As couples around the world marked Valentine’s Day, many LGBTQ+ people still face barriers to being with the person they love.
More than 65 countries criminalise gay sex, while only 32 nations worldwide have legalised same-sex marriage. Elsewhere, such as in parts of the United States, there have been moves to push back against LGBTQ+ rights.
In many countries, from Russia to Uganda, widespread hostility towards LGBTQ+ people can make it unsafe to be open about same-sex relationships.
Here’s how people in LGBTQ+ relationships in Russia, India, Bulgaria, the United States and Uganda described the challenges they face.