Estonia 25th in First LGBT-Friendly Army Index
Estonia has the 25th most lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) army in the world, according to a study by The Hague Center for Strategic Studies.
The index, launched in 2014, analyzed the policies and best practices such as inclusion, admission, tolerance and persecution, of 100 nations.
Ingrid Mühling, a spokesman for the Estonian Defense Forces, told Eesti Ekspress today that the military has no need or right to ask for the sexual orientation of conscripts, professional soldiers and other staff. She said Estonian legislation does not touch the subject.
The most LGBT-friendly army, New Zealand, was awarded 100 points, followed by the United Kingdom (98) and the Netherlands (also 98). Estonia scored 83.5 points.
The Finnish army was 19th (88.8 points), the US army 40th (72.8), Latvia was 43rd (71.8), Lithuania 46th (71.3) and Russia 73rd (32.5).
