15/05/2026 Equality and Non-Discrimination | LGBTI
“The protection of the rights of LGBTI persons lies at the heart of our democratic values” stressed Kate Osborne (United Kingdom, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI persons, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersexphobia (17 May).
“In recent years, we have seen a rise in attacks against LGBTI persons, restrictions to freedom of assembly and attempts to portray the rights of LGBTI persons as being in competition or contradiction with the rights of others, in particular women’s rights. But this is a deliberate misconception; equality for both groups is mutually reinforcing and any attempts to divide people are an attack on our human rights. Much more needs to be done to raise awareness on the fact that attacks against LGBTI rights are genuine threats to everyone’s human rights, and to the principles of democracy,” she continued.
“The rights of LGBTI persons must not be put at risk through political instrumentalisation and stigmatisation during electoral campaigns or in political speeches. On the contrary, we as parliamentarians have a special responsibility to ensure that political discourses never incite hate. There can be no place for discrimination and hatred against LGBTI persons in our democratic societies.
So for this International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersexphobia, I want to stand in solidarity with all of my LGBTI community and demand equality, inclusion, visibility and human rights for LGBTI persons everywhere,” she concluded.