Friday

29th Mar 2024

Opinion

Homophobia must be stamped out across Europe, east as well as west

  • Gay and lesbians still have a long struggle ahead of themselves in much of eastern Europe (Photo: Fritz Liess)

People are always talking about what divides Europeans, but I find it more constructive to focus on what unites us. We are united in a European Union by common values.

In 1989, we witnessed the power of these values to transform lives and break down barriers. Basic freedoms such as the right to free assembly allowed what Vaclav Havel called the "power of the powerless" to make their mark on history and society.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Twenty years later, these values are still breaking down barriers.

The holding of pride events has become a front-line in the struggle against the discrimination that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people still face in everyday life.

The fact that the Europride will take place in Warsaw today shows the importance of pursuing a determined effort in fighting against homophobia and in promoting equality for LGBT people.

It shows what Europe can do if it stands firmly by its values: against discrimination and for the respect of fundamental rights, irrespective of sexual orientation. I will continue to do my utmost to uphold the fundamental values on which the EU is founded.

Earlier this year, on the International Day against Homophobia, I issued a strong message condemning homophobia along with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

Homophobia is a blatant violation of human dignity and is incompatible with the principles on which the EU is founded. It is unacceptable that people anywhere in the EU should be excluded, be discriminated against or fall victim to violence or hateful abuse because of their sexual orientation.

So the European Commission has made it clear that is determined to do all it can with the powers conferred by the EU Treaty to fight homophobia and discrimination. It will make sure that all Europeans benefit from the fundamental rights that must be respected across Europe.

That same month, the commission also wrote a letter to the Lithuanian authorities expressing concern about the event's last-minute suspension. We recalled that freedom of assembly is a right in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and is one of the principles upon which the EU is founded.

This is only the latest chapter in a long history of EU support for LGBT equality. Our efforts build on the World Health Organisation's decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases on 17 May 1992, which led to that day being chosen to commemorate the fight against homophobia.

In 2000, the commission adopted legislation to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment. A homosexual discriminated against at work or in applying for a job is now protected by law and entitled to seek redress.

Whenever member states implement EU law, they must respect the non-discrimination principle. I will remain vigilant to ensure this principle, and I will not hesitate to launch infringement procedures, if necessary.

To fight homophobia, we need to challenge stereotypes and change attitudes. This is why the commission financially supports actions across the EU to raise awareness of discrimination and promote diversity and equality.

I am fully committed to this fight, which will be won with our values: by standing up for basic human rights and freedoms, such as the right to march, but also by standing up to demand that the rule of law in our modern society be respected.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author's, not those of EUobserver.

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Column

EU's Gaza policy: boon for dictators, bad for democrats

While they woo dictators and autocrats, EU policymakers are becoming ever more estranged from the world's democrats. The real tragedy is the erosion of one of Europe's key assets: its huge reserves of soft power, writes Shada Islam.

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Column

EU's Gaza policy: boon for dictators, bad for democrats

While they woo dictators and autocrats, EU policymakers are becoming ever more estranged from the world's democrats. The real tragedy is the erosion of one of Europe's key assets: its huge reserves of soft power, writes Shada Islam.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us