Anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination is costing Eastern European countries almost 2% a year in economic growth.
On 27 April, a coalition of dozens of global companies promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance revealed that Hungary, Poland, Romania and Ukraine are losing billions of dollars each year.
According to a report from Open For Business (OFB), this is due to the lack of equality for the LGBTQ+ community in legislation and the workplace, as well as higher health costs related to HIV, AIDS and depression.
In all aforementioned countries, same-sex activity is legal. However, it’s difficult for LGBTQ+ people to live authentic lives as they are still denied the right to marry and are continuously met with discrimination and prejudice.