The LGBTQI Community All Over The World

My interest on this subject( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgender, intersex or Questioning) was recently aroused after I saw the movie-Conclave. The end of the movie had an unexpected twist revealing that the newly elected Pope is an Intersex Person. Cardinal Vicente Benitez has an external male genital but had ovaries and a uterus. 

 The following article about Queen Christina of Sweden, I just read on my FaceBook Page today. I am sharing it with you since it is a good example of issues facing the LGBTQI community.  

https://www.girlmuseum.org/queen-christina-of-sweden/

CHRISTINA, QUEEN OF SWEDEN – INTERSEX? LESBIAN? TRANSGENDER?

(From the “LGBT History & Chronicles” page).

Christina (18 December 1626 – 19 April 1689) was Queen regnant of Sweden from 1632 to 1654.

Christina was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and at the age of six she succeeded her father on the throne upon his death, but did not begin ruling until she reached the age of 18.

Christina is remembered as one of the most educated women of the 1600s. She was intelligent, fickle and moody. She rejected the sexual role of a woman and caused a scandal when she decided not to marry, and in 1654 when she abdicated her throne and moved to Rome.

The Pope described Christina as "a queen without a realm, a Christian without faith, and a woman without shame". Notwithstanding all that, she became a leader of the theatrical and musical life and protected many Baroque artists, composers, and musicians.

Being the guest of five consecutive popes and a symbol of the Counter Reformation, she is one of the few women buried in the Vatican grotto.

Her unconventional lifestyle and masculine dressing and behaviour have been featured in countless novels, plays, opera and film. In all the biographies on Christina her gender and cultural identity play an important role and her gender ambiguity did not end with her style of dress.

The question of her sexuality has been debated, but, modern biographers generally consider her to have been a lesbian, and her affairs with women were noted during her lifetime. Based on historical accounts of Christina's physicality, some scholars believe that she may have been an intersex individual.

Meanwhile, which country has the most LGBTQ💚 people?

The Philippines, the United States and Israel had the highest share of people identifying as LGBT+, at 11 percent each, while Thailand and Canada came in a close joint second place with 10 percent of adults, followed by Sweden, Brazil and Australia, each with 9 percent. 

On average, globally, 80% identify as heterosexual, 3% as gay, lesbian or homosexual, 4% as bisexual, 1% as pansexual or omnisexual, 1% as asexual, 1% as “other”, and 11% don't know or won't say.

💚LGBTQ (also commonly seen as LGBT, LGBT+,LGBTQ+, and LGBTQIA+) is an initialism for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. It is an umbrella term, broadly referring to all sexualities, romantic orientations, and gender identities which are not heterosexual, heteroromantic, or cisgender.💚

In 2024, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index featured that a majority of Western European countries are in the top 12 spots most friendly countries to LGBTQ persons (Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland), rounded out by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Uruguay. The bottom 4 places ( least friendly)  went to Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

There are currently 36 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay. 

Many branches of Christianity are OK with same-sex marriages, among them many Lutheran churches in the US, the Church of Sweden, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ, and others.

Here's the website listing 15 types of sexual orientation.

https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-pride-month-2024-embracing-the-full-spectrum-learn-about-the-15-sexualities-you-should-know-about-3523924/

Lastly, here's what I am expecting in my mailbox today or tomorrow