OUR LATEST ISSUE
EU gays face discrimination
european flag
Members of the LGBT community are facing widespread discrimination across Europe.
According to a report issued by the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), gays are facing harassment, bullying and discrimination in all walks of life, including education, employment and health care.
FRA director Morten Kjaerum said: "Many LGBT persons experience discrimination, bullying and harassment. There have been physical attacks and even deadly assaults against LGBT persons in some countries. These are alarming signals in an EU that prides itself on its principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination".
The report goes on to say that many gay Pride events have been obstructed in Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Romania.
Politicians and religious leaders in Italy, Hungary, Malta, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have also refused to address the issue of LGBT rights.
Gay people are often subject to assault and hate crimes, few of which are reported.
“This means that crimes go unpunished, victims do not obtain justice, and authorities are not able to take the necessary action to respond to such crimes or prevent them from recurring,” said Kjaerum.
“I call on the EU governments to improve the recording of hate crimes and to train their police accordingly. In addition, we need campaigns to inform everyone about diversity and non-discrimination, as making a complaint requires people to be legally aware."
Anastasia Crickley, Chair of the FRA's Management Board, concluded: "Everyone in the EU must be able to live without fear and discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation. I call upon all EU governments to support the newly proposed EU anti-discrimination legislation."
The full report can be read here
