The “Euro-Gay” Debate

With almost as many languages as there are member States, it can take weeks for official transcript to be published in each language.

However, the European Parliament press office has made available to UK Gay News “unofficial” excerpts in English of some on the speeches made in other languages.

Apart from the two UK Members who spoke (Baroness Sarah Ludford and Michael Cashman), only Alexander Stubb (Finland) addressed Parliament in English.  The full transcript of what all three said is included here.

For those with linguistic abilities, the official provisional transcript of the debate, recorded in the language spoken, can be read by clicking HERE (Adobe Acrobat reader is required).  Select “14 – Homophobia in Europe” from the menu in the left hand column to go to the beginning of the debate).

Commissioner Franco Frattini:

“The European Commission can open a procedure to a Member State if there has been an infringement of Community law, but only if it is proved that they have infringed the treaties”.

“Community powers need to take necessary measures to tackle all kind of discriminations, including discrimination against sexual orientation which is explicitly forbidden in the Charter of Fundamental Rights”.

“The Commission has done some specific actions to combat homophobia.  We did a campaign for diversity in 2003. There is also an initiative to designate 2007 as the year of equal opportunities for all. We want to promote diversity as something positive for the Union”.

“The Commission absolutely condemns any manifestation of homophobia”

Alexander Stubb – Finland (EPP-DE). Spoke in English – full text):

Mr President, I wish to begin by thanking all the political groups involved in drawing up this resolution. I pay tribute in particular to Mr Cashman, Mrs in ’t Veld and Mr Romeva i Rueda for their work. I wish to raise three issues on behalf of myself and my group.

The first is that this resolution is not about homosexuality as such but about homophobia, and for us this is really an issue about human rights and whether you approve of beating other people because of their sexual orientation.

We all agree that there is a lot to do in all Member States and within the institutions. A lot of pressure needs to be applied.

Commissioner Frattini referred to Article 13 of the Treaty and Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and I agree with that; but the key here is to get the Member States to abide by them.  That is really why we are having this debate: to get the Member States into line.

The second issue concerns the two problems we are facing in fighting homophobia.  The first is the inequality in the legislation of the Member States.  We have all heard of the problems linked to free movement: one couple being accepted, for instance, in the Netherlands but not being accepted and getting the same rights . social or otherwise . for instance, in Italy.  The second problem is a worrying development in many Member States . I do not want to pinpoint any one in particular.  We all see and face the problems of hate crimes and discrimination.  We must also remember that this is not only about sexual orientation; it is also about gender identity and gender expression.

My final point, which goes slightly beyond the scope of this matter, is that we must remember that there are still 75 countries that consider homosexuality to be illegal and 9 countries which impose the death penalty for it. We must get rid of that.

Martine Roure – France (PSE):

“We know that some people have been beaten to death in some Member States only because they have a different sexual orientation.  We do want to bring an end to different treatment that homosexuals have in European soil.”

“We’re seeing anathemas released against some of our citizens.”

“Fundamental rights do not permit exceptions.”

“We are solemnly asking to homophobia hate to stop, particularly when it comes from high official of a national government.”

Sophia In 't Veld – the Netherlands (ALDE):

“Some Member States apply to subsidiarity on Fundamental Rights issues.  Fundamental Rights cannot be sided off as part of subsidiarity!”

“It is a scandal and a disgrace that some Member States still don’t recognise the killing of homosexuals under the Nazi regime.”

“We must make an investment in education.”

“Non discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is the kind of Fundamental Right which can disappear because you cross the frontier.”

Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg – the Netherlands (Verts/ALE):

“In Poland there have been big demonstrations intended to prevent homosexual emancipation.”

“The Liberals are silent when it comes to ensuring fundamental right protection.”

“What has the Commission working group on antidiscrimination and equal opportunity been up to this past year?”

“The European Union employs a policy of ‘naming and shaming’ in the area of subsidies, but when it comes to fundamental principles, we are silent. This is unjust.”

Jan Tadeusz Masiel – Poland (NI):

“We must be careful about giving homosexuals additional rights.”

“I’m not sure it’s good that same sex marriages are legalized.”

Masiel also argued that it is “unacceptable” for same sex couples to adopt children.

Konrad Szymański – Poland (UEN):

“This debate is a waste of time.”

“We need to avoid being hysterical.”

“Aggression against homosexuals is just part of aggression that we observe in our society,” said Szymański, placing such violence against a backdrop of, for instance, the incidents of rioting in France at the end of last year.

Barbara Kudrycka – Poland (EPP-ED):

“Even in the most tolerant countries such as the Netherlands or France, homosexuals are attacked.”

“Bans on homosexual parades in Poland were only incidental.”

“Sexuality is an intimate affair,” she said, and argued that therefore the European Parliament should not try to impose its views in the matter on others.

Michael Cashman – United Kingdom (PSE) Spoke in English – full text):

Mr President, I wish to express my disappointment at the statement made by Commissioner Frattini, which was more a repetition than a statement.  Commissioner, we know you are concerned and we know the Commission is concerned, but the Commission should be judged on what it does. Infringement proceedings must be brought against any Member State that fails to transpose or implement the appropriate directives already in force in a number of Member States. I agree that we must campaign and educate, but that in itself is not enough. A proposal for a horizontal directive directly related to the race and ethnicity directive promised by President Borroso must be brought before this House.

I am saddened by some of the contributions this afternoon.  This is about equality, not about promoting homosexuality. It is about giving homosexuals the equal rights and equality that others take so much for granted.

I am gay. I am a homosexual, born to an ordinary man and woman. Because of that some people will wish to take away my right to talk about my sexuality, to celebrate my 22-year relationship and to be part of a wider community.  Some would vilify me, take away my democratic rights and use hate-speak against me. I could decide to go on a gay pride march, but that gay pride march could be banned. Why? Because society is preoccupied with what it perceives as my sex life.  A judgement has been made on it. Where is the morality in that? Where is the morality in preaching and promoting discrimination and hatred, sometimes behind the shield and the excuse of religion or belief?

I say to Commission Frattini and the entire Commission, as well as to this House, that if we do nothing when we see people beaten to death, vilified and discriminated against then we are condoning and becoming complicit in those beatings, in the hate-speak, the defamation and the ill-treatment.

Even in the United Kingdom, where enormous advances have been made, a young man was kicked to death just before Christmas for no other reason than he was homosexual.  If this House does nothing then it is party to every single blow that was rained upon that individual and other men like him and on gay women across the European Union.

That I should even have to make such a statement here in Parliament makes this a day of great sadness.

Baroness Sarah Ludford  – United Kingdom (ALDE) Spoke in English – full text):

Mr President, I have to acknowledge that, as Mr Cashman has said, even in my own constituency of London we continue to see prejudice and homophobic crime.  Just recently a gay man was killed purely out of murderous prejudice.  A few years ago we had a hate-crazed bomber who specifically intended to kill gay customers of a bar.  Of course he killed others too.  But we are largely looking at private hate and prejudice.  What is so shocking about developments in some Member States is the crude official intolerance: the banning of Pride demonstrations, inflammatory language even by Prime Ministers, police failure to protect marches, and so on.

We need European legislation to outlaw hate crime on grounds not only of race, which we have still not achieved, but also of sexual orientation.  And we need to equalise the treatment of race, gender and sexual orientation in generalising the ban on discrimination not only in the workplace, but also in the receipt of services and in the supply of goods.  The patchwork that we have at the moment is not good enough.  I look also to Commissioner Frattini to lead the effort to greatly improve the generalised protection of both women and minorities.

Raül Romeva i Rueda – Spain (Greens/ALE):

“Declarations such as the ones made in Poland or the decisions made by the Latvian Parliament are in violation of fundamental rights.”

Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin – France (EPP-ED):

“Statements by Polish politicians are seriously worrying,” she said, arguing that these did not receive an appropriate response from the Commission.

Lissy Gröner – Germany (PSE):

“The authorities of Member States must be brought to task,” when they ban equality or gay pride parades.

Holger Krahmer – Germany (ALDE):

“Will I live to see the day when homosexuality will be treated as normal?”

“The recent Polish and Italian statements were not accidents, they were a sign of our times.”

Referring to the situation in Poland – “that is not something that is just incidental – it must be taken seriously.”

Elizabeth Schroedter – Germany (Greens/ALE):

He remarked that the Copenhagen criteria are not being met in Poland.

■  Translation of Commissioner Frattini’s response is not yet available.