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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights – the path to equality in Europe

The Council of Europe’s human rights canon wouldn’t be complete without its strong central core of equality and non-discrimination, making the rights of Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people one of the main current issues.

Whilst for many LGBT people in Europe life has become easier and society more tolerant, there is still a strong undercurrent of homophobia in many areas of the continent. Statistics from the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner in 2011 showed that what looks like progress on the surface often masks the fact that homosexuality is still hated by over 80% of people in some European countries, and that nine of the Council of Europe member states have no anti-discrimination legislation pertaining to gay rights at all. Whilst same sex marriages are allowed in seven countries, and 13 others accept some form of civil partnership, others not only prevent same sex marriage but do not allow gay people planning to marry or conduct a civil partnership abroad access to the necessary paperwork.

At the same time, LGBT people face many other obstacles. The Court of Human Rights has been asked to judge cases involving the banning of gay pride parades and discrimination in granting social rights, with a number of applications pending on the laws which criminalise “homosexual propaganda”. 

These trends have led Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland to speak of a “hardening of attitudes” and a “deterioration” in the situation over recent months, and prompted the setting up of a special unit within the Council of Europe to provide on-the-ground support in a number of countries.