Show your support for LGBTIQ equality today and everyday
20 years ago, the world’s first legally recognised same-sex marriage took place in the Netherlands.
Last year the European Commission adopted its first LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. Today, the European Union is an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone.
1. Show your support with the rainbow flag
Every year, to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia and put the spotlight on LGBTQI rights, we project a rainbow flag on our headquarters.
2. Support and promote the work of organisations, including those helping people particularly affected by COVID-19
As ILGA-Europe reported after the first months of the pandemic, LGBTIQ people all over Europe were clearly facing greater health challenges. Healthcare systems redirected resources away from transition-related medical support and limited access to sexual health and HIV services, for example. Increases in domestic violence against LGBTIQ people were widely reported as was limited access to programs offering housing or food, amongst many other challenges. You can find details of ILGA’s 600+ member organisations here.
3. Apply for funding for your LGBTIQ projects
Did you know we can financially support your projects promoting LGBTQI equality? Apply here with proposals for projects on fighting discrimination against LGBTIQ people and promoting LGBTIQ equality — deadline is 15 June 2021. For inspiration and examples of projects that have received funding in the past, see here.
4. Join your local Diversity Charter
Make a long-term commitment to diversity in your workplace. Since 2004, 26 Diversity Charters have been established in Europe, representing 12,000 organisations and more than 16 million employees.
Organise an awareness-raising workshop — a round table with diversity experts — for employees. If your workplace is not a member of a local Diversity Charter, make the change today. More information is available here.
5. Educate yourself and find inspiration from queer literature and films
Top choices from European Commission staff include:
- International bestseller ‘Detransition, Baby’ by Torrey Peters, a portrait of three women, trans and cis, wrestling with questions of motherhood;
- ‘Queer — a graphic story’ by Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele, a very accessible introduction to Queer Theory;
- ‘Kenyan film ‘Rafiki’ by director Wanuri Kahiu, which tells the story of two girls, daughters of political opponents, who fall in love and find their identity and dreams compromised by a conservative society. The film received EU funding from the ACP-EU Culture Programme;
- ‘Call Me By Your Name’ (film) by director Luca Guadagnino, which tells the story of a romantic relationship between 17-year-old, Elio and Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate-student assistant to Elio’s father.
