The EU has made step-by-step progress towards LGBTIQ equality over the past years, but discrimination against LGBTIQ people continues to persist.
Striving for a Union of equality means a Union where all women and men, girls and boys — in all their diversity — are equal. This is a joint undertaking by all stakeholders. The gender equality strategy 2020-2025 sets out a vision, policy objectives and actions to make concrete progress on gender equality in Europe and towards achieving the sustainable development goals.
Everybody in the European Union should be safe and free to be themselves. Our social, political and economic strength comes from our unity in diversity: Equality and non discrimination are core values and fundamental rights in the EU, enshrined in its Treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights1. Equal opportunities is also one of the key pillars of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The European Commission, the Parliament and the Council, together with Member States, all share a responsibility to protect fundamental rights and ensure equal treatment and equality for all.
This report presents select findings from FRA’s 2019 survey on LGBTI people in the EU and North Macedonia and Serbia. With almost 140,000 participants, it is the largest survey of its kind. It follows the agency’s first survey on LGBT people in the EU, conducted in 2012. The new survey results show little progress over the past seven years. The results also show that LGBTI people across the EU – and beyond – believe that law and policy, as well as behaviour by politicians, public figures, community leaders and civil society, greatly affect their lives. By presenting key findings from its second survey, FRA aims to encourage policy- and decision-makers to step up their efforts to promote full respect for the rights of LGBTI people.
FRA’s second survey on LGBTI people in the EU, North Macedonia and Serbia surveyed almost 140,000 participants. This technical report presents a detailed overview of the survey methodology used by FRA when collecting the survey data. The aims of the survey were (1) to obtain data that would allow a better understanding of how LGBTI people experience the enjoyment of fundamental rights and would provide policymakers and key stakeholders with research evidence that could be used to assess the implementation and impact of law and policy and to address gaps in the protection of rights; (2) to detect trends by identifying changes over time with respect to the results of the first LGBT survey (2012); (3) to further develop research methodologies for online survey tools; (4) to deliver to stakeholders, civil society and the wider public research evidence and data that could be valuable in raising awareness of fundamental rights and could contribute to promoting LGBTI equality and improving the situation on the ground.
Combating discrimination has become part of EU internal and external policies, and is the subject of numerous resolutions of the European Parliament. However, action in this area remains problematic when it touches on issues pertaining to areas traditionally the preserve of Member States, such as marital status and family law. This is a further updated version of a briefing originally drafted by Piotr Bakowski.
On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a law originally intended to fight paedophilia, which, following amendments proposed by Members from the ruling Fidesz party, contains clauses prohibiting the portrayal of homosexuality and gender-reassignment to minors. The law is due to come into force on 8 July and has generated widespread criticism at EU level. The law is due to be discussed during the European Parliament's July 2021 plenary session, following statements from the European Commission and the Council.
Even though the European Union (EU) has built an extensive framework of legislation, instances of racism and homophobia in sport are still rife. Interestingly, Eurostat surveys reveal that the feeling of discrimination is more widespread than actual discrimination. Action against discrimination at EU level is grounded in an established EU legal framework and the objectives of the sports strand of the Erasmus+ programme include combatting violence, discrimination and intolerance in sport and providing funding for various projects such as the setting up of LGBTQI+ sports clubs in central and eastern Europe, increasing inclusion in sport, and by bringing together partners who traditionally face barriers to participation, such as women, the LGBTQI+ community and people with disabilities.
With the rise of new technology and social media gender-based cyber violence is a constantly growing threat with impacts at individual, social and economic levels, on women and girls and on society as generally. Action taken so far has been inadequate, and the cross-border nature of gender-based cyber violence has yet to be properly addressed either.
Despite the extent of gender-based violence and the harm it causes, the European Union (EU) does not currently have a specific legal instrument to address it. An own-initiative legislative report setting out proposals for strengthening the EU’s response by identifying gender-based violence at EU level as an area of serious crime is expected to be put to the vote during the plenary session in September.