MEPs condemn homophobic bullying

4.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd May 2007

A declaration against homophobic bullying has received a wide measure of support (239 signatures) in the European Parliament, despite not making the number required for it to be adopted by the full parliament.

Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman and MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford, a member of the European Parliament's intergroup on Gay & Lesbian rights and a supporter of the Liberal Democrats own campaign on this matter (see notes below) said:

"While this result clearly signifies that combating homophobic bullying is more than a marginal issue for MEPs, we must work harder to make a majority understand the degree of misery and exclusion it can cause and why it is an important equalities matter at European as well as national level."

"Recent statements from the Polish education minister about preventing the 'propagation' of homosexuality in schools - shades of section 28! - show how far we still have to go to get Europe-wide action to stop discrimination."

The declaration called for the European Parliament to expand its campaign against discrimination beyond simple condemnation of homophobia to actively encouraging Member State governments to support their gay communities and formulate a concerted approach to combating homophobia in schools. It also sought to highlight the traumatic effects of homophobic bullying on victims who often suffer physical or mental harm because of it, urging governments to set up adequate support systems to protect them.

Notes

1. A written declaration is the European Parliament equivalent of a Commons early day motion. The written declaration on combating homophobic bullying is a joint initiative of the Gay and Lesbian Rights intergroup and the Trade Unions intergroup of the European Parliament.. The full text of the written declaration is available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P6-DCL-2007-0011+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN

. For information about the Liberal Democrats' petition against homophobic bullying, see http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/lib-dems-launch-online-petition-against-homophobic-bullying.html and

http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/stop-homophobic-bullying.html