2010 was a great year to be an LGBTQ teen. Lady Gaga was at the height of her fame. Everyone wanted to be her and we were all wearing crazy clothes and makeup to school. Sales of hairspray were through the roof and I was tottering around Cambridgeshire in some spiky leather boots and black eyeliner. Equal marriage was the hot topic of discussion and even the Tories were coming around on the idea of gay rights.

We’ve come a long way in the last 10 years. We’ve made a lot of progress but we’ve also lost some ground internationally when it comes to LGBTQ rights. Here is a review of the last decade.

2010

The year began with seven countries already having legalised same sex marriage.

Argentina, the first country in Latin America, legalises equal marriage followed by Portugal and Iceland bringing the number to 10.

The USA lifts its travel ban on people with HIV.

Early trials of PrEP and Microbicide Gel reduce risk of HIV transmission by 44% and 40%.

LGBTQ discrimination becomes illegal in Bolivia, The UK and Mexico.

Sadly, the Central African Republic makes being gay illegal.

2011

Ireland bans gay men donating blood, the UK reduces lifelong ban on gay men donating blood to just banning gay men who aren’t celibate – despite the fact they screen all donated blood for diseases anyway. Japan legalises blood donation by gay men.

The US repeals Don’t Ask Don’t Tell! LGBTQ people can serve openly in the military.

Portugal allows people to legally change their gender.

PrEP trials showed that the risk of HIV transmission was reduced by 96% in couples of different statuses.