Equality: International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2022

Today, the European Commission marks the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Interphobia (IDAHOT), which raises awareness of the discrimination and violence that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) persons continue to face. Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, said: “Each year, on 17 May, we reaffirm our commitment to the LGBTIQ community, to combatting the discrimination so many people still face, and to fighting for a Union where every single person can be who they are and love who they choose”. Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said: “The affirmation of equality of LGBTIQ people in law and public policy varies greatly across the Union. This is why in the LGBTIQ Strategy we call on EU countries to adopt country-specific action plans to address the stereotypes, discrimination and violence inflicted towards the LGBTIQ community. I congratulate the EU countries led LGBTIQ Equality Subgroup within  the High-Level Group on Non-Discrimination, Equality and Diversity for adopting Guidelines for Strategies and Action Plans to Enhance LGBTIQ Equality. May they be used widely to enhance LGBTIQ equality policy making across the EU.” As announced in the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-25, the European Commission is providing funding to support projects that aim to combat all forms of inequality, discrimination and intolerance, including homophobia and transphobia. More information about the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) funding programme is available here. To mark today's occasion, the Berlaymont headquarters were lit up in the colours of the rainbow flag, photographs are available here. A statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell on IDAHOT, on behalf of the EU, can also be found here.