LGBTQ+ people are being used as a "testing ground" for the erosion of human rights and democracy across Europe, according to ILGA Europe's annual review.
Non-profit organisation ILGA Europe advances equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. In its latest annual review, the organisation has warned that this cohort is being "weaponised" by governments across Europe.
"Foreign agent" laws in Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Montenegro force non-profits (usually those advancing LGBTQ+ rights) to register as "foreign funded agencies," therefore undermining their legitimacy.
"Anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda" laws target educational programmes in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Romania and Slovakia attempt to erase discussions about homosexuality from curricula.
The normalisation of hateful discourse has led to restrictions on transgender healthcare in Andorra, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Moldova, Romania, Russia and the UK.
"We are entering a new era where LGBTI people have become the testing ground for laws that erode democracy itself," said ILGA Europe's Executive Director Chaber. "What begins as an attack on LGBTI rights rapidly grows into a wider assault on the rights and freedoms of all individuals in society. This is not just an LGBTI issue; it is a crisis for human rights and democracy as a whole."
What about Belgium?
Belgium is in third place out of 49 European countries in ILGA's Rainbow Index, which ranks country's LGBTI-friendliness based on 75 criteria. It dropped from second place last year, overtaken only by Iceland in second place and Malta (first).
The annual human rights review highlights a number of homophobic incidents that occurred in Belgium in 2024. Rainbow flags were burnt in Antwerp and the Walloon municipality Awals. The murder of Mbaye Wade in 2020 was declared a homophobic act in June and a men was sentenced for discriminating against transgender woman Samantha Warginaire in May.
Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
A deadly home invasion and shooting in Ixelles occurred when the homophobic attackers used the dating app Grindr to identify their target. The app then issued a warning to users to be prudent. Grindr has had to issue the same alert in Croatia, France and Turkmenistan.
Transphobic discourse
The review highlighted the transphobic discourse of the far-right party Vlaams Belang. A brochure published in 2023 said the teaching of gender theories is "confusing, dangerous and pedagogically irresponsible".
It also noted that the introduction of a new Criminal Code in February removes distinctions between different forms of discrimination.
"Discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation is now treated with the same legal seriousness as discrimination based on race, ensuring equal protection under the law."
