This year marks the second IDAHOBIT in the frame of a pandemic, that has brought many difficulties for the LGBTIQ community. It also marks the year in which the European Union has declared itself a Freedom Zone, building on the European Commission’s first LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, presented last year by Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli.
Sergei Stanishev, PES President, said:
“Today, and every day, the PES stands shoulder to shoulder with the LGBTI community. Our political family will never accept homophobia, biphobia or transphobia in our societies. We want an equal Europe and to reach it we work hard day by day. We are proud that Commissioner Helena Dalli has presented the first European Union LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. And the governments from the PES are making sure the Strategy is implemented on the national level.“
Camila Garfias, President of Rainbow Rose, the LGBTI organisation of the PES, added:
"After one and a half year of pandemic, in which right wing governments used the fight against COVID-19 to limit human rights, socialists and democrats in Europe have shown that we have alternatives. The proclamation of the Freedom Zone is essential for LGBTIQ youth who have spent quarantine in hostile homes, it is essential for trans people whose access to healthcare was limited, it is essential for crossborder families. We will continue our work for real equality!"
The PES was the first European political party to adopt a comprehensive LGBTI roadmap and, with its network Rainbow Rose, it was the first to develop a European political LGBTI network.
Mr Stanishev added:
"We're especially proud that Malta, under Prime Minister Abela and the Labour Party, has topped ILGA Europe's LGBTI Index for the sixth year in a row. Once again, progressives are at the forefront of securing LGBTI rights.”
Today ILGA Europe presented its yearly Rainbow Europe Map, which brings together both the legal index of LGBTI equality and an overview of the social climate for LGBTI people in each country. The rankings are based on how the laws and policies of each country impact on the lives of LGBTI people.
The ILGA Rainbow Map reveals widespread and almost complete stagnation on the human rights of LGBTI people. Rainbow Rose together with the Party of the European Socialists will continue to push for equality through laws and policies which build a respectful society.
