Sexual minorities are some of the most vulnerable minorities on the planet. Their existence challenges cultural norms, traditions and power structures. They have been treated as social pariah and scapegoats for the economic, political or social ills in many countries. But there is a wide variance between countries and their protection or repression of sexual minorities. This article systematically analyzes the persecution or protection of sexual minorities in the world through the application of the Franklin & Marshall College Global Barometer of Gay Rights (GBGR) ©. Using GBGR© world data from 2011-2014 we document the variance in levels of state and societal persecution and protection of sexual minorities addressing the question of what factors contribute to a country’s move from persecutors to protectors of human rights for sexual minorities? This analysis provides a broad quantitative assessment of structural factors that may impact the progress of rights protection for sexual minorities based on evidence produced by the GBGR.