Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe said:

“ILGA-Europe is delighted about yesterday’s vote at the European Parliament adopting a resolution condemning homophobia in Europe with a significant majority of MEPs.

This is a firm signal from the European Parliament, the only institution of the European Union directly elected by its citizens, that the majority of Europeans condemn and reject discrimination and intolerance based on sexual orientation.

We are also pleased that separate amendments referring to the rights of same-sex partners in the EU also gained significant support.

We believe it is now up to the European Commission to seriously consider this powerful mandate by the European citizens and politicians and to respond with concrete proposals to ensure sexual orientation discrimination is banned not only in employment. We urge the Commission to broaden non-discrimination protections in the areas of the provision of and access to goods and services (already provided by the Race Equality Directive but not given on the grounds of age, disability and sexual orientation) and to ensure same-sex partners enjoy their rights across the entire Union.

We acknowledge and support the fact that the Commission is taking legal actions against those member states which failed to fully transpose or implement the Employment Equality Directive. We also acknowledge that the Commission is currently conducting a feasibility study on the subject of extending protections provided by the Race Equality Directive to the other grounds.

This Resolution and the significant majority for it is a clear indication of the consensus for equality and is a mandate for the Commission to propose enhanced non-discrimination legislation.”