European Parliament urges Lithuania to recognize same-sex unions

On the 8th of September, 2015 the European Parliament voted in support of a report on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU (2013-2014) [Ferrara report]. The report contains a number of LGBTI specific recommendations: Calls on the European Commission to put forward an action plan or strategy at EU level for equality on

LGBTI activist voices – is anyone in Europe listening?

Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe Check your calendars. Infringements of fundamental rights, like freedom of expression, association, and assembly inside the European Union’s borders in 2015 – surely there is some mistake? No, unfortunately, that is not a misprint. LGBTI activists and human rights NGOs are being increasingly impeded in their daily work and

EuroPride 2015: ALDE4Equality advocates LGBTI rights in Riga

MEPs Sophie in ‘t Veld and Izaskun Bilbao, vice-presidents of the ALDE Group, will be in Riga this weekend to join the Europride 2015 and meet key players in the field of LGBTI rights, including the representatives of the national LGBT* rights organization LGL. During the meeting with LGL’s representatives the MEPs will discuss the

Commissioner Jourová committed to LGBTI action plan in 2015

In a debate with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on Tuesday, Justice commissioner Vera Jourová confirmed her commitment to create a roadmap or action plan on LGBTI rights. In response to oral questions by Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP and Helga Stevens MEP, Vice-President and Member of the LGBTI Intergroup,

Micro Rainbow International secures funding through the European Union for a three-year project to help lift LGBTI people in Brazil out of poverty. Not-for-profit social enterprise Micro Rainbow International (MRI) has announced that is has received funding from the European Union for a three-year project to help alleviate poverty among the LGBTI communities in Brazil.

EP Vice-President Criticizes Lithuania for Violating LGBT* Rights

Amid the European Commission’s (EC) analysis whether the Lithuanian Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information is in line the EU acquis, a group of MEPs on February 26th, 2015 criticized the Baltic state for the continuing discrimination of LGBT* people, reports Lithuanian news agency BNS. “I think we