Everyone should be free to be themselves and love who they want to love without fear. 
Yet lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people still face discrimination in many parts of the world, including Europe. 
The EU is strongly committed to fighting against discrimination. Listen to find out more about how the EU is trying to build a more inclusive society where everyone can feel safe.

Fighting discrimination against LGBTIQ people

Equality and non-discrimination are core EU values and fundamental rights, enshrined in the Treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, research by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) shows that discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people persists across the EU.

The Commission presented the 'LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025' on 12 November 2020. This was&nbsp;the first ever full EU strategy in this area and is intended to build on the lessons learned from the European Commission's previous actions to advance LGBTI equality from 2015-2019.

In recent years, social acceptance of LGBTIQ people has declined in some Member States. Gaps remain in the EU's legislative framework for combating discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. Combating discrimination has become part of EU internal and external policies, and is the subject of numerous resolutions of the European Parliament. In response to the backsliding of LGBTIQ rights in some EU countries, notably Poland and Hungary, MEPs&nbsp;declared the EU an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”.

In 2021 Parliament “condemned&nbsp;in the strongest possible terms” the anti-LGBTIQ legislation and denounced&nbsp;the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law in Hungary.&nbsp;In a resolution&nbsp;MEPs described the Hungarian law as being in clear breach of fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter of fundamental rights, the Treaties and EU internal market legislation.

LGBTIQ freedom in the EU

Since the Treaty of Amsterdam ratified in 1997, the European Union is equipped to take measures against discrimination.

The EU plays a central role in combatting discrimination against LGBTI community in Europe, and partly thanks to the European Parliament, but there are still significant shortcomings troughout the EU.

Despite progress in many areas over the last decades, people in Europe are still stigmatised because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons cannot fully enjoy their universal rights. They run a risk of becoming victims of hate crime and may not receive protection when attacked in the street by fellow citizens.

Fight for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and interse

In the face of persistent discrimination, Parliament calls for common rules to ensure that the rights of all national minorities are redressed and respected across the EU.

The rules stipulate that people belonging to national minorities are entitled to equal cultural, linguistic and educational rights, and member states are urged to end discriminatory practices.

MEPs call on the European Commission to draft a directive on minimum standards for minorities in the EU, including benchmarks and measures.

Parliament is also calling on EU countries to end statelessness for Roma people and to guarantee that this minority group enjoys full human rights.

#EUelections2019 - Minorities in the EU

Parliament, Council, and Commission  discuss Hungary’s restrictions on the right of assembly and the announced ban on the Budapest Pride march.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament assesses the state of fundamental rights in Hungary after the pro-government majority changed the law on public assemblies in March 2025, enabling authorities to classify pro-LGBTIQ+ gatherings as violations of the Child Protection Act and consequently ban the Budapest Pride march. MEPs are set to argue that this limitation of the rights of assembly and expression is a direct violation of the basic human and civil rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and the core values of the Union.

In 1997, Budapest became the first capital of a former Communist bloc country to host a Pride march, a landmark moment for equality and freedom. However, Hungary’s government has been taking regressive steps for many years, dismantling institutions, the rule of law, and freedom of expression, to the point where Parliament can no longer consider the country a full democracy. In January 2024, MEPs once more urged the Council to unblock the process to assess Hungary’s “serious and persistent breaches of EU values”.

EP Plenary debate on the threats to fundamental rights in Hungary

EP Plenary session - Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights

IDAHOBIT 2022 - Supporting all EU families and leaving no one behind:.LGBTIQ+ inclusion in the European Schools

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) - Rainbow flag next to the EPLOs buildings

Facebook live discussion at the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Marc ANGEL,and Terry REINTKE

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) - Rainbow flag next to the EP building in Strasbourg

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) - Rainbow flag next to the EP building in Luxembourg

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) - Rainbow flag next to the EP building in Brussels

National action plans on LGBTIQ equality conference

Press conference LIBE committee delegation to Hungary

European Parliament assesses the state of fundamental rights in Hungary after the pro-government majority changed the law on public assemblies in March 2025, enabling authorities to classify pro-LGBTIQ+ gatherings as violations of the Child Protection Act and consequently ban the Budapest Pride. MEPs are set to argue that this limitation of the rights of assembly and expression is a direct violation of the basic human and civil rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and the core values of the Union. In 1997, Budapest became the first capital of a former Communist bloc country to host a Pride march, a landmark moment for equality and freedom. However, Hungary’s government has been taking regressive steps for many years, dismantling institutions, the rule of law, and freedom of expression, to the point where Parliament can no longer consider the country a full democracy.

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights: MEPs debate

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights: opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights: closing statement by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection

At the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, Progress Pride Flags are raised in front of the buildings of the European Parliament in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)

On the occasion of IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia) on 17th May 2023, rainbow flags are displayed at the entrance of the European Parliament buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg. Extracts. Today's rainbow flag has six colors - one meaning for each color: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), turquoise (magic/art), indigo (serenity) and violet (spirit).

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT): Rainbow flags flown at the entrance of the European Parliament buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg

MEPs debate on Growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia. Closing statements by Ivan BARTOŠ, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

Growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia: closing statements by Ivan BARTOŠ, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

MEPs debate on Growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia. Opening statements by Ivan BARTOŠ, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

Growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia: opening statements by Ivan BARTOŠ, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

To mark the IDAHOBIT, Rainbow flag was hoisted at the entrance of the European Parliament buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT): Rainbow flags at the entrance of the European Parliament buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg

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