EP highlights need for a roadmap to tackle homophobia

The European Parliament adopted a roadmap to tackle discrimination and homophobia.

Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola was the European People's Party spokesperson on the report and was involved in the months of negotiations before the report was adopted with cross-Party support.

The report strongly condemns discrimination, and calls on the European Commission, Member States and relevant agencies to work on a comprehensive policy to protect the fundamental rights of LGBT people.  

Metsola described this report as a tool which sends an important message that discrimination against LGBT persons is simply unacceptable.

She underlined that reports continuously showed that discrimination still exists in relation to LGBT people across the EU.

“It is time that this is addressed. The report specifically does not call for any positive discrimination measures but aims to start the ball rolling to create an equal playing field for all people. It is inconceivable that in this day and age, people are still sacked from their jobs because of their sexual orientation or are still the target of hate crimes and harassment because they hold hands walking down the street. People deserve to live their lives without fear."

The Nationalist MEP said they were very careful to ensure that nothing in the text infringes upon the principle of subsidiarity.

“It is important that we do not give the impression that the EU can somehow decide on issues such as civil unions, marriage, adoption or family structure - these are all strictly left to individual Member States to decide for themselves. No MEP can tell any Member State to introduce new laws on these issues,” Metsola said.

She added that this report does not touch upon these matters but focuses on the right for people to live free from violence, hatred, harassment and discrimination. 

"I have had constructive consultations in Malta and in Brussels with different stakeholders on this report from across the political, religious and ideological divide. Every one of them agreed that homophobia and discrimination is abhorrent and must be tackled. I am pleased that this report was adopted and I hope that work on these issues will continue.”