Only one in five queer people report a hate attack. That's why the EU is launching a consultation on a new equality strategy, and you can get involved
The European Union is preparing a new equality strategy for LGBTIQ people and for the first time invites the general public to participate in its preparation. The current public consultation, known as the Call for Evidence, aims to help identify the key challenges facing queer people in the EU and to make concrete proposals for the period 2026-2030. Anyone - individuals, academics, NGOs and institutions - can get involved in collecting input.
Equality Union at risk
The new strategy aims to build on the previous one (2020-2025) and respond to worrying trends captured by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), for example. According to its data, 55% of LGBTIQ people experienced hate harassment in 2023, a significant increase from previous years. Attacks in the online space and incidents of physical and sexual violence are also on the rise.
The low reporting rate of these incidents also persists, with only 18 per cent of queer people contacting the relevant institutions. Other challenges include differences in legal protection across Member States, narratives of 'gender ideology' and 'LGBTIQ propaganda', or a lack of data to effectively address discrimination.
New priorities: a ban on conversion therapy and a focus on mental health
The forthcoming strategy is expected to deliver a set of measures that will focus on:
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An EU-wideban on conversion therapies,
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equal access to education, healthcare and employment,
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strengthening the rights of trans, intersex and non-binary people,
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protecting rainbow families and queer people in smaller communities,
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improving mental health,
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and tackling hate content online.
The Commission also envisages strengthening financial support for civil society organisations and better coordination between Member States. Linking the new strategy to other European agendas, such as the fight against racism or the strategy for children's rights, will be crucial.
Add your voice
The public consultation and the call for evidence run in parallel for 12 weeks and are available in all official EU languages. Once the consultation closes, the Commission will publish a summary report and use the results to formulate the final strategy, which it plans to present at the end of 2025.
For more information and to join the consultation, click here.
Official information on the European LGBTIQ Equality Initiative can also be found on the European Commission website.
