Equinet Europe

Homophobia: FRA publishes a report on discrimination of LGBT people

31 March 2009

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has published today a report on "Homophobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the EU Member States, Part II: The Social Situation".

The study, launched with a press conference at the European Parliament together with the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE), aims at drawing the attention to the unsatisfactory human rights conditions of LGBT persons in several EU member states. The research points out that many gay, lesbian and transgender people experience discrimination, bullying, harassment and even physical attacks. Derogative words are used for gays and lesbians at schools and harassment can be an everyday routine at the workplace. In several member states, LGBT persons are unable to enter into legal partnerships.

The report calls for action by the European Union in order to ensure the respect, protection and promotion of the fundamental rights of LGBT persons. The European institutions must, according to the study, implement legal measures and effective policies to tackle the discrimination that LGBT people face today. With this regard, the approval of the new anti-discrimination directive by the Parliament and the Council is seen as a necessary and decisive step forward.

The first part of the report, which dealt with the legal analysis of the issue, was published in July 2008.