legal or not. The Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China does not allow adoption by same-sex couples. China is seeing record numbers of new HIV infections and gay Chinese are seen as a high-risk population. CHINA

The Portuguese Civil Code currently bans same- sex marriage, even though cohabitating same-sex couples are afforded several of the rights of marriage Healthcare: An internal regulation of the Portuguese Institute of Blood excludes gay men from donating blood. In April 1999, the Institute's president justified the exclusion on the basis of an alleged high level of promiscuity among gay people. PORTUGAL

Gays are often attacked and ridiculed on the streets of Russia and therefore many live in secret. Today, being gay or lesbian in Russia is no longer illegal, but still considered a "perversion". In February 2007, Mayor Yuri Luzhkov banned what was to be the first gay pride parade in Moscow, claiming gays are unnatural and "satanic" Same-sex marriage is illegal in Russia. Marriage traditions are heavily influenced by the Russian Orthodox Church, which sees homosexuality as a perversion. RUSSIA

Homosexuality has never been explicitly banned in Mexico. In 1991, the Mexico Constitution was amended to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Same sex civil unions were legalized in Mexico City in November There is, however, some opposition to gay marriage in more conservative regions of Mexico. Gay adoption is still prohibited in all of Mexico. MEXICO

Discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal in housing, employment and the provision of goods and services. LGBT individuals can serve openly in the army. Same-sex couples have had the right to adopt since 2002 and to enter into civil partnerships since The Gender Recognition Act also gave transsexuals the right to change their legal gender. UNITED KINGDOM

On July 2, 2009, the Indian High Court decriminalized homosexuality. Indian law does not recognize same-sex marriages, nor does it provide for civil unions. Conservative views among many of the nation’s politicians, argue the previous ban on gay sex protected public health and morals. INDIA

Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Honduras. LGBT people have been subjected to grave human rights violations in Honduras for many years, including killings and discrimination in the exercise of their civil, political, social and economic rights Both same-sex marriages and same-sex adoption have been constitutionally banned since HONDURAS

Members of the LGBT community (or those perceived to be LGBT) have being tortured, assaulted, arrested, detained, killed, or shot in the face and left to die. According to Human Rights Watch "While the country remains a dangerous place for many if not most of its citizens, death squads started specifically singling out men whom they considered not "manly" enough, or whom they suspected of homosexual conduct. The most trivial details of Appearance. The length of A man's hair, the fit of his clothes could determine whether he lived or died." IRAQ

Homosexuals and Bisexuals are Forbidden to Donate Blood Because of Their Sexual Orientation Lesbian and Gay activists are pushing forward with a campaign to convince their government to enact legislation allowing same sex civil unions On June 23, 2000, the Parliament in the autonomous region of Navarra, Spain, passed a ground-breaking law allowing all registered couples in Navarra (including same-sex couples) to adopt children, enjoying the same rights and obligations as heterosexual married couples. SPAIN

About half of Ghanaian men who have sex with other men are also having sex with women, creating a potential 'crossover' for HIV/STDs between the gay and heterosexual populations here. On September 1, the government of Ghana issued a statement banning a lesbian and gay conference and instructing the Ministry of the Interior to locate and arrest the conference's local organizers. Homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality are punishable Offences under the laws of Ghana." GHANA

Puerto Rican Penal code criminalizes consensual sexual relationships between people of the same sex. Marriage just between a man and woman is the only type of marriage recognized in Puerto Rico. PUERTO RICO

NICARAGUA Article 204 of the Nicaraguan Penal Code states that: “Anyone who induces, promotes, propagandizes or practices in scandalous form sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex commits the crime of sodomy and shall incur 1 to 3 years' imprisonment.” Despite efforts from Pro-LGBT rights groups and Amnesty International to de-criminalize homosexuality, President Enrique Bolaños has allegedly ordered that a list of all members of his government "suspected" of being part of the "gay-lesbian world" be compiled so he can dismiss them before leaving office in January 2007

Openly lesbian and gay members of the US military are subject to the US's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy Six states currently offer marriage to same-sex couples. Adoption policies in regards to gay and lesbian parents vary greatly from state to state. California performed same-sex marriages in 2008, but in Nov. of that year, voters passed Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage in the state through an amendment to the state constitution. The Matthew Shepard Bill was passed on October 22, 2009, that would expand the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. UNITED STATES

Information obtained from: The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission The International Lesbian and Gay Association Amnesty International