Protect Pride. Protect Democracy.
ILGA-Europe and the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) have launched a joint campaign, showing how attacks on Pride are attacks on everyone’s liberty.
Pride is one of the most visible expressions of the freedoms that underpin democratic societies: the freedom to gather, assemble and peacefully protest.
Every Pride march is a reminder that democratic freedoms are not guaranteed. They depend on people showing up, participating, and protecting their human rights.
Why Pride matters to everyone, not just LGBTI people
Across Europe, Pride events are increasingly facing restrictions, political hostility and defunding. Restrictions on the freedom to gather and protest can be warning signs that wider democratic freedoms are under pressure, putting everyone, not just LGBTI people, at risk. That’s why we’re taking action.
Help spread the word and show your support to protect Pride and protect democracy.
Whether you’re attending a Pride event, organising in your community or sharing on social media, our campaign materials can help raise awareness and encourage more people to take action.
ILGA-Europe news
New podcast episodes for LGBTI activists
We’ve just published two essential new podcasts for queer activists, recorded at our last Annual Conference. The first episode asks what it takes to defend rights in a political climate that’s becoming increasingly hostile across Europe and beyond. In the second episode, we look at how our movements can deal with rising political and financial pressure by turning difficult conditions into collective strength.
Listen now on your preferred platform.
Webinar series to counter online hate for LGBTI activists
Do you encounter online hate speech in your work? Have you heard of the Digital Services Act (DSA), but are not sure how to utilize it? In partnership with The Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe, we will organise our first webinar on 15 July about understanding and utilising the DSA. Participants will learn how the DSA changes platform obligations, what rights users and organisations now have, and how to use these tools in practice.
Latest news
PRIDE
Criminal charges dropped against Budapest Mayor and Pecs Pride organiser
The prosecutor’s office explained that while the original charges were technically legal at the time, things altered in April 2026 when the EU’s top court, the CJEU, ruled that Hungary’s so-called “Child Protection Act” actually breaks EU law in multiple ways, including violating free trade rules, basic freedoms, and core EU values. Because Hungarian courts are required to follow EU law, the charges could no longer stand. This year’s Budapest Pride took place on 27 June with tens of thousands marching through Budapest.
Kyiv Pride took the streets amid the ongoing war
On 21 June, the Kyiv Pride gathered 5.000 people under the slogan “Our families are part of Ukraine”. The activists are calling for the rejection of the draft Civil Code amendments, recognition of same-sex partners, hate crime legislation, and implementation of ICD-11 in trans-specific healthcare.
Turkish authorities banned Prides, the community still marched
LGBTI+ activists in Turkey marched despite the bans and police attacks. Local governorates banned protests across several cities. Police detained 8 people at the Ankara Pride, at least 10 at the Trans Pride, 65 at the Istanbul Pride and 36 at the Izmir Pride. They’re all released but face potential prosecution. Ahead of the Pride events, Turkish courts also ordered the social media platform X to restrict access to LGBTI+ organisations’ accounts in Turkey, and Meta deactivated some organisations’ Instagram accounts.
Queer Assembly of Belgrade commemorates the Bloody Pride in its 25-year anniversary
In 2001, the first Pride march in Belgrade was violently attacked by far-right mobs. On 30 June, Kvir zbor Beograda (Queer Assembly of Belgrade) commemorated the first Pride, now remembered as The Bloody Pride, and celebrated the liberation and the progress made possible by activists over the years.
ASYLUM
EU’s new Return Regulation will significantly affect LGBTI migrants
On 17 June, the European Parliament adopted the so-called Return Regulation, which is actually a draconian Deportation Regulation for asylum seekers and migrants in the EU. For LGBTI people, the risks are particularly severe.
HATE SPEECH
Civil society coalition calls on President Metsola to address rise in discriminatory rhetoric in the European Parliament
During the EP plenary session about the Return Regulation, a group of MEPs chanted “send them back.” Together with a coalition of 70+ European and international civil society organisations, we have sent a letter to the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urging to publicly condemn the incident and clarify what measures will be taken to ensure that Parliament’s standards of conduct are consistently upheld.
DECRIMINALISATION
Uzbekistan criminalises gay and bisexual men and trans women at an accelerating rate
Article 120 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code criminalises consensual sex between men and is used to prosecute gay, bisexual men and trans women. Its enforcement has escalated sharply: from an average of 17 cases per year in 2021–2023, to 48 in 2024, to 71 cases in the first nine months of 2025 alone. A series of coordinated raids in early 2026 resulted in at least 62 detentions and 34 criminal cases opened.
CONVERSION PRACTICES
Three more countries to ban conversion practices
On 16 June, the Senate in the Netherlands voted in favour of banning conversion practices after years of campaigning of LGBTI activists. On 25 June, the UK government published a long overdue draft bill to ban conversion practices. The same day, the Spanish Congress approved the amendments to the Criminal Code to punish these practices. Conversion practices have been prohibited in Spain since 2023, but the new law makes them a criminal offense with higher penalties.
FAMILY
LGBTI community protests against the new draft amendments to Ukraine’s Civil Code
Draft amendments to Ukraine’s Civil Code would roll back protections for LGBTI people and effectively block the introduction of registered partnerships. Public opposition has been significant: protests took place across the country on 17 May, a petition gathered 25,000 signatures in just 10 hours, and demonstrations continued at Odessa Pride, Lviv Pride and at Kyiv Pride.
LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION
Kyrgyzstan plans to ban legal gender recognition
A parliamentary committee in Kyrgyzstan approved a draft law prohibiting legal gender recognition and gender-affirming medical interventions, advancing it for further consideration by Parliament. According to media reports, the proposal would ban changes to gender markers in official documents and restrict access to transition-related healthcare. The bill forms part of a broader trend of increasing restrictions affecting LGBTI people in Kyrgyzstan.
Czech Senate blocked an anti-trans bill after public outcry
On 18 June, the Senate of the Czech Republic rejected a bill that would restrict access to legal gender recognition, introduce state-mandated conversion practices, and implement a de facto bathroom ban modelled on measures seen in the UK. The bill was blocked after a wave of public mobilisation, including 5,000 petition signatures collected in 24 hours, according to Transparent and TGEU.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Kazakhstan introduces mandatory film censorship law
Kazakhstan introduced mandatory pre-release reviews for all films, granting authorities broader powers to restrict content deemed harmful or unlawful. The move follows the country’s anti-LGBTI “propaganda” law and raises concerns about further restrictions on artistic expression. Similar practices predate the legislation: in 2022, authorities blocked the screening of Disney-Pixar’s Lightyear, citing child protection concerns over alleged LGBTI content. The new review system may further institutionalise state censorship of cultural content.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Have your say on the future of housing in the EU
The European Commission is conducting a study on equal treatment in housing in the European Union. Civil society organisations are invited to fill out an online survey until 12 July. Your insights will be key in shaping a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and informing future actions on housing.
34% of LGBTIQ people in Europe identify with a religion
The European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups launched a new report on the situation of Christian LGBTIQ people in Europe. It shows that queer Christians are less open about their identities, less likely to report violence and more vulnerable to conversion practices. The report is based on the data collected through the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency’s 2023 LGBTIQ III survey.
A new investigation by Current Time examines how Russia exports anti-LGBTI narratives and legislative models across Europe and Central Asia. The report identifies Kazakhstan among the countries where “traditional values” rhetoric, conservative networks and policy initiatives have increasingly mirrored Russian approaches. It argues that these transnational influences have contributed to a more hostile environment for LGBTI people, embedding anti-LGBTI discourse within broader political agendas centred on family, morality and national identity. Read more.
Notice board
- The Alliance for Gender Equality in Europe launched a new call for proposals to support the grassroots gender equality movement based in the European Union, United Kingdom, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Apply by 7 August.
- Access Now organises a webinar on digital security for LGBTQ+ people on 14 July. Register now.
- The European LGBTQ+ Lawyers Association (Ella) organises their first Ella Legal Conference, a gathering of judges, lawyers, activists, and students from across the world. It will take place between 16-18 September in London. Get your ticket now.
- S.A.F.E. (Supporting Abortions for Everyone) created a secure online resource for activists who want to help people failed by governments and healthcare systems to have safe abortions. Sign up online.
- Human Rights Watch is seeking an intern for their LGBT Rights Program in Berlin. Proficiency in Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Georgian and/or Armenian is a plus. Apply by 2 August.
