The Olympics And Gay Rights: How LGBT Friendly Were Other Countries That Hosted The Winter Olympics? [MAP]

Recent Russian laws and policies widely viewed as discriminating against gay people -- along with direct anti-gay comments by President Vladimir Putin -- have raised controversy in other countries participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. But plenty of past host countries weren't -- and still aren't -- very progressive when it comes to gay rights.

Before the games underway in Russia right now, 21 Winter Olympic games have been hosted in 11 countries since 1924. Of these countries, Canada, France and Norway have the most progressive pro-gay rights legislation.

However, the first time the Winter Olympics were hosted in a country in which same-sex marriage was currently legal was in 2010, in Vancouver, Canada.

Pyeongchang, South Korea, another country without marriage equality, is set to host in 2018.

Two days before the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics, a day of protests were held in 19 cities worldwide as a way to encourage sponsors to speak out against Russia’s new law. On the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Russia, protests left four people in jail for holding a banner citing the Olympic charter's principle 6, which states: “Sport does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise.”

Here is a map of the current state of gay rights in all the nations that have hosted the Winter Olympics, plus upcoming host South Korea. Click on any country for more info: