Members of European Parliament vote to make European Union an ‘LGBTQI freedom zone’

Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Pexels

Members of European Parliament have voted to make the European Union an ‘LGBTQI freedom zone’.

The symbolic resolution was adopted yesterday by 492 votes in favour, 141 against and 46 abstentions.

The move follows rising levels of homophobia and transphobia in EU member countries like Hungary and Poland. In the latter country, there are more than 100 ‘LGBT-free’ zones, where so-called ‘gay propaganda’ is banned.

“Protect and promote equality”

‘‘LGBTIQ persons everywhere in the EU should enjoy the freedom to live and publicly show their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution,” MEPs said in a statement.

“Authorities at all levels of governance across the EU should protect and promote equality and the fundamental rights of all, including LGBTIQ persons,” the statement adds.

German MEP Terry Reintke responded on Twitter: “Let’s put it into concrete political action: better laws, better enforcement, better protection. Together we can do it.”

Yesterday, the Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran launched a campaign to get UK towns ‘twinned’ with Poland to support LGBTQs in the country.

Moran today told Attitude: “Recent events in Poland should deeply concern all of us. That’s why I launched the Protect Our Twins campaign – the Liberal Democrats won’t stand for the suppression of LGBTQ+ people anywhere in the world.

“Attitude’s readers can get involved in the campaign online at lgbt.libdems.org.uk, and can also help their twins by asking their local councillors to sign up and join, and even writing themselves to activists in Polish areas twinned with their own to support them.”

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