Press release: Family Equality Day should be every day

Brussels, 3 May 2020

3 May is International Family Equality Day, a day created to raise awareness on the need for equality and for non-discrimination to be widely applied in regard to families. The LGBTI Intergroup welcomes the celebration of this day dedicated to visibility, yet recalls that the European Union must not only celebrate visibility – it must commit to enhance it.

Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament, comments:

Family equality is still not a reality for many Europeans. We need the mutual recognition of documents to ensure that rainbow families are not discriminated and divided. Legal ties must be protected when exercising the right to free movement. This is why the Intergroup called on Commissioner Dalli in March to propose legislation to remedy this.^[1] We are looking forward to the LGBTI Strategy addressing this legislative gap. The new Commission must make this its priority.

Malin Bjork MEP, Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament, comments:

Equality is about fundamental rights. The enactment of these rights, through concrete measures, is crucial for rainbow families. Sexuality education is an important way to provide age-appropriate information to children and fight stigma. Schools have to create an inclusive environment and promote diversity and anti-discrimination. Equality is not an accessory, it is essential in all democratic societies.

^[1]https://lgbti-ep.eu/2020/03/20/lgbti-and-childrens-rights-intergroup-write-joint-letter-to-commissioner-dalli-on-freedom-of-movement-of-rainbow-families/

Press contacts:

Office of Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP – Leonhard Den Hertog (Leonhard.Denhertog@europarl.europa.eu)

Office of Malin Bjork MEP – Charlotta Narvehed (Charlotta.Narvehed@europarl.europa.eu)