Press release: LGBTI Intergroup Co-Chairs comment on the published EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy
Brussels, 12 November 2020
Today, at 12:30, the European Commission presented its LGBTIQ Equality Strategy.[1] The press conference was held by European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová (Values and Transparency) and European Commissioner Helena Dalli (Equality).
Terry Reintke MEP (Greens-EFA), Co-Chair of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament, comments:
The LGBTI Intergroup has long pushed for this Strategy to be adopted and we strongly welcome the commitment of Commissioner Dalli in representing the wide diversity of the LGBTIQ community. Concretely, the fight against homophobic and transphobic hate crime and hate speech must have an EU level playing field – the extension of the list of EU hate crimes is direly needed and the Commission may count on our support to defend it. To this extent, the funding provided through the ‘Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values’ and ‘Justice’ programmes will be crucial. In addition, the Commission’s availability to assess the implementation of the Employment Equality Directive and to propose legislation to enhance the role of equality bodies by 2022 is crucial. Health remains of course a priority for trans and intersex communities and the Commission’s support to exchange good practices to end “conversion therapies”, intersex genital mutilation and forced medicalisation of trans people is necessary. LGBTI asylum seekers may also benefit from more sensitive handling of claims due to more comprehensive training for asylum officers and better reception conditions.
Marc Angel MEP (S&D), Co-Chair of the LGBTI Intergroup in the European Parliament, concludes:
The inclusiveness of our societies is crucial. Too many LGBTIQ persons still feel excluded and devoid of recognition and protection. The mutual recognition of parenthood between Members States is highly welcomed, but we maintain that not only “parents must remain parents”, but that “families must remain families”. We will give our full support to the Commission’s exploration of measures to also support recognition of same-gender spouses and registered partners’ legal status in cross border situations. Equally, the Commission’s intervention at the level of dialogue between Member States to facilitate accessible legal gender recognition procedures and improve the recognition of trans, non-binary and intersex persons is necessary, timely and indispensable. Lastly, the monitoring of how EU funds are used is essential. We have seen only too well how some Member States use EU funds without respecting EU values. Commissioner Dalli has our full support in this regard. We look forward to an active collaboration for the implementation of this very needed Strategy and call on Member States to cooperate constructively with the Commission to adopt national LGBTIQ equality plans.
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12410-LGBTI-equality
Press contacts:
Office of Marc Angel MEP – Lisa Kersch (Lisa.Kersch@europarl.europa.eu)
Office of Terry Reintke MEP (Terry.Reintke@europarl.europa.eu)
