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May 23, 2013
Balkan states told to improve on LGBT rights before joining EU

The European Parliament have advised countries joining the EU to adopt legislation against discrimination of LGBT citizens

Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been told they should improve LGBT rights ahed of joining the European Union.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of reports encouraging Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina to enforce legislation defending the rights of LGBT citizens.

May 17, 2013
One in two LGBTs in European Union face prejudice or hate

Lesbians, young people and poorer people face highest levels of discrimination and harassment in survey of 27 EU members states plus Croatia

Almost one in two (47%) of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the European Union have faced discrimination or harassment in the last year.

That’s the shocking report from the EU Fundamental Rights Agency on the 27 member states of the European Union and Croatia, which is due to join the union on 1 July this year.

It’s the agency’s first comparative study on the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

January 22, 2013
Russia delays national gay gag law indefinitely

Russia State Duma again postpones debate on law to ban ‘gay propaganda’ to minors across the country

The Russian State Duma has postponed a nationwide ban on ‘gay propaganda’ indefinitely by returning the bill to the preparatory stage.

The legislation was originally due to be debated on 19 December last year but that was put off to today (22 January).

Since then, Russia has come under international pressure to drop the proposals.

December 13, 2012
Europe slams Russia and Ukraine laws and says gay rights must be a ‘priority’

The European Parliament has told Russia and Ukraine to drop gay gag laws and said LGBT issues must be a foreign policy priority for the EU

The European Parliament has told Russia and Ukraine to ditch plans to fine and jail people who talk positively about gay issues.

The LGBT ‘gay laws’ already exist in nine regions of Russia but now the Duma parliament is planning countrywide legislation. Similar proposals are also being debated in Ukraine.

The laws are used to ban gay prides, silence gay organizations stop young people being given positive messages about being LGBT, and to crack down on dissidents.

November 27, 2012
Half of EU believe gay and trans hate is history

New European survey reveals perceptions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender discrimination

A new survey has shed light on European attitudes to discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The European Commission's report also found that 46% of respondents across the European Union think gay people face discrimination, while 46% think they rarely or never do.

Similarly, 45% across the EU think transgender people face discrimination, and 42% disagree. It is the first time gender identity has been included in the survey.

However, a breakdown of the figures reveal large disparities between the 27 countries.

October 3, 2012
Europe may punish Ukraine for gay censorship law

European Union may put new visa rules on hold to punish Ukraine if it presses ahead with ‘homosexual propaganda’ law plan

Foreign ministers could punish Ukraine for voting for a new law to ban ‘homosexual propaganda’ by not allowing it visa-free access to Europe.

GSN broke the news that the Ukrainian Parliament had pushed forward the bill, number 8711, with a landslide vote yesterday.

If it is passed, the new law would give up to five years jail to people importing, producing or spreading positive messages about lesbians, gays and bisexuals.

July 9, 2012
Budapest pride success despite anti-gay threats

Riot police protect thousands of marchers on LGBT pride parade in Hungarian capital

Budapest pride went ahead safely despite the threat of violence and the mayor’s refusal to support the celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

Around 3,000 people protected by riot police marched through the center of the Hungarian capital on Saturday (7 July).

Organizer Szilvia Nagy said it was the most successul parade yet and included participants from human rights organisations, ambassadors, opposition politicians and Members of the European Parliament.

June 29, 2012
Gay Euro Games opened in Budapest

Members of the European Parliament have taken part in opening the 2012 Euro Games in Hungary

Around 2,000 people from across the European Union attended the opening of the gay Euro Games in Budapest this week.

The annual tournament in the Hungarian capital will see LGBT athletes from 34 European countries take part, from 27 June to 1 July.

Support for the event has been led by Ulrike Lunacek and Kinga Goncz, both members of the LGBT intergroup, who attended the opening ceremony with other MEPs.

However, the mayor of Budapest failed to give his support to the event.

June 13, 2012
EU urges new human rights envoy to focus on gay issues

Resolution calls for new special respresentative to focus on global LGBT rights

The EU's future human rights ambassador is being urged to do more to promote LGBT rights across the world.

The new Special Representative for Human Rights is expected to be appointed by the Foreign Affairs Council at its meeting on 25 June.

June 11, 2012
Report looks at legal rights of trans and intersex in Europe

European Commission publishes its first ever analysis of discrimination against transgender and intersex people

The European Commission has published its first ever report into discrimination against transgender and intersex people.

Politicians have welcomed the report which is an analysis of the current EU legal order in relation to trans and intersex people.

Michael Cashman MEP, co-president of the LGBT Intergroup, said: “It’s as thorough an analysis one could hope for and a very powerful contribution both legally and politically.

'Trans and intersex persons’ fundamental rights are the same as everyone else’s and they deserve to be free from discrimination.'

April 18, 2012
Europe calls for tougher action on global LGBT rights

European Parliament adopts report on global human rights and better access to asylum for gay, bisexual and trans people who flee to Europe

The European Parliament has demanded better access to asylum and human rights around the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The parliament’s adopted its annual report on human rights today (18 April) paying close attention to EU action for the human rights of LGBT people.

It guides the European Union’s actions on international diplomacy and is separate to a report on human rights within Europe which is published at a different time.

April 14, 2012
MEPs address homophobia in Hungary

Hungarian government called out over 'shameful' discrimination

Members of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights have expressed their concern over rising homophobic sentiments in Hungary. Their statement follows reports that police have banned the 2012 Pride march in Budapest and that the Hungarian far-right political party Jobbik has submitted anti-gay laws to the country’s parliament.

April 2, 2012
EU hopefuls told to improve gay rights

European Parliament calls on Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo to tackle LGBT discrimination

The European Parliament is urging EU hopefuls Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo to improve gay rights.

In its 2012 accession report, the parliament called on the four countries which all candidates to join the EU in the future to make greater efforts in tackling discrimination against LGBT people.

Turkey's government was asked to include homophobia and transphobia in its hate crime laws, condemned for the frequent prosecution of LGBT people and asked that Turkish Armed Forces end classifying homosexuality as a ‘psychosexual illness’.

March 29, 2012
Europe backs gay couples freedom to roam

The European Parliament has supported a report which calls for full freedom of movement with legal rights for same-sex couples

Members of the European Parliament have backed a report today (29 March) which calls on EU member states to allow full freedom of movement for gay couples.

February 28, 2012
Northern Cyprus faces legal challenge to gay ban

A legal challenge has been lodged at the European Court of Human Rights to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality in Northern Cyprus

Campaigners have launched a legal challenge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

North Cyprus still fully enforces homophobic British Colonial Laws, where Articles 171 and 173 punishes 'unnatural sex' (eg homosexuality) with five years jail and gives three years imprisonment for attempts to commit such acts.

February 14, 2012
MEPs slam Russia anti-gay laws

MEPs have spoken out against Russia's anti-gay laws as St. Petersburg perpares to pass a bill banning 'promotion of homosexuality'

MEPs have slammed Russia for its anti-gay censorship laws on the eve a bill which bans the 'promotion of homosexuality' in St. Petersburg reaches its final stages.

Last Wednesday (8 February) politicians in the Russian city voted 31 in favour and six against the new anti-gay law, which will go before the Legislative Assembly in St. Petersburg for its the third and final reading.

January 26, 2012
MEPs rally together for LGBT rights

President and 184 Members of the European Parliament sign pledge to uphold gay rights

The President of the European Parliament along with dozens of MEPs joined togeter yesterday in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people's rights.

To mark the mid-way point of their five-year mandate, the members of the European Parliament gathered together for a two-day event organised by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - Europe (ILGA Europe) and the LGBT Intergroup.

January 26, 2012
Nazi jibe politician not homophobe says UKIP

UKIP has defended Godfrey Bloom MEP's 'bullying' questions to the European Commission.

A right-wing politician accused of bullying an LGBT rights group is not homophobic, says the UK Independence Party.

Godfrey Bloom MEP was slammed by fellow politicians and gay activists for asking the European Commission to justify the grants given to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe), the main European organisation working in favour of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

January 25, 2012
Right-wing MEP accused of 'bullying' LGBT group

Anger at UK Independence Party politician after 'harrassing' European gay rights group.

A right-wing politician accused of homophobia has been branded a 'bully' after challenging how a European gay rights group is funded.

Godfrey Bloom, UK Independence Party MEP, has asked the European Commission to justify the grants given to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe), the main European organisation working in favour of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

December 16, 2011
Labour MEPs back UK gay marriage

Michael Cashman and other European Labour representatives call on Westminster colleagues for support

Former EastEnders actor Michael Cashman is urging his colleagues in Westminster to follow the example of himself and his 12 fellow Labour MEPs in unanimously supporting the Equal Love campaign.

The campaign, financed by the Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fund, is working to overturn the twin bans on same-sex marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships in the UK.

The idea of fully-equal gay marriage now has support from all three major parties in Westminster.

December 13, 2011
Massive petition against Russian hate law

AllOut.org hands in 250,000 names against new ban on public mention of gay or trans issues

A petition signed by 250,000 people all over the world urging the European Union to support the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Russia was handed in on Tuesday (13 December).

Activist group AllOut.org gave the document to High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Catherine Ashton, and the presidents of the LGBT Intergroup, MEPs Ulrike Lunacek and Michael Cashman, in Strasbourg.