Raül Romeva i Rueda

Avui, 17 de maig, és el Dia Internacional contra l’Homofòbia i la Transfòbia (IDAHO). En tant que vicepresident de l’Intergrup pro-drets LGBT del Parlament, i Ponent del PE sobre la Directiva per a la Igualtat de Tracte i no Discriminació, he fet les següents declaracions durant el ple d’Estrasburg:

Ending homophobia – stopping discrimination

What do countries as geographically diverse as Saudi Arabia, Uganda and Jamaica have in common? All of them criminalise homosexuality. As the International Day Against Homophobia (May 17) approaches, attention focuses again on what can be done to end discrimination and stigmatisation of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people within EU borders and outside them.

“Homophobia is a blatant breach of human dignity that questions fundamental rights, and thus it must be strongly condemned”, – EP’s President Jerzy Buzek said to us ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Jerzy Buzek will deliver a video message on combating discrimination of sexual minorities on the day itself.

The map of persecution

From fines and long-term imprisonment to death penalties – this is what homosexual people face in many (mostly African and Arab) world countries, persecuting gay people.

Speaking to EP’s website, (Committee on Civil Liberties) rapporteur on a proposed Antidiscrimination directive (currently blocked in the Council) Raúl Romeva i Rueda (Greens, Spain) points the finger at some Middle East, Caribbean, Far East and African countries (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya). He underlines his observation that, as a rule, LGBT rights are most strongly suppressed in countries with a state religion.

Ending prejudice (hatred, rejection and violence) within EU

As recently as the second half of 20th century, homosexual acts were illegal in many European countries. Have Europeans moved far ahead from labelling homosexuality an “illness and mental disorder”? Occurrences of hate speech, bullying, prohibitions of equality and gay pride marches, indicate there is still progress to be made.

While being homosexual can cost you life in quite a few countries of the world, Romeva i Rueda reminds, that in some EU countries LGBT people are forced to “either live in hiding or total denial, so many of them are deprived of fundamental rights and risk their job and sometimes even life, to live openly as LGBT”.

MEP underlines that hate-crimes are most clear sign of homophobia and discrimination of LGBT people. According to him, campaigning, dialogue and proper anti-discrimination legislation is the way towards tolerant societies which are “united in diversity”.

“The Anti-discrimination directive is not only a sign to discriminatory societies to change their behaviour – it is also a message to the outside world that EU is serious about protecting fundamental rights and about not creating a hierarchy of peoples!”, says rapporteur.

Stopping discrimination

According to the rapporteur, the most acute problem within the EU in this field is “the clash between, on one hand very liberal policies in some countries, where society, politicians and authorities have a tolerant, open and including approach to LGBT people and on the other hand the member states where none of this is the case”.

Romeva i Rueda points out that the “bottom line is that LGBT people in all EU-member states should be protected from discrimination by the treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and where necessary, the Commission and Council should take action to inform and educate politicians and authorities to lead and show a good example”.

An informal intergroup on LGBT issues gathers MEPs from across the political spectrum advancing issues connected to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Its members Michael Cashman, Ulrike Lunacek, Sophie in’t Veld and Christofer Fjellner took part in the Baltic Pride march in Vilnius on May 8. The intergroup organized a public hearing on the issue on April 29.

Font foto: writepro’s blog