MEP lambasts Polish government's homophobic record

2.18.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Apr 2007

Speaking ahead of the European Parliament debate on homophobia in Europe (Wednesday 25th April 2007), London's Liberal Democrat MEP and member of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Intergroup Baroness Sarah Ludford has lambasted the Polish government's record on LGBT rights. Baroness Ludford said:

"MEPs are likely to be highly critical of the Polish government in our debate and resolution on homophobia in Europe since the alarmingly homophobic stance of the Polish authorities is in blatant contradiction to the human rights obligations of EU membership."

"It is absolutely unacceptable that a member state of the European Union should seriously consider legislating to ban discussions on homosexuality in schools and educational institutions or that a list of jobs be developed for which homosexuals are 'unfit'."

"The EU should ensure that tough measures are taken against member states which fail to implement anti-discrimination laws, and should also extend European equalities legislation to outlaw homophobia in all its forms, not just in the workplace."

With the season of gay pride marches now approaching, Baroness Ludford has tabled a question to the Council to be answered in the May plenary session asking the Council what measures it will take to ensure that member states' authorities effectively protect gay pride participants.

Notes

Full text of Sarah Ludford's question to the Council (for answer in the May session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg):

As a reaction to the opposition to and attacks on some Gay Pride marches both inside and outside the EU in 2006, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 16 June 2006 on the increase in racist and homophobic violence in Europe. This resolution recalled that European States have a duty to allow such marches and to protect participants, and notably condemned the Russian authorities' decision to ban the first Gay Pride in Moscow on 27 May 2006.

With the season of gay pride marches now approaching, concerns arise regarding the effective protection of participants in EU Member States, while there is open opposition to the Moscow gay pride march taking place this year again. Which measures will the Council take to ensure that Member States' authorities effectively protect participants? How would any incident of intolerance of the LGBT community affect the Council's relationship with other governments?"