The European Court of Justice, in a ruling that could have ripple effects in other countries, has ruled that members of the LGBT fearing for their lives just because of their sexual preference may now seek asylum in the European Union.

A person's sexual orientation is a fundamental characteristic, online portal care2.com said, quoting the decision of the court. "The Court said it is not appropriate to deny asylum on grounds that someone should simply hide their sexual orientation."

The Council of State for the Netherlands sought the European Court of Justice's opinion based on the cases of three Africans from Sierra Leone, Uganda and Senegal. Fearing persecution in their home countries, the three LGBT members sought asylum in The Netherlands. Homosexuality is strongly shunned in Africa, subject to heavy fines or life imprisonment.

There are at least 76 countries today which still prohibits homosexuality.

"A person's sexual orientation is a characteristic so fundamental to his identity that he should not be forced to renounce it," the court ruled on Thursday, according to German news site DW.

The EU court's ruling binding for all its member countries, including Britain.

But the Court stated that for asylum seekers to be granted such, they must not hide their homosexuality just to avoid severe persecution within their native country.

"Based on the Geneva Convention, defining refugees as any person who 'owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion'," online portal digitaljournal.com quoted a part of the ruling.

Members of the EU aren't the first ones to offer asylum to members of the LGBT.

In August 2013, Canada has offered such to Russian gays who fear for their lives because of the iron-fist rules of Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning them.

Some Russian LGBT members have reportedly contacted Canadian lawyers overseas enquiring of possible asylum status.

In June, Mr Putin formally signed into law the country's anti-gay propaganda bill. Russia likewise has other laws, such as that of banning foreign gay couple from adopting Russian children.