On this International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), we celebrate the unwavering resistance and resilience of LGBTIQ+ collectives across and beyond Europe. Whether it is amplifying the voices of LGBTIQ+ communities or driving forward transformative change in EU policies and politics, queer struggles are at the very heart of our political and legislative work in the European Parliament. These are challenging times for LGBTIQ+ people, and the battle for equality, respect and human rights is far from over.
Daily struggles
Unfortunately for LGBTIQ+ people, discrimination is not a distant or abstract concept but an everyday reality. New data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights reveals how, since 2019, harassment and discrimination have been on the rise in Europe. Despite the increase in openness about their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics, more than half of LGBTIQ+ people were targets of hate-motivated harassment. Sadly, this not only happens on the streets but bullying, discrimination and harassment also take place at home, at work and while accessing public services. Over a quarter of LGBTIQ+ people say they were forced to go through conversion practices to change their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Discrimination and stigma continue to fuel inequalities in healthcare among sexual and gender minority groups. Globally, transgender people are over 13 times more likely to develop HIV than any other group.
Fighting homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia every day
The truth is that fighting LGBTIQ+ discrimination and harassment is a permanent battle and it cannot be limited to one day a year. Throughout this mandate, Left MEPs have joined the diverse voices within LGBTIQ+ communities, bringing inside the European Parliament the experiences of lesbians, transgender and non-binary individuals, queer people of colour, and those at the intersections of multiple marginalised identities. Left MEP Malin Björk (Vänsterpartiet, Sweden) hosted for the first time in the European Parliament a photo exhibition from Swedish lesbian photographer Elisabeth Ohlson, attracting the bigoted outrage of far-right from across Europe. Left MEP José Gusmão (Bloco de Esquerda, Portugal), led the EU LGBTIQ+ equality strategy, calling the EU and member states to tackle multiple and intersectional discriminations, which can be based on socio-economic status, age, race, religion, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics or disability.
An intersectional battle
The fight against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia cannot be separated from battles for fair wages, equal pay for equal work, and an inclusive green and digital transition. The oppressive structures and systems perpetuating discrimination and harassment against LGBTIQ+ communities are the same ones that reinforce social, economic and environmental injustices. Feminist, queer, climate, workers and indigenous movements across Europe and in the Global South have been relentlessly exposing the intersecting systems of patriarchy, capitalism and imperialism. Central to these systems of oppression is the forging and normalising of the idea of “other,” whether these are women, gender minorities, people of colour, the working class, the Global South, nature, or anything that can be turned into an object to conquer. The underlying objective here is to tear movements apart and weaken them – preventing the realisation that we are stronger together and that our liberations are bound to each other.
IDAHOBIT is a day of solidarity—a reminder of the collective power of LGBTQ+ movements worldwide. In the face of rising hostility and discrimination, the resilience of the LGBTIQ+ communities, who always find ways to support each other despite hostility and adversity, is an endless source of inspiration.
Today, like every day, The Left stands in solidarity with all these movements and activists, building bridges across diverse struggles, whether they are led by LGBTIQ+ organisations, trade unions, feminist movements and environmental activists. Together, we can challenge entrenched power structures and build a future where everyone can live authentically and thrive.