On Thursday 11 March, MEPs overwhelmingly supported the resolution symbolically declaring the EU an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone” (see EUROPE 12674/1): a further clear condemnation of the existence in Poland of localities declared “free from LGBTI ideology” (see EUROPE 12393/13).
The text, adopted by 492 votes in favour, 141 against and 46 abstentions, recalls however that these anti-LGBTI areas are part of a wider context and that “while LGBTIQ persons in Poland face systematic discrimination, this is also an issue across the EU, with little to no progress being made in alleviating the persistent discrimination against and harassment of LGBTIQ people”.
More than a symbol, the Vice-President of the European Parliament’s LGBTI intergroup, Terry Reintke (Greens/EFA, Germany), said it was a “sign for civil society, activists and LGBTIQ citizens in Poland, Hungary, Romania and all across the EU that they are welcomed and loved across the Union”.
This declaration, however, remains, for the time being, only an objective to be implemented.
“From here, we wish to see local councils, regional governance bodies and national authorities making this declaration a reality”, insisted Marc Angel (S&D, Luxembourg), also Vice-President of the intergroup, hoping that EU cities would adopt similar declarations and involve their constituents in discussions on the issue.
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, also welcomed the adoption of the text and called for it to be implemented.
“All Council of Europe member states have committed to respecting Equal Rights for everyone, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. Discrimination and scapegoating of LGBTI people must end”, she stressed in a tweet.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/3qzjhbL (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)