Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 13:36:49 +0200 From: ilga Subject: ILGA EU/IGC Press Release ILGA Information Service: 9 October 1996 Let the Lobbying Begin: ILGA Demanding Lesbian and Gay Rights in the EU! Report by: Andy Quan, ILGA Coordinator. -lobbying underway in Ireland -Austrian support causes confusion -IGC seminar planned in Amsterdam -EGALITE and ILGA campaign for signatures Lobbying is underway for the inclusion of an anti-discrimination clause that includes sexual preference in the new revision of the Maastricht treaty. The Irish government, who currently holds the EU presidency, is in support of such a clause, and ILGA member GLEN (the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network) of Ireland is working to ensure that this support is vocal and effective. Recently, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini and Austrian Vice Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel spoke on behalf of their governments in indicating support for such a clause. According to a Reuters report, they also asked for the European Union to be given the power to penalise member countries that do not comply, and for the EU as a body to sign up to the European Convention on Human Rights and for EU to respect other international constitutional instruments. Their supported human rights clause specifically mentions sexual orientation, and the two countries go so far as to say that any EU member that persistently breaches any of these rights should, after due process, have certain benefits within the Union suspended. In Austria's case, this is ironic since they have various anti-gay and discriminatory legislation still on their books, such as an unequal age of consent, (18 for gay men, 14 for lesbians and heterosexuals) and two articles which prohibit "propaganda" for homosexuality, and to "found, recruit or be a member in a gay and lesbian organization." Long-time ILGA activist, Kurt Krickler of Vienna said "This comes as a big surprise for us because Austria has the severest anti-homosexual legislation in the whole of Europe and Schuessel is the leader of the Christian Democratic Party which has been strongly opposing the repeal of these laws for the last 10 years. Who knows? Maybe the Austrian governent prefers outside pressure to convince the Austrian public of the need for reform." Meanwhile, the Dutch national group, COC-NVIH, is preparing to host a meeting and seminar on the Intergovernmental conference December 7, 1996, in Amsterdam, as part of COC's 50th Anniversary activities. Members from the European Parliament will be attending including the two past winners of the EGALITE award (for public figures who have advanced lesbian and gay rights in Europe) - Peter Pex and Claudia Roth. Fellow MEP Nel Van Dijk will be chairing the meeting. Finally, ILGA in conjunction with EGALITE has gathered a list of 67 European groups who have signed a statement demanding of an anti-discrimination clause including sexual orientation. The list of signatories and a copy of the statement appears at the end of this report. EGALITE is a group of over 300 gay men and lesbians working in and around the European Institutions. Recent success includes the extension of limited benefits to same-sex partners of Commission employees. ILGA is an international federation of 450 groups and individuals from 80 countries. ILGA spoke at a public hearing for the IGC. Last year, ILGA managed a 211,000ECU EU-funded project in Eastern Europe. The purpose of the Intergovernmental Conference is to rehaul the Maastricht Treat by making it more democratic and effective and bringing it closer to the ordinary citizen. The inclusion of anti-discrimination clause that includes sexual orientation would be an incredible global victory for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The European Parliament's 1994 Resolution on the Equality of Rights for Homosexuals and Lesbians in the Community was used by activists from Bermuda to Latvia to lobby their governments on lesbian and gay rights. A clear recognition of lesbian and gay human rights by one of the world's major political and economic power blocs would have symbolic and practical implications. The next developments for the Intergovernmental conference will be the Dublin European Council II meeting, 13 and 14 of December. In June 1997, the Amsterdam European Council is expected to be the end of the conference. IGC STATEMENT FROM LESBIANS AND GAYS "The European gay and lesbian organizations that have signed this statement demand that the follow-up treaty to the Maastricht Treaty on European Union include an anti-discrimination clause covering sexual orientation. Such a clause has been recommended by the European Parliament and is included in the Reflection Group Report that the December 1995 Madrid summit saw as a proper basis for discussion for a new treaty. We consider an anti-discrimination clause to be a precondition for further steps to establish equal treatment of all European Union citizens." Signed IGC statements received by ILGA (19.09.1996): EUROPE: - International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) - International Lesbian and Gay Youth Organisation (IGLYO) - Equality for Gays and Lesbians in the European Institutions (EGALITE) AUSTRIA: - Oesterreichisches Lesben- und Schwulenforum, - Rechtskomitee Lambda, Wien - Homosexuelle initiative (HOSI), Wien - Homosexuelle Initiative Linz BELGIUM: - Federatie Werkgroepen Homoseksualiteit (FWH) - Tels Quels - OK Kortrijk, PB 109, Kortrijk - Het Gehoor - English-speaking Gay Group (EGG) DENMARK: - Landsforeningen for boesser og lesbiske, Human Rights group, Aarhus - Landsforeningen for boesser og lesbiske (LBL) FINLAND: - OULUN Seta Ry - SETA Ry. FRANCE: - David & Jonathan, Paris GERMANY: - ISGITN Berlin, - AI-Group-2918, Aktionsgruppe Homosexualiteit, Berlin - Liederlich e. V. Kommunikations- und Beratungszentrum fuer Schwule und Lesben - BUeNDIS 90/Die Gruenen, Landesverband Hamburg - Schwulenverband in Deutschland (SVD) - NA UND e.v., Oldenburg - UHAev, Unabhaengige Homosexuelle Alternative, Hamburg - Lesbenring e.V. - AStA TU, Berlin - Voelklinger Kreis e.V. Bundesverband Gay Manager - Verein zur Foerderung Schwuler Kultur, Politik und Gemeine e.V., Heidelberg - Lesbian & Gay Liberation Front e.V., Koeln GREECE: - Homosexuals' Initiative of Thessaloniki, O.P.O.T.H. IRELAND: - LEA/NOW - Lesbians Organising Together in Ireland, Dublin ITALY: - Arci Gay, Bologna PORTUGAL: - Associacao ILGA-Portugal THE NETHERLANDS: - Homosexuality and armed forces foundation - Stichting De Kringen - HOMODOK, Amsterdam - SAD-Schorer foundation - ILGA support group, Utrecht UNITED KINGDOM: - Stonewall, London - CARA-Friend, Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association, Northern Ireland - Lesbian Line, Northern Ireland - Upstart Publications, Northern Ireland - Outright Scotland, Scotland - The Pride Trust Ltd, London - The Naz Project - University of Leicester Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Association - Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement, London - Strathclyde Gay and Lesbian Switchboard - Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association - UNISON National Lesbian and Gay Committee - REGARD - Reading International Support Centre SPAIN: - Coordinadora Gai-Lesbiano, Barcelona - EHGAM (Euskal Herriko Gay Askapen Mugimendua) Euskal Herria SWEDEN: - RFSL Lund - RFSL Stockholm - RFSL Trestad - RFSL-Piteaaelvdal o Norra Vaesterbotten - Gay Moderaterna and from outside of "Europe": CYPRUS: - Gay Liberation Movement of Cyprus, Nicosia RUSSIA: - Triangle Center, Moscow - Siberian Initiative, Barnaul - "Christopher" Regional Public Movement for Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals, Karelia ROMANIA: - Accept, The Bucharest Acceptance Group LATVIA: - LASV, Riga ***** This campaign is focussed on European groups. If your group would like to add its name to the list officially, please send an e-mail with the name of your group, and the country to: ILGA@ILGA.ORG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 75 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 100 supportive associate and individual members. Will you join us? Contact us for more info!