The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning homophobia in member states. It calls on the European Commission to take action against countries that fail to treat homosexuals and heterosexuals equally.Although the resolution doesn't name any countries specifically, it does refer to the banning of gay pride marches, something outlawed in Poland for two years in a row after Polish President Lech Kaczynski (previously mayor of Warsaw) described plans for the parade as "sexually obscene".
MEPs have also asked the European Commission to come up with proposals on the rights of people in same-sex marriages if they decide to live in countries where such marriages are illegal. But the plans have been attacked by a European organisation of bishops. Aldo Giordano from the Council of European Bishops' Conferences described the parliament's decision as "an aversion for certain values of our tradition, notably religious values… such resolutions risk de-legitimising the European Parliament."
Equal rights
Gay rights in countries like the Netherlands, Belgium and even traditionally Catholic Spain have improved in recent years, with the United Kingdom becoming the latest EU state to introduce same-sex civil ceremonies, giving gay couples the same rights as married ones, though without the union being called a 'marriage'.
The EU declaration urges member states to ensure that gay couples enjoy "the same respect, dignity and protection as the rest of society", Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld says that recently there have been some worrying developments:
"You know we don't have to be secretive about this, there's been the ban on the gay pride marches in Poland, there've been the constitutional amendments in some of the Baltic states explicitly banning same-sex unions or gay marriage, there have been statements by political and religious leaders in the UK… by a judge in Italy, there have been a number of incidents and we thought this was the best time to have a discussion."
from Radio Netherlands
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