Gscene News Archive

The UK and Polish Green Parties have joined forces to combat homophobia in Eastern Europe.

Both parties met at the Greens’ Spring conference in Blackpool and agreed the idea in preparation for IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) 2009 on May 17.

Aleksandra Kretskowska, from the Polish Greens, said many LGBT people in countries such as Poland, Latvia, Serbia and Lithuania, experience prejudice and homophobic violence.

She said:
“In Poland, Prides were small at first, but over the last few years confidence has grown. In 2008, over 15,000 people felt safe enough to come together to celebrate being gay and lesbian, bisexual and trans. Gradually people are challenging the invisibility which has been forced on them and new laws on LGBT discrimination from the European Union are also helping to improve people's legal rights and change attitudes."

London Green MEP, Jean Lambert has urged LGBT rights forward across Europe and has helped gay asylum seekers to seek safety in the UK. She said the Green LGBTQI group has decided to work with campaigners in Eastern Europe to tackle homophobia.

She said:
“In many countries people deny that homosexuality exists, so tackling discrimination is difficult. However, we have committed to supporting the efforts of those who are progressive and brave enough to speak out."

One way they have decided to tackle this issue is through EuroPride events. These will be held in Eastern Europe and will publicise the difficulties that the LGBT community faces in these countries.

Green MEPs have also pushed for research to be done to help combat homophobia, which has led to a new report from the Fundamental Rights Agency being launched March 31 at the European Parliament.

For more information about the LGBTQI Greens’ visit:
www.lgbtgreens.org.uk

For more infomation about IDAHO Day visit: www.idaho.org.uk

Pictured Jean Lambert MEP