Anti-LGBT+ censorship is spreading rapidly through Europe. These laws threaten freedom of speech, education, and basic LGBT+ rights.
This is a coordinated attack that must be stopped now!
What is the situation?
Across Europe, anti-LGBT+ legislation is spreading rapidly. These laws threaten freedom of speech, thought, and education for all, as well as the hard-won rights and basic safety of LGBT+ communities everywhere.
From Italy's Education Commission calling on Parliament to pass a law banning the teaching of so-called "gender theory" in Italian schools to Bulgaria's Russian-style ban on providing LGBT+ education in schools, the surge in discriminatory laws and practices is alarming. In Georgia and Moldova, LGBT+ activists face increasing hostility, while Romania's attempts to ban "gender theory" in education stigmatize LGBT+ individuals. Hungary's anti-LGBT+ propaganda law is another example of this concerning wave.
This is no coincidence. With Putin’s support, anti-LGBT+ forces are pumping money into coordinated efforts to undermine fundamental freedoms. The EU must take a consequential approach, countering Russian influence and protecting LGBT+ rights.
Every single anti-LGBT+ law is part of a coordinated attack on our shared values.
The impact of these laws is profound, restricting the fundamental rights of everyone. They undermine the EU's core building blocks: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, and respect for human rights.
Now, more than ever, the European Commission must take decisive action to reaffirm its commitment to LGBT+ rights as fundamental human rights.
We call upon the European Commission to confront these targeted attacks with coordinated and resolute action.
All Out and a coalition of LGBT+ organizations from five countries have launched this petition to demand urgent action from the European Commission.
To: The European Commissioner for Equality
European Commission
We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the recent wave of anti-LGBT+ legislation and policies in some EU member states and accession candidates, including Italy, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Hungary. These actions not only violate the fundamental rights of LGBT+ individuals but also contradict the European Union's foundational values of respect for human dignity, freedom, and democracy.
We call on the European Commission to take the following actions:
Urgently review the legislative measures in question to assess their compatibility with EU law, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Initiate infringement procedures against member states enacting laws that contravene EU anti-discrimination directives, principles of equality, and human rights.
Take legal action against countries in violation of EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights, including considering immediate financial sanctions in compliance with EU regulations.
Strengthen support for civil society by increasing funding and resources for organizations defending LGBT+ rights in affected countries.
Engage in high-level dialogue with member states and accession candidates to reaffirm the EU’s unwavering commitment to LGBT+ rights as fundamental human rights.
Condition EU accession on full compliance with EU standards for LGBT+ rights, ensuring adherence to equality and non-discrimination principles.
Issue a public statement condemning discriminatory laws and reaffirming the EU’s commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Hungary:
June 2021 - Anti-LGBT+ propaganda law enacted, restricting information access in schools and the media.
Romania:
April 2022 - Attempted ban of "gender theory" classes in schools, increasing stigma.
Bulgaria:
August 2024 - Law passed banning LGBT+ education, mirroring Russian propaganda laws.
Italy:
September 2024 - Education Commission pushes for a ban on "gender theory."
Georgia:
October 2024 - Ban of depictions of LGBT+ people in media.
This initiative unites LGBT+ activists, legal experts, and human rights defenders in the fight against rising discrimination.
Together, we urge the EU to uphold its values and protect fundamental rights for all.
"If the European Union remains silent in the face of these anti-LGBT+ laws, it will become complicit in a normalization of hatred and discrimination. Such silence would deny LGBT+ individuals essential educational spaces to access critical information on mental health and emotional well-being, further isolating LGBT+ people and increasing risks of bullying, discrimination, and violence."
Donatella Siringo, Agedo
“The European Commission must act promptly and decisively—inaction is a betrayal of the fundamental values on which the European Union was built. Failing to protect LGBT+ rights and human rights undermines trust in the EU’s commitment to safeguarding any fundamental freedoms. In a time of geopolitical instability, if we do not stand up now, who will defend the very principles that hold our Union together? The EU has the power to lead by example and ensure that equality and human rights remain at the core of its foundation."
Radoslav Stoyanov, Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
"The Hungarian government’s censorship laws are a direct attack on fundamental freedoms and the values that Hungary, as an EU member, is meant to uphold. Inaction from the European Commission sends a dangerous message—that the erosion of human rights and free expression will go unchallenged. If we do not stand up now, who will defend the principles that bind our Union together? The EU must act swiftly to protect democracy, freedom of speech, and the rights of all its citizens before it is too late."
Viktória Radványi, Budapest Pride
“The rise of censorship laws in Romania is a warning sign that fundamental freedoms are under threat. By staying silent, the European Commission risks legitimizing attacks on democracy, free speech, and human rights. If these laws take hold unchecked, what other rights will be next? The EU cannot afford to look away—it must act now to defend the values it was built on and ensure that every citizen’s voice remains protected."
Alex Zorilă, Bucharest Pride
"Anti-LGBT+ laws are the first sign that democracy is being fundamentally attacked. We, queer people, are the first targets of the rising authoritarian wave. If the EU does not take action now, later will be too late, because the erosion of human rights and destruction of the principles of democracy will reach a much wider population. It always starts with queer people, but it never ends with us."
Tamar Jakeli, Tbilisi Pride
European Court of Human Rights: A landmark victory for LGBT+ rights in Europe
On 4 February 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECoHR) ruled that Russia’s anti-LGBT+ “propaganda” law violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights - which guarantees freedom of expression. This historic decision is a major victory, not only for those who fought against Russia’s oppressive censorship but for LGBT+ communities across all of Europe.
The Court made it clear: restricting access to LGBT+ information under the pretense of “protecting children” is incompatible with fundamental human rights. It reaffirmed that young people have the right to diverse and inclusive information, and that no government can justify censorship purely based on anti-LGBT+ bias.
This ruling strengthens legal precedent for challenging similar laws in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and beyond - sending a clear message to European leaders: LGBT+ censorship has no place in a democratic society.
Now, it’s time for the European Commission to act with the same resolve and ensure that anti-LGBT+ laws across the EU are struck down once and for all.
_________
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/?i=001-241568
The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary in July 2021, arguing that the law violated fundamental EU values, including non-discrimination and freedom of expression.
In December 2022, the Commission referred Hungary to the EU’s Court of Justice (ECJ), asserting that the law breached EU rules on the internal market, fundamental rights, and democratic principles.
_________
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_2689
In December 2024 in a historic ruling, Lithuania’s Constitutional Court declared the “anti-LGBT propaganda” provisions unconstitutional, striking down a 15-year-old law that censored LGBT+ content and stifled inclusive education.
The Court emphasized that protecting minors must never come at the expense of human rights, equality, and pluralism, affirming that access to diverse family narratives is essential for young people’s development.
_________
https://www.lgl.lt/en/?p=29656
This campaign is run in cooperation with:
We call upon the European Commission to confront these targeted attacks with coordinated and resolute action.
Ask the European Commission not to stay silent.
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