LGBTQ+ individuals are increasingly being scapegoated by national-oriented politicians advancing conservative agendas, Politico reports.
Such behaviour leads to a rise in violence and discrimination, according to a report published on Tuesday by ILGA-Europe, the European association of LGBTQ+ NGOs. The report highlights a concerning trend across the continent, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, where national-oriented forces are gaining political traction.
The annual review reveals that LGBTQ+ groups are being labeled as agents of foreign influence, with their access to healthcare, freedoms, and visibility increasingly restricted to allegedly serve conservative political agendas.
This has fueled hate crimes and normalised hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community, contributing to an “unprecedented surge” in violence in 2024.
In countries like Italy, Belgium, and Romania, conservative groups have accused the LGBTQ+ community of “undermining family values and destabilising society,” often using discriminatory rhetoric during election campaigns. The rhetoric has been used to justify the introduction of legislation restricting fundamental freedoms and so-called “anti-LGBT propaganda” laws.
ILGA-Europe also noted a significant increase in hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in countries such as Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal.
Political instrumentalisation of LGBTQ+ issues
Alessandro Zan, an Italian member of the European Parliament from the Socialists and Democrats, criticised the instrumentalisation of LGBTQ+ issues for political gain.
There is a tendency to instrumentalise the so-called protection of young people as a hope to spread fear and division. The discriminatory measures proposed in Hungary and Slovakia and the successful resolution in Italy against the so-called gender ideology all but spread hate and discrimination across Europe.
Meanwhile, Evelyne Paradis, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe, warned that attacks on LGBTQ+ people were becoming a testing ground for laws that eroded democracy itself.
Across Europe and Central Asia, governments are using anti-LGBTI rhetoric to justify restrictions on free speech, civil society and fair elections. What begins as an attack on LGBTI rights rapidly grows into a wider assault on the rights and freedoms of all individuals in society.
Ana Carla Pereira, Director for Equality and Non-Discrimination at the European Commission’s justice department, expressed deep concern over the findings. However, Pereira acknowledged the challenges faced by civil society organisations due to scarce funding.
She emphasised the importance of continued financial support for such groups but noted that it would depend on the priorities set by co-legislators in the next EU long-term budget for 2028-2034.
ILGA-Europe and other advocates are calling on governments and institutions to resist “regressive” trends and prioritise the protection of LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring that their rights and freedoms are safeguarded in the face of growing political and social challenges.
