List of countries where LGBT contestants come from:
-->USA = Same-sex sexual activity legal (in some parts since 1960) and nationwide legalization in 2015, 239 years after independence.
-->Canada = Same-sex sexual activity legal since 1969, 102 years after independence. Homosexual rape (rape in general) a serious punishable offense, Gender identity and expression legally recognized and LGBT service in military openly allowed since 1992.
then-Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Pierre Trudeau (who eventually became the 15th Prime Minister of Canada) famously commenting, "There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation."
-->Vietnam = Same-sex sexual activity not codified. No known same-sex sexual activity law against homosexuality has been passed in Vietnamese history. Transgender people allowed to legally change gender after reassignment surgery.
In November 2016, Vietnam, together with South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Israel, Thailand, Nepal and Mongolia, were the only Asian countries to vote in favor of the appointment of an independent expert to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the LGBT community and to find ways to properly protect them.
-->Guatemala = Same-sex sexual activity for both men and women legal since 1871, 50 years post independence.
-->Mexico = Same-sex sexual activity legal status legal since 1871, 61 years post independence. Gender identity/expression for Transgender persons, can change their legal gender and name in Mexico City and 2 states.
-->Brazil = Same-sex sexual activity legal status legal since 1830, 8 years post independence. Age of consent equalised for homosexuality,
Gender identity/expression Legal since 2009, official standard for altering legal sex doesn't require surgery since 2018, Allowed to serve openly for military service.
-->Philippines = Same-sex sexual activity legal status legal, Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly in military since 2009, 111 years after independence.
-->Israel = Same-sex sexual activity legal status legal since 1988, 40 years post independence. (but no record of enforcement of "buggery" law before this, and the Attorney General declared that laws against homosexuality would not be enforced in 1963.)
Gender identity/expression - legal sex change possible without the need for surgery. LGBT people allowed to serve openly in military service.
Hm. Brazil took 8 years to grant LGBT rights, whereas it took USA 239 years. Hmmm. 8 years for a country to recognize that LGBT people exist, but some countries still haven't figured out the fact that they have rights. *sigh*