Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 25 November 2020 - Brussels

The new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (continuation of debate)

  Marc Angel, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Madam President, I would like to thank the Commission for this ambitious action plan concerning acceptance, recognition and protection. This long-awaited strategy is welcomed by LGBTIQ civil society organisations, but also by millions of LGBTI people living in Europe, their parents, their children, and their families and friends.

As the Co-Chair of the European Parliament LGBTIQ intergroup, I would like to thank you for the close cooperation we have had with you and also for your close cooperation with civil society. This strategy comes at a very opportune moment because in several Member States of the European Union, for instance Poland and Hungary, the governments have organised a real witch-hunt against LGBTI people. This has even intensified during the pandemic because they want to divert attention from the failures in fighting the virus.

We Socialists and Democrats appreciate that this strategy also tackles discrimination in employment by bringing forward legislation to enhance the role of equality bodies. We also welcome the fact that EU funds will strengthen LGBTIQ civil society and research on gender in the Member States.

Hate speech and hate crime is on the rise in the European Union and therefore extending the list of hate crimes, including when LGBTIQ people are targeted, is crucial.

Enhancing legal protection for rainbow families and facilitating the exercise of free movement for all families is paramount. We welcome the strong commitment of the Commission that when one is a parent in one country, one is a parent in every country. However, it is regrettable that the commitment on mutual recognition of same-gender partnerships between Member States is softer. By urging Member States to adopt national LGBTIQ action plans, the rights of trans, non-binary and intersex persons can no longer be ignored by Member States. Yes, they exist. They live with us. They live next to us.

This strategy, together with the EU Gender Equality Strategy and the intersectional approach, is the best answer to counter the anti-gender movement – a movement made up of ultra-hard-core conservative politicians and their followers by religious fundamentalists, who stand for an outdated patriarchal society where women’s rights and LGBTI rights have no place.

Let me finish by recalling that being an LGBTI person is not an ideology, it is not an identity, and it is not a choice – but being homo, bi, trans and inter-phobic is a choice.

(Applause)