With a world population of 7.5 billion, it's likely that there are hundreds of millions of LGBTQ people, many of whom live in places that are hostile to sexual and gender minorities. With 72 countries in which homosexuality is still illegal and 27 countries that now allow same-sex marriage, the range of conditions for LGBTQ people is wide. The purpose of this book is to show you the great global diversity within what we call the LGBTQ community. The culture of each society shapes how it interacts with LGBTQ people and how sexual and gender minorities see themselves. Inside, you'll find a breakdown of each region of the world--Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania--and how each region's history and culture shape its LGBTQ communities. You'll find out the state of LGBTQ rights in that region, and you'll find out where things are headed. In addition, you'll learn about issues that affect LGBTQ people across borders and the organizations that are working to solve those issues.