Today, progressive European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, presented the European Commission’s first ever EU Strategy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) equality.
The PES and Rainbow Rose – the LGBTIQ organisation of the PES – welcome and fully support the new strategy.
PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“The PES commends Commissioner Dalli for coming forward with this strategy, the first of its kind at the European level. It shows once again that our political family believes in a Europe based on equality. The actions set out today are a step towards achieving this. Socialists and democrats are fighting to end discrimination, guarantee safety and build inclusivity for the LGBTIQ community, in Europe and around the world.”
Camila Garfias, President of Rainbow Rose, the LGBTIQ organisation of the PES, added:
“In the EU, discrimination is a persistent problem for our community: 43% of LGBTIQ people feel discriminated against. In these difficult times of the pandemic we see that the most vulnerable are excluded and devoid of recognition and protection. Commissioner Dalli has our full support on this ambitious step to move forward on anti-discrimination regulations, freedom of movement and hate speech.”
The LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, which covers the next five years, proposes to extend the list of EU crimes to cover hate crime, including homophobic hate speech and hate crime, and to bring forward legislation on the mutual recognition of parenthood in cross border situations, among other actions. It ensures LGBTIQ concerns are well reflected in EU policymaking, so LGBTIQ people, in all their diversity, are safe and have equal opportunities to prosper and fully participate in society.
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 implement a European party political LGBTIQ network.
