The rise of populist parties, even within the EU, which are increasingly trying to
push back the rights of LGBTIQ 1 community makes the adopted EU strategy for
equality and further work even more important.
“The Equality strategy contained targeted measures to eliminate injustices,
mainstream LGBTIQ equality into all policy areas and strengthen the voice of
LGBTIQ persons. The follow up on the strategy makes the 2025 election to the
European Parliament is an important election for the LGBTIQ community,” states
Helge Ytterøy L’orange, President of the European Centre Right LGBT+ Alliance
(www.lgbtalliance.eu).
We see governments, e.g., the former PIS government in Poland and the current
governments in Italy and Slovakia pushing back basic human rights for LGBTIQ
persons. Increasing hate violence in everyday life and, at state level in many
countries around the world and in our immediate neighbourhood are obvious. A clear
signal and a clear stance from the EU are more important than ever.
Centre-right movement with a clear stand
The European People’s Party (EPP) – the party group of the Christian-Democrats and
Centre-right parties in the EU Parliament – has taken a clear position in its election
manifesto. The protection of the rights of minorities, explicitly including LGBTIQ, is
indispensable for them. Helge Ytterøy L’orange, President of the European Centre-
right LGBT+ Alliance (www.lgbtalliance.eu), which has been successfully
campaigning for the interests of queer people within the EPP family for 11 years,
commented:
“For the EPP, minority protection is not just an empty phrase, it is an important part of
rule of law. As Alliance we acknowledge that and have contributed to the EPP’s
human rights policy with the political expertise of our member organisations and our
personal experience.”
He continues, by explaining that the Alliance was closely involved in the process of
drawing up the election manifesto:
“At the EPP Congress in Bucharest this spring, we recently presented the President
of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, with a catalogue of measures and
demands to follow up on the election manifesto after the upcoming EU-election.”
Broad perspective on LGBTIQ issues
Among other things, the Alliance positions itself against so-called conversion
therapies, calls for the criminalisation of hate crimes and hate speech as well as
better and non-discriminatory legislation for transgender people. In the context of
migration and asylum, it focuses on the particularly vulnerable group of LGBTIQ*
refugees, who are exposed to renewed discrimination and reprisals in many
European refugee centres.
Ytterøy L’orange continues: “The rights of rainbow families and the creation of the
best conditions for starting a family are particularly important to us. This issue was
also explicitly included in the EPP’s election manifesto, which we are very happy
about.”
The President of the Alliance once again emphasised the importance of going to the
polls and voting for a democratic party. “Only a democracy in which democratic
parties govern will grant LGBTIQ people lasting protection. This is how our EU must
be and this is what the EPP stands for” concluded Ytterøy L’orange.
