Despite opposition, European Parliament votes for LGBTI rights in EU Gender equality strategy

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

In a landmark vote, the European Parliament has demanded to include LGBTI rights in a future EU gender equality strategy.

The current strategy for equality between women and men runs out at the end of this year. The report voted yesterday, is the Parliament’s input for the gender equality strategy 2016-2020.

Specifically on LGBTI issues, the parliament

• Asks to ensure the full legal recognition of a person’s preferred gender, which is vital for trans and intersex persons (par. 24) and to work towards full depathologisation of trans identities, including in childhood (par. 55);
• Demands an inclusive definition of families, including families with LGBT parents in labour and family law (par. 31);
• Calls on the Commission to tackle prejudice against LGBTI persons in schools (par. 61)

Furthermore, the Parliament reiterates its call to adopt a separate strategy on LGBTI rights. It also calls on the Council to adopt a Directive that would outlaw discrimination on the basis of inter alia sexual orientation, in education, social protection and access to goods and services (par. 2).

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, commented: “The message of the Parliament is clear: It is time for the Commission to take leadership on gender equality and LGBTI rights.”

“The attempt by EPP and ECR to delete all LGBTI content shows just how out of touch they have become with today’s society. Thankfully, the Parliament rejected their attempts, and voted in favour of the original report.”

All LGBTI content was threatened by an alternative resolution as well as numerous split and separate votes, demanded by the conservative and right-wing groups EPP and ECR.

Maria Noichl MEP, author of the report and Member of the LGBTI Intergroup, added: “Misogyny, homophobia and transphobia are still widespread in Europe, and there is a lot that the EU still needs to do to make equality a reality.”

“I am very glad that the Parliament affirmed its full commitment to gender equality and LGBTI rights. It is now up to the Commission to ensure that the final strategy reflects this progressive input.”

http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/despite-opposition-european-parliament-votes-for-lgbti-rights-in-eu-gender-equality-strategy/

"Σε μία σημαντική ψηφοφορία, το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο αποφάσισε να συμπεριλάβει τα LGBTI δικαιώματα στη στρατηγική ισότητας των φύλων για την τετραετία 2016-2020.

Συγκεκριμένα το Ε.Κ.ψήφισε:
- να διασφαλιστεί η πλήρης αναγνώριση του επιθυμητού φύλου, θέμα ζωτικής σημασίας για τους τρανς και ίντερσεξ ανθρώπους (παρ. 24), καθώς και να συνεχιστούν οι εργασίες για την αποπαθολογικοποίηση των τρανς ταυτοτήτων (παρ. 55).
- ζητά ένα συμπεριληπτικό ορισμό των οικογενειών, έτσι ώστε να περιλαμβάνονται και οι ομογονεικές οικογένειες .
- καλεί την Επιτροπή να αντιμετωπίσει αποτελεσματικά τις προκαταλήψεις κατά των LGBTI ανθρώπων στα σχολεία."