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Summary: There is growing concern of institutional discrimination against the LGBT community after Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary adopted national and regional laws to forbid publicly expressing support for LGBT people's human rights.
[22 May 2012] - MEPs from across the political divide say they are increasingly concerned by cancelled gay pride marches around Europe and laws criminalising public support for gay and lesbian rights. Amid mounting evidence of violent attacks against gay men and women, one Dutch MEP demanded that Ukraine, said to be one of the worst offenders, evoke its "homophobic" laws. The demand comes as MEPs on Tuesday debated a cross-party resolution on homophobia in Europe, with a particular focus on these laws. The resolution is backed by all the mainstream groups in parliament with the exception of the EFD group and calls for action to combat homophobia which, it says, is still "rife" in Europe and within the EU. In the latest alleged incident, Svyatoslav Sheremet, a gay pride organiser in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, was said to have been beaten up last Sunday. The pride march, in which he was participating, was called off as police forces allegedly failed to protect marchers from an estimated 500-1000 far-right protesters. One organiser of the event was said to have been sprayed with mace and another was brutally beaten up by anonymous thugs. Last Thursday, a bus carrying LGBT activists in the Russian city St Petersburg was violently attacked which left two people injured. The attacks happened after Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary recently adopted national and regional laws to forbid publicly expressing support for LGBT people's human rights. The new laws criminalise what is termed "homosexual propaganda" which can include rainbow flags or public messages such as "homosexuality is normal". MEPs have been quick to react to the latest events with Greens MEP Marije Cornelissen saying, "It is shameful that the Kiev police didn't protect a small group of peaceful pride participants." The Dutch deputy added, "And while the government said it would adopt the anti-discrimination law as part of the visa liberalisation process, sexual orientation was taken out of the proposal." "Ukraine must revoke any homophobic law and commit to making a peaceful march possible next year." Fellow Dutch MEP Dennis de Jong, vice president of parliament's LGBT intergroup, said, "The commission and the external action service must take note of these bans and condemn them without hesitation. "These are clear breaches of universally-agreed human rights, and we will work to ensure free speech remains a reality everywhere in Europe, including for LGBT people." Further comment came from UK Socialist member Michael Cashman, who said, "Parliament is expressing deep concern across all political groups on the incidence of homophobia—not only on the streets of Europe, but also state-endorsed homophobia in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and in the EU Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary. "This is thoroughly incompatible with European values, and with European law under the European Convention on Human Rights." Elsewhere, Max Tucker, Ukraine campaigner at Amnesty International, said, "It has been clear from the start that the Kiev police department did not want this march to go ahead. Their reluctance to commit to the event and to put adequate security measures in place to protect demonstrators left organizers fearing for their safety. "The Kiev authorities and police must work harder to ensure next year pride participants can feel confident they will be protected," said Tucker. His organisation also expressed its "deep concern" about support expressed by a parliamentary resolution. The parliamentary debate, during this week's plenary in Strasbourg, comes ahead of a vote on the resolution on Thursday. Further Information: