23 September - “Celebrate Bisexuality Day”

http://ilga-europe.org/home/news/for_media/media_releases/23_september_celebrate_bisexuality_day2


ILGA-Europe statement on the occassion of the “Celebrate Bisexuality Day”. 

Since 1999, 23 September is a “Celebrate Bisexuality Day”. This occasion is an opportunity to address the particular issues bisexual people face and also to raise the awareness about bisexuality and to celebrate the diversity of and differences within the LGBTI communities. 

 

Prejudice, discrimination and violence against bisexual people continues to be a significant concerns. In May 2013, the European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights revealed the finding of the largest ever Survey of experiences by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, which provided an insight to bisexual people’s experiences and shows that bisexual people experience significant degree of prejudice, discrimination and violence due to their sexual orientation.

The results make it clear that more specific and targeted legal, policy and social changes need to be initiated by European and national decision makers to protect people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. 

In addition to discrimination and violence, the bisexual community often experiences lack of understanding and acceptance by society in general and also lesbian and gay communities. 

ILGA-Europe reiterates its full commitment to full equality and respect of the human rights of bisexual people. Bisexual people are entitled to the same dignity and deserve the same opportunity to live their lives without prejudice and discrimination, develop and fully enjoy their identities and form relationships. 

On this occasion, ILGA-Europe calls on the LGBTI communities to take a leading role in tackling prejudice against bisexual people and challenge normative approach to identity and sexuality.

ILGA-Europe
Brussels, 20 September 2013

 http://ilga-europe.org/home/news/for_media/media_releases/23_september_celebrate_bisexuality_day2

ILGA-Europe releases 2013 European LGBT rights map

in: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/05/16/ilga-europe-releases-2013-european-lgbt-rights-map/

LGBT campaign group ILGA-Europe has unveiled its European LGBT rights map for this year.

The 2013 review of the human rights situation of LGBT people by the Brussels-based NGO found that “degrading, offensive and defamatory language” is one of the “most common trends” across the continent.

Among the EU member states causing major concern are Hungary and Greece.

The report notes that the economic crisis in Greece has given a platform to extremist groups, such as the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, who target minority groups including LGBT activists.

North Cyprus continues to be the only place on the continent of Europe where homosexuality is a criminal act, while expressions of “overt homophobia and transphobia” by government, religious leaders and extremist groups were “common” in Bulgaria.

Italy is not taking any legislative initiatives despite having a “relatively high level” of violent homophobia and transphobia.

Meanwhile in France, despite the recent passing of the country’s same-sex marriage bill, 1,397 cases of hate crime, hate speech and discrimination incidents against sexual minorities were documented last year.

Gabi Calleja, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said: “The Annual Review 2013 uncovers the real situation of LGBTI people beyond laws and gives us the whole picture of what it is like to be an LGBTI person in Europe today. The picture is far from satisfactory.

“While some countries are scoring high on the Rainbow Map because they have good laws, the situation on the ground often is very different. Even in countries with the most advanced laws and policies, there is a surprisingly high percentage of LGBTI people who are adjusting their behaviours on a daily basis because they fear violence and harassment when in public.”

Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, added: “Advocacy based on solid facts is what we need for advancing the human rights of LGBTI people. ILGA-Europe and its national member organisations have first-hand knowledge of what is going on and share their insights and concerns through the Annual Review and the Rainbow Map.”

“In addition to holding countries accountable for their actions, the Annual Review also gives a critical account of the steps taken by international organisations. It is a valuable tool for a serious debate about the human rights situation of LGBTI persons across Europe.”

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/05/16/ilga-europe-releases-2013-european-lgbt-rights-map/

Thousands protest in France against gay marriage bill

in: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/11/19/news/foreign/thousands-protest-in-france-against-gay-marriage-bill/

Tens of thousands of people have protested in France against plans to legalise same-sex marriage and allow gay couples to adopt.

Police said at least 70,000 took to the streets in Paris; there were other demonstrations in the cities of Lyon, Toulouse and Marseille.

They included Catholic groups and other backers of traditional family rights.

President Francois Hollande has promised to change French law so that gay and lesbian couples can marry.
Despite opposition from more than 1,000 mayors and the Catholic Church, his socialist government approved a bill on the issue earlier this month which will be debated by parliament in January.

France already allows civil unions between same-sex couples, but extending their rights was a campaign pledge of Hollande before he was elected in May.

PINK: Protesters in Paris wore pink T-shirts and scarves and carried pink balloons emblazoned with images of a man and woman holding two children’s hands.

“A child needs a father and a mother, he needs the paternal and the maternal side and with this bill that might not be possible any more,” said one protestor, Marthe Vignault. “That’s the way it is and we can’t go against nature.”

Saturday also saw counter-rallies in support of same-sex marriage.

The issue is one of the most divisive Mr Hollande has faced, correspondents say. The head of the French Council of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, recently described gay marriage as “the ultimate deceit”.

At present only married couples - not civil union partners - can adopt in France.

A number of European nations, including Germany, Sweden and the UK, already allow gay adoption.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/11/19/news/foreign/thousands-protest-in-france-against-gay-marriage-bill/

Teaser for new gay parenting film released

via: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/teaser-new-gay-parenting-film-released181012


New film Invisible Parents hopes to raise support for the rights of same-sex parents

Invisible Parents

A behind the scenes trailer for a new documentary about same-sex parenting has been released on YouTube.

Invisible Parents is directed by Mike Buonaiuto, who also released a short feature film earlier in the year in support of same-sex marriage.

The teaser, available now online, features behind the scenes footage on the new film along with an interview with Buonaiuto.

The film is supported by organisations such as Pink Parenting and the Network of European LGBT Families Associations (NELFA).

Mike Buonaiuto says ‘In over 80% of Europe, the legal protection of same-sex couples and their children is not recognised in the eyes of the law.

‘With this project we’ve been able to build a team of professionals completely working on a voluntary basis. They believe that if you dedicate yourself to what you are passionate about and your talents, you can actually use those skills to make a difference.’

The whole campaign is designed to be shared on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

The film is released on November 5th.

Watch the trailer below:

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/teaser-new-gay-parenting-film-released181012

Europe still best place to live for gay people

in: http://euobserver.com/890/116481

'The main task for Europe now is to educate' (Photo: *Bloco)

Despite a recent surge in homophobia and differences between countries, Europe on the whole remains the most gay-friendly continent on the globe.

Nowhere on the old continent - except in Tukish-controlled north Cyprus - is homosexuality illegal, "making Europe a region that stands out," according to Ilga, a global umbrella organisation for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi- and transexual people's) rights, in a report released last month.

France was the first to decriminalise same-sex sexual acts between consenting adults shortly after the French Revolution in 1791. Armenia was the latest, in 2003.

By contrast, roughly 40 percent of countries - mostly in Africa and the Middle-East - still penalise homosexuality. Some even execute gay people - Mauritania, Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as parts of Nigeria and Somalia.

There are countries outside Europe which are catching up on toleration, notably in Latin America. Argentina, for example, recently passed a law on gender change that experts say goes well beyond those adopted in Europe.

"Latin America has become a very, very important area, producing its own contributions to the political situation," Renato Sabbadini, secretary-general of Ilga, told this website. "Europe is not so special anymore."

Big differences exist within Europe, with the east being less gay-friendly in general. Sexual minorities in Russia in particular are not as well off as they would be in, say, Germany or the UK.

Russia's legal code lacks the most basic protection from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Recently, St Petersburg adopted laws banning the homosexual "propaganda" - a move widely regarded as contrary to the freedom of expression.

The European Parliament last week in a resolution singled out Russia along with Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary, where similar laws have been tabled, condemning homophobia.

But on the whole, Europe is the world's frontrunner in the equal treatment of LGBT people. "Europe is traditionally where the first steps are made," says Dennis van der Veur, LGBT expert at the EU's research agency for fundamental rights.

Of the 10 countries in the world that allow same-sex couples to marry, seven are in Europe. EU law prohibits LGBT discrimination in employment situations. Europe is alone in having openly gay heads of government - in Iceland and in Belgium. It is most intolerant of hate crimes and most compliant with allowing adoption for same-sex couples or with recognising gender change.

Yet for all the good news, problems remain.

According to a recent report by Ilga-Europe, Ilga's European branch, not one country can claim full legal equality for LGBT people.

The constitutions of only seven countries explicitly prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation; only one on the grounds of gender identity (Spain). A proposed EU law prohibiting LGBT discrimination in all spheres of life continues to be blocked since 2008 by a number of governments.

Meanwhile, legal protection from discrimination does not mean that it does not happen. According to an EU survey from 2009 (the most recent available), almost half of respondents think that discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation is widespread in their country.

Statistics on hate crimes are scarce.

Victims not always report them and police do not always file them as such. But surveys indicate that a quarter to half of lesbians and gay men in Europe have experienced forms of violence because of their sexual orientation. Late last April, a gay man was found dead in Liege, Belgium - believed to be the first homophobic killing in the history of the country.

"Legislation is very important," said Sabbadini. "But equality also needs to be part of the culture of a society. The main task now for Europe is to educate. Not only in schools, but also the media and the police."

http://euobserver.com/890/116481

EU on gay rights: words or actions?

in: http://euobserver.com/890/116590

Reding: no roadmap, no pressure on Germany over anti-discrimination bill (Photo: consilium.europa.eu)

The EU lags in protecting the rights of sexual minorities, MEPs have said, summarising its policy as "words, not action."

The European Commission, for its part, says it is doing all it can, noting that it uses "actions, not words."

"They [in the commission] are very good at words, but they lack in action. It is simply not enough," Austrian Green MEP Ulrike Lunacek, co-president of the European Parliament's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender)intergroup, told EUobserver in a recent interview.

EU fundamental rights commissioner Viviane Reding has on more than one occasion spoken out against homophobia. But Lunacek and her colleagues have long been calling on the commission to be more active.

"I think [Reding] is just not telling her people: Now let's do it," she noted.

Last May, eurodeputies endorsed a resolution asking - among other things - for a so-called roadmap on gay rights, laying out measures and targets for the coming years. Similar roadmaps exist for other minorities, including people with disabilities and Roma people, as well as for women.

Several member states have said they support the idea. But the commission, the one institution with the power to take the initiative, is reluctant.

"It is difficult to see how a roadmap – a paper document – could make concrete improvements in the everyday life of [LGBT] people," Mina Andreeva, Reding's spokesperson, told EUobserver by email.

"The commission is already pursuing a very active policy to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation," she added. "[Commission] vice-president Reding is a politician of action, not words."

She highlighted that Reding has "expressed her concerns" to Lithuania, which according to the parliament resolution limits the rights of LGBT people.

She also noted that the commission has "intervened" in Poland, which according to Brussels-based NGO Ilga-Europe denies civil status certificates to citizens who marry or register a partnership with their same-sex partner abroad.

In its 2011 report on the application of the EU charter of fundamental rights - which applies to EU law and prohibits discrimination including on the ground of sexual orientation - the commission says it "is using all the powers at its disposal to fight against [homophobia]."

Speaking at an LGBT event in May, EU home affairs commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom conceded that the executive "could probably do more," however.

In the year 2000, the EU banned the discrimination of minorities in employment situations. In 2008, it proposed a new law to ban discrimination in all spheres of life.

But a number of member states led by Germany continue to block it, reportedly for financial reasons: it would cost a lot to guarantee access to all public services to people in wheelchairs, for example.

The proposal is widely considered to be in a coma, if not dead.

"We have no indications that the German government is prepared to change its position," Andreeva said.

Her predecessor, Michael Newman, told EUobserver last year: "It's in the deep freeze. There's no consensus in the council, so it's not moving at all ... these things happen.”

Earlier this year, Danish presidency spokesperson Jacob Alvi told EUobserver he is not expecting much progress during the six months of his country's role at the helm.

On Monday (11 June), near the end of its mandate, he said: "Nothing has changed."

http://euobserver.com/890/116590

Zagreb Pride

in: http://www.b92.net/


(Tanjug, file)



Croatia’s Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić and several MPs joined the members of the LGBT population in their walk around the city.

The Croatian police are out in force in order to keep the parade participants safe.

The organizers stressed earlier that they wanted to warn that gay people had the right to live their lives the way they wanted to.

They also called on all citizens, regardless of whether they belong to the LGBT community or not, to join the parade and support the LGBT community’s right to equality and dignity.

The organizers said they expected more than 5,000 people at the Saturday parade.

“We want to show that we have the right to public assembly, that our families exist and that they should be regulated by laws,” Marko Jurčić, one of the organizers, pointed out.


http://www.b92.net/

EU to spend €20m on global gay rights causes

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/

African, Caribbean and Pacific countries boycott launch of development package over inclusion of LGBT issues

The EU has pledged to spend €20 million ($24,660,000 £16,100,000) to help fight discrimination, including against LGBT people, around the world.

EU Commissioner Andris Piebalgs launched the package today (1 June), saying it would fund Non Governmental Organizations and civil society groups to tackle any incidences of discrimination on the ground.

Speaking during an event at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Piebalgs said: 'It is clear that no country can develop in the long term when some minorities face serious threats, intimidation and even violence because of who they are.

'Since I took office, I have put the promotion of human rights and human development at the core of EU development policy. The new package launched today is a clear signal of the EU's determination to help civil society and willing partners to make diversity acceptable and an asset of our societies.'

However, representatives from African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries, which the Commission is working in partnership with on development strategies, chose to boycott the conference over the inclusion of sexual orientation on the agenda.

Gay MEP Michael Cashman said their absence was a 'concern'.

Speaking at a press conference today, he said: 'We have always placed the issue of a hierarchy of rights to one side. All rights are equal'

However, he said denying aid to countries which still fail to recognize gay rights is 'counter productive'.

Cashman added: 'If aid is withdrawn and development processes are stopped, one is in danger of giving a legitimate reason to scapegoat the very people that we are trying to work with and to aid.

'I see the package today as part of the process of developing change.

'Development is a comprehensive process. You can’t just develop countries and not allow the people and diverse groups within the populations to develop. It’s a symbiotic approach.

'The UK has said in the past that it would withdraw aid and I'm pleased that it has now revisited that. The immediate response from those countries is that it would cause greater problems.'

http://www.gaystarnews.com/

Homophobia: European leaders tell young people It Gets Better

in: http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-leaders-it-gets-better/

In Europe, growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender can be challenging: difference often leads to bullying, self-harm, and sometimes suicide attempts. Studies consistently point to higher physical and mental health risks for LGBT young people.

For the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2012, over 50 European politicians and leaders from all EU institutions  join forces telling LGBT teenagers they are working to make things better, and put an end to homophobia and transphobia.

In this unique video message, Members of the European Parliament tell young people it gets better in 17 different languages, from Italian to Bulgarian and Swedish to Polish.

They are joined in the video by Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament;Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council; and Cecilia Malmström, Andris Piebalgs, Neelie Kroes, László Andor and Viviane Reding, Members of the European Commission.

This video message is inspired by the American project It Gets Better, which aims to reduce self-harm and suicide attempts among LGBT young people.

http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-leaders-it-gets-better/

Europe and LGBT Rights

http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/31/article_11258.php

In the United Kingdom, the Cameron administration has found itself on the wrong side of its European Union partners. But is it severely out of step with LGBT opinion on the subject?

The Eurozone currency crisis has driven a wedge into the Cameron administration, with David Cameron and the "Eurosceptics" within his Conservative Party pitted against the pro-European Liberal Democrats, their coalition partner.

"Euroscepticism" is predominntly limited to the Conservative Party and rival further right political entities like the "United Kingdom Independence Party" and British National Party. It consists of an obsession that the European Union is infringing on British national sovereignty, financial autonomy and economic growth and has existed ever since the United Kingdom joined the European Community in 1973. During the aggressively nationalist Thatcher era, it grew apace, which was to have serious consequences for her successor, John Major, and ensuing Tory leaders, As Tim Bale notes in his history of the party over the last decade, European policy has become a major internal obsession for the Tories and a party faultline.

Outside the Conservative Party, however, it is negligible. Indeed, Scotland is at loggerheads with the Conservatives over their European policy, given that European development finance has been used to rebuild the country after the ravages of the Thatcher era. Cameron dislikes this intensely and almost seems to be urging Scotland to hold its independence referendum as soon as possible so that it can leave the United Kingdom and truncate Labour's potential electoral constituency in the process.

What about LGBT Britons? Generally, the European Union is positively regarded on most issues. The European Court of Human Rights has been useful in forcing recalcitrant states into line with a broadly liberal policy consensus- such as the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire, as well as a denunciation of Polish homophobia under Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

However, it has not been so forthcoming over same-sex marriage proper within the United Kingdom and held that the United Kingdom was right to criminaise 'heavy' consensual sadomasochist sex between adult gay men ("Operation Spanner'). That said, the European Union has been proactive on decriminalisation, anti-discrimination reforms, general spousal equality and same-sex parenting issues.

That said, there has been tension between progressive Western European nations (and Hungary and the Czech Republic) and more backward Eastern European states, such as Kaczynski era Poland and the constituent nations of the former Yugoslavia, especially Serbia (although the latter is not yet a European Union member, given its abhorrent human rights record of anti-Muslim religious persecution and genocide during the Bosnian War. It is also heavily indulgent of neofascist and extremist nationalist anti-gay violence). Reform can come, though. Poland has improved significantly since the Kaczynski era and the marginalisation of the former Law and Justice Party in Poland's Sejm. However, Slovakia and Hungary have had anti-Pride riots during the last year, mostly instigated by right-wing extremists and neofascists.

Fundamentalist Christians don't tend to be aligned overtly to the Eurosceptic element of the Conservatives unless they are also members of either that party or the United Kingdom Independence Party, which wants a secessionist referendum on further British membership of the European Union. It doesn't seem to be the case that they regard Europe as a serious threat to British social conservatism. Nor are there any remaining conspiracist far right elements that regard the European Union as the core of a totalitarian superstate that will bring about the Apocalypse. Indeed, given the current Eurozone financial crisis, that particular conspiracy theory seems more laughable than ever before.

But of course, the European Union has another, neoliberal agenda. Prosperous Germany holds its purse strings and has demanded that Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and other troubled Euro currency zone economies introduce austerity budgets that slash social service entitlements and comprehensive welfare state coverage, given the immense financial credit that has been forwarded to such EU economies. Unlike EU human rights and civil liberties reforms, this hasn't been so well met.

At present, the Eurozone crisis is at the forefront of European policy concerns, over the fragility of the Euro, the common European currency and the financial stability of Greece and Italy, wracked by unrest over the introduction of austerity budgets designed to cut national budget deficits at the cost of social service quality. The United Kingdom never joined the European common currency and has been a holdout over further expansion of European financial authority, given its concerns over the City of London's financial district. Ironically enough, this has put David Cameron at loggerheads with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Nikolas Sarkozy of France, both committed to the survival and wellbeing of the European Union- and both fellow centre-right political leaders. Within its own Coalition, the Liberal Democrats are heavily pro-European- although the general public are also bored about the debate and may well punish the Conservatives for obsessing over Europe at the cost of more pressing concerns about the spending cuts, social service quality and the austerity agenda of the Conservative-led government.

Within the UK LGBT media, it's difficult to find any interest in this side of European politics.

If there are any gay Tory Eurosceptics, they're keeping rather quiet about their objections to the EU- possibly because of EU fiscal conservative policies that support current Cameron administration government economic policy. For the most part, UK LGBT communities remain broadly supportive of European Union membership, if not its neoliberal austerity policies.

Recommended:
European Union and LGBT rights: ILGA: http://www.ilga-europe.org
LGBT rights in Europe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Europe
Tim Bale: The Conservative Party: From Thatcher to Cameron: Polity Press: 2011.

ILGA-Europe and Transgender Europe sent a joint letter to the Swedish Prime Minister concerning compulsory sterilisation

in: http://www.ilga-europe.org/


The Swedish government decided not to remove compulsory sterilisation requirement for trans people. Read below the joint letter by ILGA-Europe and Transgender Europe to the Swedish Prime Minister.

To:Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt

c/o Roberta Alenius
Prime Minister's Office
Rosenbad 4
SE-103 33 Stockholm

Vienna and Brussels, 16 January 2012

Dear Prime Minister Reinfeldt,

Transgender Europe and ILGA-Europe (European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) are writing to express their deep concern about reports that your government had decided not to change the Swedish gender recognition legislation to remove the requirement of sterilisation.

Our organisations were recently informed that representatives of parties in your government have communicated their intention not to remove the sterilisation requirement. As a consequence, this would require those wishing to change their gender marker to continue to undergo sterilisation in order to get legal recognition of a change in gender. It is high time to finally breach with this on-going violation of the right to physical integrity, right to be free from torture as well as sexual and reproductive rights of trans persons.

Forty years ago Swedish parliament was a pioneer to have a gender recognition law. The Swedish Law Lagen om fastställelse av könstillhorighet i vissa fall (SFS 1972; 119) has set the principle for many countries in the Western world. However, its incorporated requirements for sterilisation are now out of step with current international best practice and understandings of obligations under international human rights law. As you are aware, RFSL and other human rights organisations have drawn attention of the Swedish authorities to this on-going abuse for a long time and demanded a change in the law. We were also informed that, in 2010, the National Board of Health and Welfare recommended in its review of the law to have the medical treatment requirements removed and the overall procedure simplified.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg expressed his concern in July 2009 saying that “It is of great concern that transgender people appear to be the only group in Europe subject to legally prescribed, state-enforced sterilisation.” The Commissioner also called upon member states to “abolish sterilisation and other compulsory medical treatment which may seriously impair the autonomy, health or well-being of the individual, as necessary requirements for the legal recognition of a transgender person’s preferred gender.” Sweden also endorsed the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in recommending that member states should take appropriate measures “to guarantee the full recognition of a person’s gender reassignment in all areas of life, in particular by making possible the change of name and gender in official documents in a quick, transparent and accessible way” (Recommendation, March 2010). A similar statement was made by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly which called on member states to ensure that official documents reflect the individual’s preferred gender identity, without any prior obligation to undergo sterilisation or other medical procedures such as sex reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy (Resolution 1728 (2010)).

Law makers in the UK (Gender Recognition Act 2004), Spain, Portugal and recently the lower house of Argentina have endorsed laws respecting the self-determination of a trans person and doing away with medical treatment requirements. The Netherlands have just recently finished a public consultation on a proposal to review the existing gender recognition law and propose the removal of any medical treatment requirements.

Sweden has been for many in the world a safeguard for human rights and we thus regret that it is lagging behind with respect to international and European developments related to the rights of trans people. On one hand, Sweden can be praised for being one of the few countries in Europe that explicitly protects trans persons under its Anti-Discrimination law. However, we find it highly disturbing that the state continues to undermine the enjoyment of human rights by trans people by asking them to decide between having ID documents reflecting their gender identity more closely and thus a certain protection against discrimination on one hand and their physical integrity, right to free choice of medical treatment, the right to form a family on the other hand.

We thus urge you to take all necessary measures to ensure that Sweden abides by its obligations under international and European human rights instruments, and ask you to lead Sweden into being a forerunner in the field of human rights again.

Prime Minister Reinfeldt, our organisations call upon you to:
- Propose a legislative reform that would lead to the abolition of the forced sterilisation requirement and medical treatments for legal purposes, in accordance with international and European recommendations as well as the recommendation of the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare
- Consult with representatives of the trans communities in Sweden in all matters that concern them

We look forward to hear back from you.

With kind regards,
Wiktor Dynarski, Co-Chair, Transgender Europe

Dr. Julia Ehrt, Executive Director, Transgender Europe

Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director, ILGA-Europe

Eastern European Anti-Homophobia Ad

EU Tells Moldova To Pass Bill Protecting Gays, Other Minorities

source: EU Tells Moldova To Pass Bill Protecting Gays, Other Minorities

Dirk Schuebel, head of the EU delegation to Moldova

CHISINAU -- An EU envoy has urged Moldova to pass an antidiscrimination bill that would protect homosexuals and other minorities if it wants progress on talks for visa-free travel to the EU, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

Dirk Schuebel, head of the EU delegation to Moldova, told RFE/RL in an interview that Brussels is aware of the opposition to such a bill from Moldova's Orthodox Christians, but said he nevertheless expects the parliament to pass it as an important part in realizing the country's EU aspirations.

Moldova's pro-EU government withdrew the antidiscrimination bill from parliament earlier this year after it became clear it would not get enough votes from deputies in the predominantly Christian, former Soviet country.

Adopting the bill was one of the commitments made by Moldova in a so-called "Action Plan" with the EU, which listed the legislative changes Chisinau should make before the 27-member bloc considers allowing Moldovans to travel within its borders without visas.

Moldova decriminalized homosexuality in the 1990s under pressure from the Council of Europe, but remains one of the few European countries where homosexuals are not protected under the law from discrimination.

The gay community in Moldova has been repeatedly denied permission to hold parades in the capital, Chisinau, and its members complain of discrimination and abuse -- both from other segments of society and law-enforcement agencies.

Polícia proíbe parada gay de Belgrado

via: http://paroutudo.com/2011/09/30/policia-proibe-parada-gay-de-belgrado/

Confronto entre grupos no ano passado fez a polícia cancelar a parada deste ano

A vida dos LGBT não é nada fácil no Leste Europeu. Ok, eles não correm risco de serem enforcados legalmente como no Irã ou em países africanos, mas têm seus direitos cerceados constantemente.

A Parada Gay de Belgrado, capital da Sérvia, que aconteceria no domingo 02, foi vetada pela polícia local. “Eles não estão proibidos por causa de sua natureza, mas para evitar que a ordem e a paz pública sejam ameaçadas”, disse o ministro do Interior do país, Ivica Dacic.

Durante a marcha realizada ano passado, houve confronto entre a polícia, militantes ultra-nacionalistas e torcedores de futebol. Os mesmos militantes já haviam divulgado que voltariam a se manifestar contra a parada este ano. Bom, conseguiram o que queriam.

“UE recusa refugiados gays muito rápido”

http://www.rnw.nl/portugues/article/%E2%80%9Cue-recusa-refugiados-gays-muito-r%C3%A1pido%E2%80%9D

Muitos homossexuais que requerem asilo na Europa – inclusive na Holanda - são frequentemente mandados de volta para seus países de origem com base em preconceito e estereótipos. Eles não são levados a sério por não agirem de maneira suficientemente ‘gay’ ou porque não procuram a cena gay local. Isto ficou comprovado por uma pesquisa da COC Nederland (entidade que defende os interesses dos homossexuais na Holanda) e da Universidade Livre de Amsterdã.

Eles são discriminados em seus países, presos ou assassinados. Todos os anos cerca de dez mil pessoas buscam asilo na Europa por causa de sua orientação sexual. Destes, aproximadamente 200 vêm para a Holanda.

Mas nem todo mundo é recebido de braços abertos. Um homem teve que fugir de Camarões quando seus vizinhos descobriram que ele tinha um namorado. Uma vez na Inglaterra, seu pedido de asilo foi recusado em primeira instância. Ele poderia se mudar para outra parte de país onde as pessoas não soubessem de sua orientação sexual, diziam as autoridades. De volta para o armário, portanto.

Pedidos de asilo
A história de Camarões não é única, diz o pesquisador Thomas Spijkerboer, da Universidade Livre de Amsterdã. Ele investigou pedidos de asilo de gays e lésbicas nos 27 países membros da União Europeia. Embora não existam cifras exatas de quantos pedidos são recusados, com frequência acontecem erros nos procedimentos. E às vezes o tratamento vai contra os direitos humanos - esta é uma das conclusões do relatório ‘Fleeing Homophobia’ que está sendo publicado hoje.

Spijkerboer: “Acontece com frequência de um pedido de asilo ser recusado com base em preconceito e estereótipos. É ir longe demais não acreditar em alguém porque ele não se comporta de maneira ‘gay’ o suficiente. Ou pôr em dúvida a história de uma mulher lésbica porque ela não sabe exatamente que penas existem em seu país contra uma relação lésbica. É uma maneira estranha de julgar a credibilidade de alguém.”

Violência
Muitos países europeus se recusam em dar asilo, sugerindo que refugiados escondam sua orientação sexual no país de origem como forma de evitar a violência. O governo holandês nega que faça isso, mas a prática demonstra outra coisa. O Serviço Holandês de Imigração de Naturalização deu a uma lésbica de Serra Leoa, por exemplo, o conselho de, ao retornar a seu país, esconder sua orientação sexual.

Spijkerboer: “No papel, a Holanda aboliu isso, mas o país não segue suas próprias regras. Além disso, muitas vezes a pessoa não diz que é homossexual quando pede asilo pela primeira vez, por vergonha ou medo, e só o faz num segundo pedido de asilo. E aí o juiz já não pode levar em consideração. A Holanda é o único país na Europa que chega a este ponto.”

Abuso
Mesmo assim, Spijkerboer admite que é difícil definir objetivamente se alguém realmente é homossexual. Alguns requerentes de asilo não abusariam disto para aumentar suas chances de um visto de residência? Vários parlamentares temiam isso quando em 2006 a então ministra da Imigração, Rita Verdonk, decidiu que gays iranianos sempre receberiam asilo.

Segundo a organização COC Nederland, refugiados nunca diriam gratuitamente que são homossexuais. Wouter Neerings, diretor da COC: “A homossexualidade é um tabu tão grande em seus países de origem que eles jamais usariam isso. Eles têm muita dificuldade nos centros de refugiados. E se são mandados de volta a seus países sua posição e a de seus familiares é insustentável.”

A COC vai levar o relatório ao governo holandês para chamar atenção para os procedimentos do Serviço de Imigração. Depois será a vez de Bruxelas, para que haja uma abordagem diferente também em escala europeia.

Carta aberta do Fórum Europeu LGBT ao Papa Bento XVI

http://www.domtotal.com/noticias/detalhes.php?notId=336567

Publicamos aqui a Carta Aberta do Fórum Europeu de Grupos Cristãos de Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais e Transgêneros (www.euroforumlgbtchristians.eu), com sede em Berlim, a Bento XVI para que preste atenção aos direitos humanos.

O texto da carta foi aprovado em Berlim, no dia 7 de maio de 2011, na conferência anual dos delegados do Fórum, e foi entregue no Palácio Apostólico, no Vaticano, no dia 10 de junho.

Eis o texto.

Santo Padre, apelamos ao senhor para pedir uma condenação dos atos de violência contra Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais e Transgêneros (LGBT) e pedimos a colaboração de Vossa Santidade para a descriminalização dos atos homossexuais em nível mundial.

O silêncio de Vossa Santidade é muitas vezes interpretado pelas pessoas que cometem atos de violência, tortura e assassinato como um parecer favorável às suas ações.

Por exemplo, em janeiro deste ano, David Kato, um ativista na luta pelos direitos das pessoas LGBT, foi brutalmente assassinado na Uganda.

Episódios de violência, torturas e assassinatos contra as pessoas LGBT são verificados frequentemente em diversas partes do mundo, e quem as põe em prática está muitas vezes convicto de sua conformidade à vontade da Igreja Católica.

Esse convencimento é reforçado pelo fato de que, em dezembro de 2008, a Santa Sé ter se recusado a apoiar a Declaração das Nações Unidas sobre a orientação sexual e a identidade de gênero.

A declaração contém um parágrafo que exorta a todos os Estados a assegurar que a orientação sexual ou a identidade de gênero não possam ser, em nenhuma circunstância, a base para a aplicação de penas criminais, particularmente de execuções, prisões ou detenções.

Além disso, apelamos à Vossa Santidade para que sejam fornecidas a todos os cristãos informações claras a respeito das passagens da Bíblia que são usadas para justificar esses atos aberrantes.

Assim como as passagens em favor da escravidão, os versículos que apoiam o assassinato de pessoas que praticam atividades sexuais com pessoas do mesmo sexo não devem ser interpretadas literalmente.

Existe ainda uma forma de pressão por parte de alguns expoentes do clero da Igreja Católica Romana sobre os cristãos LGBT para se submetam a "terapias reparadoras" para modificar sua própria orientação sexual. Essa estratégia da Igreja e o pedido às pessoas LGBT que vivam a condição da castidade são causa de muitas tragédias, incluindo suicídios e graves estados de depressão, entre aqueles que tentam observar e seguir heroicamente os ensinamentos da Igreja.

Por outro lado, segundo estudos mais recentes de psiquiatria e de psicologia, a orientação sexual não pode ser modificada, e essas tentativas, por isso, muitas vezes têm como consequência graves danos psicológicos. Além disso, uma vida de castidade não pode ser exigida a quem não sente dentro de si essa vocação.

Aos cristãos LGBT, não pode ser negado o direito fundamental a uma relação afetiva, independentemente do gênero da pessoa amada. Como a ciência demonstrou que a homossexualidade é uma variante da sexualidade, apelamos para que essa evidência científica seja incluída nos ensinamentos da Igreja.

Em consequência, pedimos a Vossa Santidade que não se dê mais como indicação que as pessoas homossexuais devam se submeter a terapias, mas que, ao contrário, tenham direito a uma vida que preveja também uma relação afetiva no sinal da fidelidade.

Os benefícios sociais e pessoais disso são: uma vida feliz, saúde mental, capacidade de dar o melhor de si no trabalho e no apoio aos outros.

De outra forma, a vida muitas vezes se transforma em uma triste existência com uma série de inúteis terapias psicológicas e psiquiátricas, perda da fé em Deus, de humanidade e amor, como bem testemunhas as frequentes cartas e testemunhos de cristãos LGBT.

Em todo o mundo, muitas lésbicas, gays e transgêneros vivem relações baseadas no amor, na fidelidade e na assistência recíproca. Assim como nas relações heterossexuais maduras, o amor é sobretudo uma experiência espiritual e depois também física. Infelizmente, por causa do preconceito e da desinformação, muitas pessoas associam o conceito de homossexualidade só ao amor físico.

Com referência à declaração de Vossa Santidade de dezembro de 2008 sobre a necessidade de proteger a humanidade como o ecossistema de uma floresta tropical, seguindo a mesma metáfora, podemos dizer que as pessoas LGBT representam uma espécie menos numerosa, mas que se encontra constantemente no ecossistema e, como sabemos, toda espécie é importante e necessária para garantir o equilíbrio criado por Deus

Apelamos ao senhor para que reconsidere a posição da Igreja sobre as relações entre pessoas tanto do mesmo sexo, quanto transexuais, apoiando também a aceitação e a bênção dessas relações no interior da Igreja.

Apelamos a Vossa Santidade para que se cesse de pressionar os católicos a votarem contra leis que autorizem relações entre pessoas do mesmo sexo.

As relações entre pessoas tanto do mesmo sexo, quanto transexuais, não constituem um perigo para a existência da família tradicional, mas, na realidade, sustentam e elevam os valores da família e do matrimônio. As pessoas LGBT representam só um pequeno percentual de toda a população, percentual que permanece constante.

A experiência de não aceitação dos jovens homossexuais e transgêneros, por parte de suas famílias e da Igreja, quase sempre gera problemas no desenvolvimento das suas personalidades. As consequências são muitas vezes dramáticas e podem se concretizar, por exemplo, em tentativas desesperadas de contrair matrimônios heterossexuais, em mascarar sua própria orientação sexual ou em escolher a vida religiosa, mesmo na ausência de vocação.

Das motivações que expusemos, deduz-se como o fato de criar uma atmosfera segura e acolhedora, que permita que as pessoas LGBT sejam elas mesmas, é importante para toda sociedade.

O Catecismo da Igreja Católica afirma que as pessoas homossexuais devem ser tratadas com respeito, compaixão e sensibilidade. Respeito e sensibilidade deveriam ser concedidos a todos, independentemente da orientação sexual ou da identidade de gênero. Se fosse verdadeiramente assim, a compaixão não seria necessária.

Os comportamentos e as opiniões homofóbicas são particularmente dolorosas quando feitos por quem se declara cristão, seja leigo ou religioso, e não são certamente uma forma de respeito.

Deus abençoe Vossa Santidade.

Berlim, 7 de maio de 2011

Beijaço contra homofobia reúne centenas de pessoas na Bélgica

http://noticias.terra.com.br/mundo/noticias/0,,OI5206996-EI8142,00-Beijaco+contra+homofobia+reune+centenas+de+pessoas+na+Belgica.html

Cerca de 300 pessoas participaram neste domingo de um beijo coletivo na praça Grand Apraz, de Bruxelas, em um ato destinado a defender os direitos dos homossexuais e a rejeitar a homofobia.

A concentração começou a partir das 16h, horário local, (11h no horário de Brasília) e foi convocada por vários homossexuais belgas para reagir contra a recente agressão a um homossexual em Bruxelas.

O beijo coletivo aconteceu em um "bairro gay", situado no centro histórico da capital belga, e provocou várias reações políticas. No ato, participaram tanto homens e mulheres heterossexuais, como gays e lésbicas, disse um dos organizadores, Niel Verduyckt, em declarações à agência "Belga".

"Estamos cansados destes crimes, vivemos aqui e temos direito de nos amar livremente e de poder demonstrá-lo", acrescentou.

http://noticias.terra.com.br/mundo/noticias/0,,OI5206996-EI8142,00-Beijaco+contra+homofobia+reune+centenas+de+pessoas+na+Belgica.html

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons still face discrimination in Europe

http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/News/2011/110623LGBTStudy_en.asp

Strasbourg, 23/06/11 – “Millions of people in Europe are discriminated, stigmatised and even victims of violence because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. They cannot fully enjoy their universal human rights. There is an urgent need for all European governments to remedy this situation and take policy and legislative measures to combat homophobia and transphobia”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, publishing today a report on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The report is the result of a two-year study carried out by the Office of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. It contains a socio-legal analysis of the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons across member states, relying on data and information made available by public authorities, national human rights structures, non-governmental organisations and experts. It also builds on research and data made available by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

The report analyses the situation of LGBT persons in the 47 member States of the Council of Europe as regards attitudes and perceptions towards them, legal standards and their implementation, protection from violence and access to asylum, freedoms of assembly, expression and association, gender recognition and family life, and access to health care, education and employment.

“Significant, although uneven, progress has been made over the past decades concerning the attitudes and practices towards LGBT people. The pathologisation and criminalisation of homosexuality in Europe clearly belong to the past. Equal treatment legislation is beginning to demonstrate its effects in addressing discrimination. However, serious gaps remain, especially in relation to transgender persons.”

“In some member States, LGBT organisations have been denied registration or are banned from organising peaceful meetings and demonstrations. Those who have fled to Council of Europe member states from countries where they risk being tortured or executed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity face serious obstacles in the process of being granted asylum. Inflammatory and aggressive discourse, held by opinion shapers, religious leaders, politicians and state authorities are frequent. It is also of particular concern that such discourse rarely receives official condemnation and that only very few member states recognise homophobic or transphobic violence in their hate crime legislation.”

The report also underlines specific problems faced by transgender persons, such as the lack of legislation regulating the recognition of gender reassignment, the requirement for transgender persons to undergo surgery leading to infertility or the obligation to be unmarried or divorced in order to be legally recognised.

“There is considerable resistance among many people, including political leaders, to discuss the full enjoyment of universal human rights by LGBT persons. Even if this may not be a popular human rights topic, the time has now come to take the discussion forward and make it concrete. Converging efforts by the Council of Europe, the European Union, the OSCE and the UN are essential for ensuring the full enjoyment of universal rights by LGBT persons everywhere.”

More information on the Commissioner’s work on the protection and promotion of the human rights of LGBT persons is available on his thematic page.

Read the report on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity

http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/News/2011/110623LGBTStudy_en.asp

Justiça da UE equipara pensões de casais homossexuais

http://oglobo.globo.com/

Casais homossexuais vivendo em união estável têm o direito às mesmas pensões estipuladas para outros casais casados, decidiu na terça-feira o principal tribunal europeu, numa sentença que pode ter profundo impacto sobre o setor previdenciário.

O caso havia sido remetido à Corte Europeia de Justiça por um tribunal trabalhista de Hamburgo, porque a prefeitura da cidade alemã havia negado a um funcionário administrativo, vivendo em união civil com um parceiro há mais de dez anos, um benefício tributário habitualmente concedido a pessoas casadas que se aposentam depois de pagarem previdência privada suplementar.

"Uma pensão suplementar por aposentadoria paga a um parceiro numa união civil, sendo menor do que a concedida num casamento, pode constituir uma discriminação por orientação sexual", disse a CEJ em sua sentença.

A decisão pode ter repercussões para fundos de pensão e outros órgãos previdenciários em todos os 27 países da UE, que agora seriam obrigados a conceder pensões mais elevadas ou mesmo retroativas a pessoas com união estável homossexual.

A corte disse que o peticionário havia pagado contribuições previdenciárias iguais às de seus colegas casados, e que teria recebido uma aposentadoria maior caso fosse casado com uma mulher.

A decisão da CEJ cria jurisprudência e deve ser aplicada em todos os Estados membros.

"As mesmas obrigações recaem tanto sobre parceiros registrados quanto para cônjuges casados", disse a sentença. "O direito ao tratamento igual pode ser reivindicado por um indivíduo contra uma autoridade local."

(Reportagem de Christopher Le Coq)

http://oglobo.globo.com/

European Parliament repeats firm opposition to Uganda’s Anti Homosexuality Bill

in: http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-parliament-repeats-firm-opposition-to-ugandas-anti-homosexuality-bill/

Yesterday the European Parliament adopted an urgency resolution condemning the “Anti Homosexuality Bill” under consideration in the Ugandan Parliament since September 2009.

The European Parliament repeated its opposition to a draft law calling for fines, imprisonment and the death penalty for Ugandan lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Uganda and abroad. The Bill prescribes capital punishment in some cases, including engaging in sexual intercourse more than once with a person of the same sex. It also requires all parents, teachers and doctors to denounce LGBT children, students and patients to authorities.

The European Parliament first condemned the Bill in a December 2009 urgency resolution.

Even though the Bill has not passed yet, the European Parliament noted a sharp increase in severe threats and violence against LGBT people in Uganda, including calls for violence and killings of people presumed to be homosexual.

The resolution further calls on other European Institutions to keep sending strong messages to the government and parliament in Kampala.

Michael Cashman MEP, Co-President of the Intergroup on LGBT Rights, declared: “This is the only right message to send: criminalising people’s sexual orientation or gender identity is morally untenable, and contradicts everything the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stands for. Ugandan authorities must absolutely stop the adoption of this Bill.”

Raül Romeva i Rueda MEP, Vice-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “The European Parliament is united against this draconian piece of legislation: left, right, centre, everyone agrees that LGBT people must not be criminalised. Homosexuality is as African as it is Asian, American, European and Oceanian: it is part of our humanity. I hope Ugandans will remember this.”

The European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights will organise a hearing on LGBT rights in the world in the first half of 2011.