Why we shouldn’t take LGBTQ+ Rights in Europe for Granted
In recent months many activists have taken to the streets of several EU capitals. The reason behind these protests is quite clear, many European citizens still lack access to universal rights, strongly promoted and encouraged by the Union. As pride month is coming to a close we have been reminded of how politicized this issue can be and that voters must keep on pressuring politicians to keep the issue at the center of political attention.
Let’s dive into some recent examples.
Italy Immobilized
A recently proposed law that would criminalize violence and hate speech against LGBT people in Italy has thrown together an unlikely alliance of opponents. The Catholic church and the political right have been joined by some feminists and lesbian associations in opposing a bill that would add gay, transgender people, and the disabled to the categories protected by an existing law punishing religion and race-based hate crimes. Conflict over the proposed legislation has become an ideological battle at the heart of the culture wars in Italy, pitting freedom of expression against the protection of those at risk of discrimination and victimization. Catholic leaders say the so-called Zan bill, named after a Democratic Party lawmaker and gay rights activist Alessandro Zan, amounted to “a liberticide,” with conservatives warning the bill risks criminalizing those who publicly oppose gay marriage or adoptions by gay people. Opposition from some lesbian and feminist groups centers on concerns that recognizing gender identity could put at risk rights won by women. But even among LGBT and feminist groups, there is some divide over the bill, with some groups splitting from a top national lesbian association after it came out against the legislation.
Although Italy approved same-sex civil unions in 2016, the country lags behind its EU counterparts and is on a similar footing with the likes of some eastern European countries in terms of anti-homophobia measures, according to ILGA Europe, a federation of groups pushing for civil rights. Italy placed 35th out of 49 European and Central Asian countries on a list ranking the legal and policy situation of LGBTI people compiled by ILGA. A homophobia and transphobia helpline run by the Gay Center association in Italy receives about 20,000 requests for help a year from those who experience violence or threats.
The Zan bill was approved in the lower house of parliament last year. But its passage through the upper house, the Senate, for it to complete the proces to officially become law, has been delayed by a change of government and obstruction by the right-wing League. The party labels it as a “gagging law” that risks putting in jail “those who think a mum is a mum and a dad is a dad”, according to League leader Matteo Salvini.
The case of Malika Chalhy, a 22-year-old from Tuscany, who was thrown out of her home and sent death threats by her family when she came out as gay earlier this year has led to renewed calls for urgent approval of the bill. Italy’s largest influencers, power couple Chiara Ferragni, a fashion influencer, and rapper Fedez, have taken the cause to heart. There were protests in favor of the bill in 54 towns and cities around Italy last weekend, suggesting the younger generation of Italians may be ready to address the lack of LGBT protections. Fedez sparked further division as he used the 1st May music concert’s stage to denote some homophobic remarks made by influential politicians.
Hypocrisy in Lithuania
A similar situation can be found in Lithuania, as a bill that would have allowed civil unions for same-sex couples in the Baltic state failed to clear its first parliamentary hurdle in mid-May. The bill, dubbed the Partnership Law, needed 65 votes to move forward. In a narrow defeat, 63 MPs voted in favor, 58 against, and seven abstained.
“I am disappointed with yesterday’s decision. Nevertheless, [the] good news is that we have received the support of 63 MPs and we lacked only two votes to pass the Partnership Law at the first hearing,” commented Tomas Raskevičius, an openly gay MP who sponsored the bill. Raskevičius, a member of the liberal Freedom Party, vowed to introduce the bill again in the autumn but said he would likely be making changes in a bid to gain more support for the legislation.
LGBT+ rights have recently been in the eye of the storm, especially after a parliamentarian, Petras Gražulis was featured in a homophobic music video sparking public outrage in early April. The song, titled “Kas nešokinės tas pydaras” (who does not jump is a fag) featured men from various cities replying to a provocative question: “do we have any real men in …(Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda)”, replying “yes we do!“. This video has been deleted many times and below the original videos, one could find many sarcastic thoughts of how the Lithuanian parliament works nowadays. Among them, LGBT desires/preferences (in Lithuanian pageidavimai is usually used to describe someone‘s pretentious needs and wishes“)“, griežti draudimai reikšti savo nuomenę “strict bans of expressing your opinion“, kitaminčių persiokiojimą „dissidents persecution“. A very strong passage of the song stated „we‘re extremely mad with the procedures which are happening in the parliament for the projects that emphasize the upbringing of children how it is understood by homosexuals (referring to the Istanbul Convention), dissidents‘ persecutions, strict bans of expressing your opinion, the legalization of drugs or even how to create the opportunity for children to change their sex. Is it normal?“
Petras Gražulis’ homophobia is no news since during gay pride in 2013 he started shouting „už lietuvą vyrai!“ (for Lithuania, men!) implying that gay men are not real men and heterosexuals should fight the homosexuals, resulting in his arrest. Gražulis has many times equated homosexuality to pedophilia, promoting a law against gay propaganda. Back in 2012 he even suggested to Lgbt+ community members to abandon Lithuania. In December 2020, during a public Zoom meeting broadcast live by the Lithuanian Parliament, a half-naked man appeared in the video behind him. He quickly turned off his webcam and then gave different explanations about what happened. At first he stated that the man was his son, then he said that it was Andrius Tapinas, a journalist allegedly stalking him. This was quickly debunked as his physiognomy was well different and many acquaintances confirmed that he had nothing to do with it. The president of the parliamentary commission, Vytautas Jouzapaiti, assumed that the man was one of Gražulis’ relatives, who entered the room to assist him.
Mourning in Latvia
Homophobia’s effects resulted in a tragic event just north of Lithuania. On April 23rd Normunds Kindzulis, a 29-year-old Latvian medical assistant, died suffering burns on 85% of his body. His clothes had been completely covered with gasoline and burned, ending up embedded with his skin. He had previously received homophobic threats and had moved from Riga to Tukums, a quiet town 70 kilometers west of the capital. Some campaigners denounced what they said was “police inaction”, as he had previously denounced the multiple threats he received. The establishment denounced this episode as a “heinous crime”, yet the police did not rule out the possibility of suicide because of the threats he received.
One thing is certain, as we live in a civilized world everyone should be granted the right to live and love freely. We urgently need to legislate to guarantee to all our fellow Europeans a free and fair future.
On behalf of the EU&U team, we would like to dedicate this Pride month to the memory of Normunds Kindzulis and all those, who have suffered unfairly because due to the discrimination of their sexual orientation.
