17 maig: dia internacional contra la Homofòbia (IDAHO)
Avui, 17 de maig de 2007, commemorem a molts llocs el Dia Internacional contra la Homofòbia, també al Parlament Europeu. Malgrat que els avenços cap a la igualtat de drets per a la població LGBT són cada vegada més nombrosos i significatius, encara hem de lamentar situacions altament preocupants com és el fet que a 85 estats membres de Nacions Unides estiguin penalitzades les relacions sexuals consentides entre persones adultes del mateix sexe (veure, entre d’altres, aquest estudi el.laborat per l’Associació Internacional de Gais i Lesbianes ILGA). (segueix…)
Per altra banda, ens trobem també a les portes de les conegudes Prides, manifestacions festives en favor dels drets LGBT, les quals es troben no només prohibides sinó perseguides en molts països i ciutats. En aquest context, l’Intergrup LGBT al Parlament Europeu hem fet públic el següent comunicat en suport de les Prides, i ens plantegem assistir a tantes com puguem per tal de donar el nostre suport a totes les persones LGBT, especialment allà on els seus drets es troben més amenaçats:
LGBT Intergroup MEPs urge officials to support Gay Prides and Equality Marches
26 MEPs have signed an open letter addressed to the mayors and ministers of Interior of Central and Eastern Europe including Turkey and Russia
"We promised in December that we would take the question of freedom of assembly very seriously, we are now making good on that promise," Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights stated, "We hope through this open letter to send a positive and supportive signal to the authorities. MEPs will support them unreservedly if they elect in turn to support the freedom of assembly and association of all minorities."
The Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights announced today that it had sent an open letter co-signed by 26 MEPs member of the Intergroup to the mayors of capitals and major cities in Central and Eastern Europe. The letter has also been addressed to the ministries of interior in Central and Eastern Europe. The open letter remarks that Gay Prides and Equality marches are peaceful celebrations that invoke a tolerant and open Europe that is appreciative of its diversity. It calls upon the authorities of Central and Eastern Europe to do all in their powers to support the organisers of Gay Prides and Equality Marches, to protect against those that would wish harm upon participants, and to refrain from erecting administrative barriers against organisers.
"We’ve elected to be pro-active with this campaign and show our support of Gay Prides early. We have not singled out any capitals, we have sent this letter to all our fellow colleagues in Central and Eastern Europe," Michael Cashman highlighted, "All we are asking officials to meet their obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights."
Raül Romeva added, "Clearly this letter can only be seen to support the jurisprudence that has now been established by the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights. In its ruling, it made it crystal clear that the banning of Gay Prides in certain countries of Central and Eastern Europe was contrary to the principles and the letter of the European Convention of Human Rights. I hope that the authorities will take both this judgement, and our letter to heart when confronted with a choice to either allow Prides to carry on, or to ban them."
"Last month, the European Parliament in its resolution on homophobia in Europe, and the Council of Europe through its Court both sent strong signals that the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people were indivisible, universal human rights. I intend to stand side-by-side with Pride participants to celebrate equality and diversity… I hope that the officials, to whom we have addressed this open letter, will also choose to participate," Sophie in `t Veld commented.
"I hope that this open letter will be helpful to the local organisers who do such a fantastic job preparing these celebrations of equality and diversity," Lissy Gröner highlighted, "I wish them the best of luck during this Pride Season 2007 and hope that many of my fellow MEPs will at least participate in one event. We’ve accomplished a lot already, but there is much more that needs to be done to reach full equality."
Foto: manifestació pro-drets LGBT a Londres. Font: London Pride