RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: Sun-soaked beaches, legendary nightlife, and now the official title of Europe’s most LGBTQ+ inclusive country—Spain has claimed the crown. According to ILGA-Europe’s annual Rainbow Map, which ranks 49 European countries on LGBTQ+ rights and protections, Spain has taken the number one spot for the first time, ending Malta’s decade-long run at the top. For anyone who’s wandered Madrid’s Chueca or Barcelona’s Gaixample, the news probably feels inevitable. Spain legalized same-sex marriage back in 2005, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so. Every summer, Madrid hosts one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations, attracting more than 1.5 mill

Sun-soaked beaches, legendary nightlife, and now the official title of Europe’s most LGBTQ+ inclusive country—Spain has claimed the crown.

According to ILGA-Europe’s annual Rainbow Map, which ranks 49 European countries on LGBTQ+ rights and protections, Spain has taken the number one spot for the first time, ending Malta’s decade-long run at the top.

For anyone who’s wandered Madrid’s Chueca or Barcelona’s Gaixample, the news probably feels inevitable.

Spain legalized same-sex marriage back in 2005, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so. Every summer, Madrid hosts one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations, attracting more than 1.5 million people, while the city itself is home to many LGBTQ+ residents.

As one traveler famously put it: “In Chueca, it’s not gay-friendly—it’s hetero-friendly.”

— @MovieStrictly Jul 4, 2026