RIS321810 Den Haag Strijdbaar voor de transgemeenschap bijlage 4

LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION A case was recorded of a trans man who successfully updated his Turkish and southern Cyprus identification documents in line with his gender identity but faced difficulties with northern Cyprus documents. The case underscored how the lack of harmonisation between jurisdictions creates significant challenges for trans individuals seeking legal recognition.

FAMILY Reports to the Queer Cyprus’ Solidarity Line highlighted ongoing cases of family and social pressure against LGBTI people. A lesbian woman was subjected to intense scrutiny and control by her parents after they accessed her private messages without consent, demanding that she distance herself from her partner. Similarly, trans people faced rejection and threats from their families, further perpetuating a culture of fear and marginalisation.

FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY In May, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia, the yearly Pride march of Northern Cyprus took place, seeing the participation of local leaders. Back to index <-->

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ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS, AND INTERSEX PEOPLE COVERING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2024

CZECHIA

BIAS-MOTIVATED SPEECH Numerous instances of bias-motivated speech continued to be recorded across public debate. For instance, the SPD party circulated leaflets to mailboxes prior to elections in which the party promised to “give more to families, take it away from the deviants” by taking away money from “LGBT activists so that they do not destroy family values”. After the Constitutional Court’s decision to repeal a regulation that required a surgical procedure as a prerequisite for legal gender recognition (see also under Legal Gender Recognition), some politicians published transphobic statements. Among them was the Minister of Justice, who claimed that his goal is “to prevent men from giving birth”. Following the Constitutional Court’s decision and the subsequent debate about legal gender recognition two round tables were organised in June and October by organisations and politicians.

BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE The government approved a proposal for an amendment to the Criminal Code, which would bring fundamental changes in the area of protection against bias-motivated crimes. The bill is about to be debated in the Parliament. The subject of the proposal is the extension of the list of bias-motivated factors for hate crimes to include disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. At the same time, the proposal entails an extension of the offences for which prejudicial motive will be taken into account as a circumstance for the application of a higher penalty rate. The Constitutional Court’s ruling weakened the position of “particularly vulnerable victims” (including victims of hate crimes) by concluding that it is possible to revise this status repeatedly during the proceedings, which means an uncertain legal position for many.

EDUCATION As part of the revision of the framework on educational programs, primary school students will be introduced to the history of the women’s and LGBTI rights movement. The curriculum will encompass topics such as the women’s struggle for political and social rights and the efforts of marginalised groups to attain equality, particularly in family law. This proposal has garnered support from Minister of Education Mikuláš Bek, a member of the STAN party. In reaction, actors have begun encouraging parents to request the exclusion of their children from any instruction related to LGBTI topics, even providing template forms for these requests. The case of a mother addressing a letter to her daughter’s school, requesting her daughter to be exempted from lessons about LGBTI and gender topics, sparked particular debate, leading to heated exchanges on social media. One school director publicly supported this initiative, assuring parents that their children would be exempt from discussions surrounding Back to index <-->

“LGBTI, gender ideology, or similar subjects.” However, the Czech School Inspection, the state education supervision authority, has clarified that such exclusions contravene the fundamental principles of the education system. In September, Marie Pošarová, a deputy from the right-wing party Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), proposed adding a new item to the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies titled “We reject the promotion of LGBT in schools and kindergartens.”

EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION In June, the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic announced its intention to comply with an amendment to the Czech Civil Code, which will define a partnership as a permanent union between two individuals of the same sex, effective January 1, 2025, (see also under Family). In May, the Synodal Council, the church’s governing body, expressed its readiness to permit the celebration of church blessing ceremonies for samesex partnerships, thereby enabling these partnerships to be recognised as church marriages under Czech law.

FAMILY The equal marriage bill remained a contentious issue in the Czech Parliament throughout 2024, gathering significant public support. This was highlighted by a petition that garnered 170,000 signatures in favour of marriage equality; endorsements from 30 childcare professional organisations; an open letter to all Members of Parliament from children raised in rainbow families; and a letter to the Prime Minister signed by 119 companies, 27 university student associations, and youth organisations from most political parties represented in Parliament, alongside support from over 1,700 teachers. Despite this strong public backing, the Parliament did not pass the equal marriage bill. Instead, it enacted legislation that establishes a new legal framework for same-sex couples, termed “partnership.” President Pavel, who has publicly advocated for equal marriage, signed this new partnership law, which will take effect on January 1, 2025. The partnership status will confer all the rights and obligations associated with marriage and will be treated the same as marriage under legal regulations, with the exception of joint adoptions. Nonetheless, the law allows for successive adoptions, meaning that one partner can adopt a child while the other partner can co-adopt.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Olga Richterová, Vice-Chair of the Chamber of Deputies and a member of the Pirate Party, successfully defended a court case against the ultra-conservative Alliance for the Family. The association had sued Richterová over a statement she made during a TV debate, in which she questioned the Alliance’s funding and noted that its narrative, particularly regarding the rights of

LGBTI people, often parallels the Russian state rhetoric. The court ruled that Richterová’s comments fell within the bounds of acceptable criticism that a public entity like the Alliance for the Family must tolerate. The Alliance for the Family, which frequently voices complaints to Czech Television regarding the coverage of LGBTI topics in its programming, initiated a public campaign aimed at restricting funding to the broadcaster. Both the chairperson and vicechairperson of the Alliance for the Family maintain connections to the ODS party (the Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Fiala), with one serving as an assistant to an ODS MP and the other as an advisor at the Ministry of Justice to a vice-minister appointed by the ODS.

HEALTH The Department of Sexology at University Hospital Brno established a gynaecological outpatient clinic specifically for trans people, marking it as the first facility of its kind in the Czech Republic. The clinic aims to provide a comfortable, genderinclusive, and welcoming environment for patients undergoing transition. From July, men who have sex with men no longer face a blanket exclusion from donating blood. This change resulted from the Society for Transfusion Medicine revising its guidelines in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. According to Health Minister Vlastimil Válek from the TOP09 party, the new methodology emphasises individual risk assessments related to sexual activity for each prospective donor, without considering gender or sexual orientation as criteria. The Standards of Care for Trans and Gender Diverse People, Version 8, published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), was translated into Czech and released by the National Institute of Mental Health in partnership with the Transparent team. Although this document is nonbinding, it represents the first officially published comprehensive guidance for healthcare professionals working with trans patients.

BODILY INTEGRITY In October a lecture on “curing” homosexuality took place in the church of St. Lawrence in Řečkovice, Brno. The event featured Victor Novitchi, a Moldovan man, who shared his personal story of how he supposedly “cured” himself of homosexuality. Parish priest Michal Seknička introduced the event by comparing the healing process to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, implying a divine transformation. The lecture was part of a wider effort by conservative fringes, backed by financial support, to promote conversion therapy practices for LGBTI people. Back to index <-->

DATA COLLECTION The “Do you know your rights?” survey highlighted rising discrimination and harassment directed at LGBTI people, and reported that 42% of Czech respondents reported facing discrimination or harassment in the past year, marking a notable increase from previous years. The survey was conducted by Queer Geography and the Prague Pride association in collaboration with the Faculty of Law of Charles University and the Slovenian human rights organisation Legebitra, who examined the experiences of nearly 1,900 LGBTI people in the Czech Republic and over 300 in Slovenia.

LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION The Constitutional Court has repealed a regulation that mandated surgical procedures, including sterilisation and genital transformation, as prerequisites for legal gender recognition for trans people. The court found that these legal requirements violated the fundamental rights of trans people, specifically their right to bodily integrity and personal autonomy, as well as their human dignity. However, the court has postponed the enforceability of this decision until July 1, 2025, allowing the Czech government time to incorporate the ruling into law. Meanwhile, the trans organisation Transparent has reported that the government is falling behind in this process and may be exploring methods to circumvent the ruling and implement alternative restrictions on legal gender recognition.

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS During the Senate debate on the bill introducing same-sex partnerships (see also under Family), a group of senators proposed amendments that aimed not only to restrict the rights of same-sex partners but also to limit the reproductive rights already established for women and opposite-sex couples. For instance, one proposed amendment would have required a married woman to obtain her husband’s consent to access assisted reproduction services. Additionally, another amendment would have imposed a fine on women who failed to identify a man deemed to be the father on their child’s birth certificate. Ultimately, these amendments were not approved by the Senate. The Ministry of Justice, alongside a working group, has presented initial analyses and proposals concerning the institution of surrogacy. Although a bill has yet to be introduced in Parliament, current indications suggest that surrogacy will be available exclusively for heterosexual couples.

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ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS, AND INTERSEX PEOPLE COVERING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2024

DENMARK

BIAS-MOTIVATED SPEECH During Copenhagen Pride week, former minister of equality Marie Bjerre from the Venstre Party published an opinion piece in a major Danish newspaper which presented trans and intersex people as posing a threat to the achievement of gender equality in the country. As part of the publication, Bjerre misrepresented trans and intersex people, in stark contrast with Danish governmental policies on LGBTI topics. Soon after the publication the Government reorganised its internal roles, leading to Bjerre’s reassignment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and allowing her to avoid the need to respond to public criticism by LGBTI organisations.

BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE In July, a migrant trans woman was murdered in a hotel room in Copenhagen.

BODILY INTEGRITY In its 2023 Concluding Observations on Denmark’s eighth periodic report, the Committee Against Torture (CAT) expressed concern over the unnecessary and irreversible surgeries performed on intersex children without informed consent. The committee recommended that Denmark enforce existing legislation that prohibits irreversible surgeries on intersex children for cosmetic reasons and conduct studies to better understand the issue. Doctors have used the existence of legislation against plastic surgery on children under 18 to assert that surgeries on intersex children are already prohibited. However, this is not the case as these surgeries are often categorised as necessary for the child, despite clear and repeated documentation to the contrary. The UN has further recommended that “all persons who experience severe pain and suffering as a result of unnecessary medical procedures conducted without their consent should have access to effective remedies.” Additionally, the UN urged that “the State party should also ensure that all intersex persons receive the same level of specialised care, regardless of their conformity with the gender they were assigned at birth.” Despite these recommendations, no legislative improvements have been noted.

In December, Rigshospitalet was reported to the police over regulatory breaches in a research project involving boys under two years old. The project, which was stopped by the Danish Medicines Agency, revealed serious procedural failures, including the use of expired drugs and lack of parental consent. This incident raised further questions about oversight and transparency in medical practices affecting children. In March, Denmark signed a UN draft resolution aimed at combating discrimination, violence, and harmful practices against Back to index <-->

intersex people. However, no concrete steps have been taken to implement the commitments outlined in this resolution so far.

EDUCATION A study by the National Research and Analysis Centre for Welfare (VIVE), commissioned by the Ministry of Children and Education, revealed that LGBTI students are twice as likely to exhibit severe anxiety and depression compared to their non-LGBTI peers. The study also found that 40% of LGBTI students aged 15 to 25 reported self-harm in the past year, a rate two to three times higher than that of their classmates. Nonetheless, the study’s methodology considered the LGBTI community as a cohesive group and therefore did not allow for analyses of intersectional aspects like gender, class, ethnicity, and migration status. A follow-up report conducted by VIVE for LGBT+ Denmark revealed discrepancies in the wellbeing of LGBTI students across Denmark on the basis of their region of residence, with LGBTI students in the capital reporting higher wellbeing compared to their counterparts in other areas of the country. Additionally, the report highlighted a significant gap between the negative experiences faced by trans students in educational settings, as well as their self-perceived quality of life, compared to cis students.

EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION The non-binary musician Freja Kirk was greeted by homophobic chants at a school concert.

FAMILY Starting in February, public fertility clinics in Denmark began offering intrafamilial egg donations to couples where both have a uterus by setting up a system in which one partner donates an egg, which is then fertilised with donor sperm and implanted into the other partner’s uterus. In February, the Danish government, along with most opposition parties, reached an agreement regarding surrogacy that aims to simplify the recognition of parenthood for Danish parents utilising surrogacy, whether domestically or abroad. A corresponding bill was presented in a public hearing.Under the new framework, the requirement for second-parent adoption will be eliminated, with the primary focus being the child’s benefit from the recognition. A bill is currently being drafted, and the law is expected to take effect on January 1, 2025. In August the Government held a public hearing on a draft bill regarding partner egg donation. Since 2017 women can donate an egg to their female partner, but only if the partner could not get pregnant with their own eggs. The new bill lifts this restriction.

In August, the Danish Government issued a press release outlining the willingness to take steps towards enhancing opportunities for LGBTI families, recognising diverse family structures and extending some legal consequences of parenthood to more than two persons. Former Minister for Equality Marie Bjerre announced eight initiatives aimed at supporting families with three or four parents, emphasising the need for legal recognition and involvement in parenting. In September, the amendments to the Children’s Act took effect, incorporating provisions for home insemination. This change allows couples to conceive privately, outside of fertility clinics, and facilitates the registration of both parents upon the child’s birth. The updated framework maintains the 2013 model, involving three parties: the birthing individual, their female partner, and the sperm provider. The birthing individual is automatically acknowledged as the legal parent, while decisions regarding the second legal parent—either the female partner or sperm provider— are made in advance. This amendment eliminates the necessity for second-parent adoption for rainbow families in Denmark. Furthermore, despite the continued use of gendered language in the Children’s Act, trans parents are now recognised according to their legally-recognised gender at the time of the baby’s birth.

rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. The Supreme Court ruled that the placement decision, based on her criminal history and risk assessment, did not breach her privacy rights. Furthermore, it determined that strip searches conducted by male staff did not violate her rights, as these actions were consistent with the legal framework, and the gender reassignment law had not retroactively altered the provisions governing such procedures. Danish civil society organisations have highlighted significant obstacles and delays in the government’s efforts to regularise legal gender recognition processes for minors, despite ongoing attempts to move forward with these reforms.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Copenhagen Pride lost several major sponsors following a press release in which the organisation expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and raised concerns about business activities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. In response, the organisation’s leader and spokesperson Lars Henriksen stepped down, stating that the focus of the organisation is to create visibility on LGBTI issues and be a platform for LGBTI voices.

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS In September, the Danish government extended the funds allocated to Global Focus’s ‘Claim Your Space’ Mechanism. The Mechanism, which will now receive 15 million DKK until 2026, aims to provide rapid financial support to civil society and human rights defenders at risk.

LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION In September, Denmark celebrated the 10th anniversary of a reform that eliminated the outdated requirement for surgical procedures to change one’s legal gender. In September, Danish media reported the case of a trans woman who, despite her legal gender recognition, was placed in a male prison and experienced strip searches by male staff. The woman in question, convicted of crimes including rape, challenged her placement in a male ward, citing violations of her privacy and Back to index <-->

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ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS, AND INTERSEX PEOPLE COVERING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2024

ESTONIA

EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION In April, the government of Estonia announced the development of an action plan for equal opportunities for LGBTI people, focusing on improving their security and ensuring fair treatment. The plan addresses four key areas: safety, education, health, and employment, with particular attention to the wellbeing of trans people. Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo emphasised the plan’s goal of fostering a supportive and safe environment for LGBTI people in all areas of life, noting that this is not always the current reality in Estonia. In June, the Estonian LGBTI Association expressed support for a draft law aimed at enhancing gender equality and equal opportunities. The draft law seeks to address gaps in the Equal Treatment Act, which does not fully prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and the Gender Equality Act, which lacks explicit protections for gender identity, gender expression, and gender characteristics. In September, the government introduced the draft law, initiating formal discussions on its implementation.

FAMILY

regardless of sexual orientation. He highlighted that rainbow flags were displayed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its global offices to symbolise opposition to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

PUBLIC OPINION The latest survey by the Estonian Human Rights Centre revealed increasingly positive attitudes toward LGBTI people in Estonia, with notable shifts among non-Estonian speakers. Over half of respondents (56%) consider homosexuality completely or somewhat acceptable, with 64% of Estonian speakers and 39% of non-Estonian speakers expressing this view. However, 38% of respondents still regard homosexuality as somewhat or completely unacceptable, often citing perceptions of it as abnormal, unnatural, or untraditional.

POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT In July, the Estonian Human Rights Centre took up the case of a Russian trans woman and her partner, advocating for their right to be recognised as a family in Estonia. The Police and Border Guard Board had previously denied recognition, citing the absence of marriage or cohabitation registration in Russia.

In January, a law recognising same-sex marriage and joint adoption by LGBTI couples came into effect in Estonia. Initially approved in June 2023, the law also outlines the option for samesex couples in registered partnerships to convert their status to marriage.

HEALTH Since March, Estonian blood centres have updated their donor selection criteria to allow men having sex with men to donate blood on the same terms as men who have sex with women. Previously, Estonia had reduced the permanent ban on blood donations from men who had sex with men to a 12-month restriction, and later to four months as of 2022.

DATA COLLECTION In May, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) released the results of its 2024 “LGBTIQ equality at a crossroads – Progress and challenges” survey. The findings for Estonia revealed that 62% of LGBTI respondents often or always avoid holding hands with their same-sex partner, 40% steer clear of certain locations due to fear of assault, and 48% reported being harassed in the year prior to the survey.

FOREIGN POLICY

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On IDAHOBIT, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna emphasised that human rights must be upheld for everyone,

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ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS, AND INTERSEX PEOPLE COVERING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2024

FINLAND ASYLUM

Finland has faced criticism for its handling of a case involving a Russian LGBTI family that was deported despite international protection claims. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child had previously ruled that Finland violated the Convention on the Rights of the Child by deporting the family in 2017 and failing to provide adequate protection or compensation. In April, the committee’s assessment rated Finland’s compliance with its decision as “B”, indicating partial implementation, because Finland hadn’t compensated the child as mandated by the committee.

BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE In October, a report by the Police Academy revealed a significant increase in hate crimes targeting LGBTI people in Finland. The report highlighted that 48% of cases involved hate motives related to sexual orientation, while 58% were linked to gender identity and expression. Hate speech, including threats, defamation, and harassment, was the most commonly reported form of hate crime, with assault crimes making up 29% of cases.

EDUCATION In August, Finland’s government proposed amendments to the Equality Act, aiming to remove the requirement for individual equality planning within early childhood education units, citing reduced administrative burdens as the rationale. Seta criticised the proposal, highlighting that this change would weaken efforts to combat discrimination and promote equality for vulnerable groups, including LGBTI people and their families. The proposal was part of broader government plans to streamline regulations, but its potential impact on anti-discrimination measures remained a point of contention.

EMPLOYMENT A research financed by the Nordic Ministerial Council on the conditions of trans people in the employment sector in Sweden and Finland was presented in October. The results for Finland show that the unemployment rate for trans persons is twice as high as for cis persons and that trans people face greater difficulties in finding employment and experience more bullying in workplaces than cis people.

EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION In the 2024 Finnish elections, presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto faced significant scrutiny over his sexual orientation. A University of Helsinki survey conducted prior to the elections revealed that one-third of respondents cited Haavisto’s partner, from Ecuador, as a factor influencing their decision not to vote for him in the presidential race. Back to index <-->

In August, Finnish media reported that Foreign Trade Minister Ville Tavio of the Finns Party has prohibited the inclusion of any reference to mentions of LGBTI people and related topics iin public speeches written for him.

FAMILY Starting in March, new legislation allows parents to update their parental title (mother/father) on the population information system website based on self-determination. In June, the government announced a draft proposal to partially compensate private fertility treatments through public health insurance. However, many rainbow families would likely be excluded from these compensations due to the absence of “medical” grounds to justify treatment. At the beginning of December, the proposal remained stuck in the Parliament’s Social Affairs and Health Committee.

BODILY INTEGRITY In June, the Finnish Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee rejected a citizens’ initiative to ban conversion therapies. The motion was defeated 6-9, and the committee’s forthcoming report does not propose new legislation.

FOREIGN POLICY In September, Finland announced it would not participate in the “Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery” launched with the goal of ensuring that gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to Ukraine’s recovery efforts. This decision was made by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio (Finns), who cited the alliance’s focus on promoting gender and sexual minorities’ rights as a reason for Finland’s withdrawal. In response to Tavio’s decision, Finland’s largest opposition party expressed intentions to seek a vote of no confidence against him. Tytti Tuppurainen, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) parliamentary group, confirmed that her party planned to submit a motion of no confidence but the motion against Tuppurainen ultimately failed. Finnish President Alexander Stubb also criticised Tavio’s decision, emphasising that Finland’s foreign policy should uphold long-standing values, including the protection of gender and sexual minorities.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT In March, the Bishops’ Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland endorsed a proposal to add a provision to the church order to recognise two definitions of marriage: one between a man and a woman and another between two people, allowing priests to officiate same-sex weddings. By May, the proposal had moved to the Church Council of Turku for review. It

is currently under examination by the legal committee, which has requested input from the basic committee. Helsinki Pride organisers confirmed the participation of members from the Social Democrats, the Swedish People’s Party, the Left Alliance, and the Greens in its yearly Pride event. The governing NCP, Finns Party, Christian Democrats, and the opposition Centre Party and Movement Now did not participate. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Transport and Communications have also announced that Pride would not be reflected in their activities or communications.

POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT In June, the Helsinki Pride march attracted an estimated 100,000 participants. This year’s event was notable for the first-time involvement of the Rainbow Police of Finland, an LGBTI police association established in 2020 by current and former police officers and civilian staff. The state prosecutor requested the Supreme Court’s permission to appeal the acquittal of Christian Democrat MP Päivi Räsänen on three counts of incitement to hatred. The charges stemmed from her derogatory statements about homosexuality, for which she was acquitted by the Helsinki District Court. The District Court of Southern Ostrobothnia fined an individual for making illegal threats and inciting hatred against an LGBTI group on social media in July 2022.

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FRANCE

BIAS-MOTIVATED SPEECH In April, YouTuber Papacito was sentenced to a fine of €5,000 for homophobic insults and incitement to violence against a mayor of a small village in the South-West of France, who had to be placed under police protection. In April, following the birth of twins to Simon Porte Jacquemus and his husband Marco Maestri, Marion Maréchal, MEP for Reconquête!, challenged the legitimacy of the two fathers’ parenthood in a tweet. In May, trans actress Karla Sofia Gascon filed a complaint for “sexist insult based on gender identity” after Marion Maréchal, the leading European elections candidate for Reconquête!, criticised her win at the Cannes festival, claiming the institution awarded the Best Actress prize to “a man.” In June, a complaint against Father Matthieu Raffray, accusing him of incitement to homophobic hatred and insults, was dismissed without further action. The complaint followed a video where he referred to homosexuality as a “vice” and advocated for conversion therapy. In June, following a 2020 complaint by the associations STOP Homophobie and Mousse, the Paris Criminal Court fined Florence Besset, the editor of the online newspaper Parole de Dieu, 1000 and the payment of compensation following the newspaper’s publication of an article that included biblical statements advocating the death penalty for gay people.

In July, a municipal police officer was convicted of homophobic contempt by the Dijon criminal court for a 2023 incident involving the openly gay mayor of Auxonne. During a building inspection following water damage, the officer greeted the accompanying experts with “hello gentlemen,” but then intentionally addressed the mayor with a derogatory “hello ma’am.” In September, French far-right politician Éric Zemmour faced criminal charges for inciting LGBTI-phobic hatred. In October, the president of the LGBTI association ‘Bleus et Fiers’ came under threats after he spoke out against homophobic chants that took place during a football match in Paris. Following these incidents, the French Minister for Sports outlined tougher measures against homophobic behaviour during sports games. In November, boxer Imane Khelif, who had been the target of a hate campaign and discrimination regarding her gender identity, filed a complaint following the leak of her alleged medical reports. The controversy surrounding Khelif began during the Paris Olympics, when conservative groups raised questions about

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her gender. (See also under Participation in Public, Cultural, and Political Life.)

BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE In May, the French Ministry of the Interior released a report showing a 13 percent increase in anti-LGBTI offences in 2023, with crimes such as assaults, threats, and harassment up by 19 percent, totalling 2,870 cases. According to the report, men are predominant among both victims (70 percent) and perpetrators (82 percent), with nearly half of the offenders being under 30 and over a third under 19. In May, the Calvados criminal court sentenced three men to prison terms ranging from two-to-four years, for attacking three trans sex workers. In May, three individuals were taken into custody on charges of rape, robbery with extortion by an organised gang, and acts of torture and barbarity for their involvement in the homophobic attack to a 56-year-old man in his Alès home. In May, three minors were arrested in Barberaz, for a series of thefts and homophobic attacks that occurred last April via the dating app Grindr. In May, an officer from the Republican Security Company (CRS) number 30 stationed in Châtel-Saint-Germain was sentenced by the Metz Criminal Court to a €500 fine, €1,000 in legal costs, and a citizenship course for making discriminatory and homophobic remarks in front of several of his colleagues. For IDAHOBIT, the town of Bram repainted its pedestrian crossings with rainbow colours, but one of them was quickly vandalised with black paint.

In June, the Paris Assize Court sentenced three young people, aged 21 to 23, to prison terms of five, seven, and eight years for ambushing two men via dating sites in January 2022. In June, a bakery in the Montfavet district of Avignon was partially destroyed by arson and vandalised with racist and homophobic graffiti, targeting the 17-year-old Ivorian apprentice baker. In June, four activists from the far-right student union Groupe Union Défense (GUD), including the son of a former RN elected official, were sentenced for a homophobic attack in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. On July 2, ten young people, six of whom are minors, were arrested in connection with multiple homophobic attacks that took place in Muret and Seysses, in the Toulouse area, during the last two weeks of June.

On the night of July 8 to 9, singer Simon Vendeme, known for his activism against LGBTI-phobia, was physically attacked in Paris by an unknown intoxicated person. On July 9, the Reims criminal court sentenced three men for aggravated theft for luring unsuspecting gay men through a dating site before assaulting, threatening, and robbing them. In July, the Montpellier criminal court sentenced two men and a woman for a lesbophobic attack that took place during the Festival des Fanfares in early June. In July, two men were sentenced to prison for a series of violent, gunpoint robberies orchestrated through a gay dating app in Guadeloupe. The main suspect, with a prior conviction, received a three-year prison term, while his accomplice was given two years. In July, France saw two instances of transfemicide within a week, with a 30-year-old Peruvian trans woman and sex worker murdered by a client in her Paris apartment, and a 55-yearold trans woman who was killed with an axe by her partner in Compiègne shortly before. In September, a man was sentenced to thirteen years of imprisonment for a series of homophobic ambushes in Paris. In the fall of 2022, the accused had trapped four men via dating apps and threatened them with a knife or a cleaver, forcing them to go down to a cellar at his parents’ house to rob them.

EDUCATION In January, a complaint was filed against the Parisian private school Stanislas, accusing it of homophobic discrimination for expelling a student due to her criticism of homophobia among staff members.

EMPLOYMENT In March, France Télévisions was found guilty of failing to ensure workplace safety, wrongful dismissal, and unfair contract practices. The ruling derived from the case of Gaël Giordana, a former employee who was dismissed in summer 2023 after reporting sexual and moral harassment by a colleague.

EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION In January, then-Prime-Minister Gabriel Attal spoke to the National Assembly, highlighting how attitudes have evolved in France and noting that being openly gay and serving as prime minister demonstrates significant societal change. In March, the Minister for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination, requested that the Interministerial Delegation for Back to index <-->

the Fight against Racism, Anti-Semitism, and Anti-LGBTI Hatred report inflammatory comments to the public prosecutor. Although she did not name the source directly, her request was prompted by recent statements from Father Matthieu Raffray, a Catholic priest who equated the fight against homosexuality with combating other “sins” like gluttony and anger and suggested that homosexuality could be “cured” by resisting “the voice of the devil.” In early May, activist groups called for nationwide protests following the publication of a controversial Senate report on the right of minors to gender care, and of the book Transmania, which critics argue echoes harmful rhetoric against trans people. In May, the shutters of the Le Trinquet bar in Tardets, Basque Country, were defaced with homophobic graffiti after the bar started hosting events for the Prefosta association, including Bekat’uros day celebrating LGBTI visibility. In July, the ECtHR dismissed the case of M.A. and Others v. France, ruling that France’s criminalization of those seeking to purchase sexual acts did not violate the right to private life under Article 8 of the ECHR, a decision that prompted criticism from human rights groups. (See also under Participation in Public, Cultural, and Political life)

FAMILY In January, the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) advocated for “a broad and unconditional welcome” in response to the Vatican’s openness to bless LGBTI people.

BODILY INTEGRITY In May, the Senate reviewed and approved on first reading a bill by Senator Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio, which proposed banning hormone treatments for minors. After the dissolution of the National Assembly and the reconstitution of the new government, the bill was re-registered at the National Assembly and was sent to the Commission of Social Affairs to be examined before a formal vote in the Hemicycle.

DATA COLLECTION A report by SOS Homophobie recorded 2,377 cases of anti-LGBTI discrimination and violence in France, underscoring a worsening environment for LGBTI people, with a rise in online hate, which accounts for 23% of reported cases. A Médiapart investigation revealed over 300 anti-LGBTI ambushes between 2020 and 2023, highlighting a surge in both the frequency and brutality of attacks targeting LGBTI people.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT In March, the National Assembly unanimously passed a bill in its first reading aimed at recognising and compensating the harm suffered by gay people historically persecuted in France. In April, the Court of Justice of the European Union heard a case challenging the French railway company SNCF’s requirement for passengers to select “Mr” or “Ms” when buying tickets. Filed by the Mousse Association on behalf of 64 people, the lawsuit argues that this practice violates GDPR and EU non-discrimination laws. In January 2025, the CJEU ruled that the practice was unlawful, stating that collecting gender markers is unnecessary and potentially discriminatory, setting a precedent for compliance with GDPR across the EU. The DILCRAH and Sport et Citoyenneté launched the “For an Inclusive and Respectful Sport - Collection of Good Practices 2024” initiative, a collection of practical measures and recommendations aimed at creating a more inclusive and respectful sporting environment for LGBTI people. In June, a poster campaign aimed at combating LGBTI-phobic discrimination in sports was launched by the Lyon LGBTI + centre, the regional prefecture, the City of Lyon, and the City of Villeurbanne in the Lyon metropolitan area, featuring posters that highlight the harassment faced by athletes. (See also under Participation in Public, Cultural, and Political Life.)

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS In May, about fifty associations and over 140 public figures wrote to the then-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to criticise the “deafening institutional silence” amid rising attacks against LGBTI people since the beginning of 2024.

LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION In March, a collective of LGBTI associations filed an appeal with the Council of State to overturn the circulars which govern the procedures for changing first names and the mention of “sex” on civil status documents. The associations argued that these regulations violate trans people’s right to freely define their gender identity. In November, left-wing parliamentary groups submitted a bill to the National Assembly aimed at simplifying the process to change gender markers on official documents. Currently, applicants are required to present evidence before a judge, such as written testimonies, to prove that their legal gender does not align with their gender identity. The proposed legislation seeks to decentralise this procedure, allowing individuals to make such Back to index <-->

changes directly at town halls, thereby streamlining the process and enhancing accessibility.

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS In March, the French Congress approved the constitutionalisation of the right for women to have a voluntary termination of pregnancy, amending Article 34 to guarantee this freedom. While the text only explicitly mentions “women’s freedom,” the Council of State clarified in December 2023 that this right must be extended to “any person who has started a pregnancy,” including trans men. President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with Elle magazine, reiterated his opposition to surrogacy, labelling it as “a form of commercialisation of bodies.” In September, newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier vowed to protect medically assisted procreation, the right to abortion and same-sex marriage. This pledge followed concerns about the appointment of conservative ministers, who were opposed at the time to same-sex marriage and recently to the constitutionalisation of abortion.

PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL LIFE After his appointment as Prime Minister in January, Gabriel Attal was subjected to waves of homophobic and anti-Semitic comments on social media. In January, Catherine Vautrin was appointed Minister of Labour and Aurore Bergé as Minister Delegate for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination. LGBTI activists expressed their concerns about the appointment due to their previous opposition to same-sex marriage and adoption. In May, the Professional Football League (LFP) expanded its antidiscrimination campaign by adding the LGBTI flag to the logos of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 competitions. In May, the efforts spearheaded by Pierre-Yves Bournazel, copresident of the Independents and Progressives (GIP) group on the Paris Council, led to the approval of the project for the creation of a new centre for LGBTI artistic and cultural expressions in Paris. This year, France welcomed the Olympic games and, despite facing criticism from conservative groups, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony, directed by Thomas Jolly, achieved global acclaim while also setting a new record for the number of openly queer athletes participating in the games. For the Games, an area dedicated to LGBTI people and their allies – the Pride House – was created on the banks of the Seine. Nonetheless, the

opening ceremony garnered a considerable amount of online hatred, eventually leading the Paris prosecutor’s office to launch multiple investigations into the hate speech directed at visible LGBTI figures who partook in the ceremony. In July, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced an investigation following a complaint filed by DJ Barbara Butch, who reported receiving lesbophobic, fatphobic and antisemitic insults and threats related to her participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony. The prosecutor’s office noted that the national centre for combating online hatred has referred the case to the central office for combating crimes against humanity and hate crimes for an investigation into discriminatory messages based on religion or sexual orientation. In August, French drag queen Nicky Doll filed a defamation complaint following a wave of online hate due to her performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony on July 26. As reported by Le Monde, the legal action targets anonymous users and British actor Laurence Fox, who labelled her a “paedophile” in a social media post.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOCIAL PROTECTION In December 2023, Marseille inaugurated its first LGBTI centre designed to provide support and resources to anyone exploring or questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity.

POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT In March, multiple LGBTI advocacy organisations called for the repeal of the “surname and first name correspondence table.” The organisations argued that the file tracks people who have changed their civil status, including trans people and immigrants, exposing them to risks of outing and discrimination. They highlighted concerns that this file, accessible to police, could lead to outing, discrimination, and violence against trans individuals, as well as the potential misuse of data regarding immigrants who have Frenchified their names.

 MORE INFORMATION ON WWW.ILGA-EUROPE.ORG Back to index <-->

ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS, AND INTERSEX PEOPLE COVERING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2024

GEORGIA

ACCESS TO GOODS AND SERVICES The foreign agents law endangers provision of services to the LGBTI community in Georgia. At the time of writing, none of the LGBTI community organisations have registered as foreign agents, in protest of the law. Therefore, organisations could be fined and might have to file for bankruptcy, which would disrupt the available services. Additionally, the anti-LGBTI law has led to the erosion of trust and safety needed for the LGBTI community to seek out services. Thus, there is a decrease in applications for services, despite the need possibly increasing. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination and Freedom of Association)

ASYLUM Georgian LGBTI people continued to flee the country in large numbers. Although there are no official statistics, community organisations report that these numbers have significantly increased. However, there is an ongoing concern that Georgia is classified by some EU countries as a ‘safe country’. Following the adoption of the foreign agents law and the antiLGBTI law, a vast number of LGBTI people have been requesting assistance from Equality Movement’s lawyers in obtaining relevant documentation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutors Office of Georgia. The documents were obtained for the purpose of seeking asylum in other countries. This trend demonstrates that recent anti-democratic developments in Georgia have markedly accelerated LGBTI migration. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination, and Freedom of Association.)

BIAS-MOTIVATED SPEECH The spread of misinformation and rhetoric demonising the LGBTI community and instrumentalisation of anti-LGBT propaganda to distance Georgia from the West continued this year. Anti-gender rhetoric also increased this year. In a keynote speech at the ultra-conservative CPAC conference, Irakli Kobakhidze compared liberals to Bolsheviks and said liberals fight Christianity and national identity with “LGBT propaganda”. His speech was full of homophobic and transphobic narratives that liberals are against using terms such as “mother” and “father”, or “man” and “woman”. The Georgian Elections Observatory (GEO), focusing on factchecking pre-election narratives, analysed statements made by high-ranking members of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The analysis revealed that ‘LGBT propaganda’ was framed as being imposed by Western influences and was linked to the perceived threat of national extinction.

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In March, the Charter of Journalistic Ethics investigated antiLGBTI content aired by a national TV channel. The Charter determined that the network violated multiple ethical principles of journalistic ethics by broadcasting biased and one-sided ‘expert’ opinions to support the government’s stance on LGBTI issues.

BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE Just one day after the Parliament of Georgia passed the antiLGBTI law, a celebrity trans woman, Kesaria Abramidze was found brutally murdered in her apartment. The subsequent investigation pertains to premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances of special cruelty based on gender identity. In October, a month after Kesaria’s murder, renowned trans activist Nata Talikishvili was physically attacked with a brick, resulting in a concussion. Nata Talikishvili is a recipient of Kato Mikeladze’s Prize, which is given for defending women’s rights. In the spring of 2024, Tbilisi Pride office was vandalised twice by unidentified persons likely having ties with the Georgian Dream. The attackers threw eggs and left homophobic slurs written in red paint.

EDUCATION The anti-LGBTI law restricts education on gender and sexuality by prohibiting information that promotes same-sex relationships, gender transitioning, or non-heterosexual identities in educational institutions. The Venice Commission has condemned this provision as discriminatory, warning that it creates an unsafe environment for LGBTI students and deprives all pupils of comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education. The Commission also noted that the law contradicts the right to education and may increase bullying, harassment, and health risks. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination)

EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION In March, Georgia’s ruling party unveiled a proposal for a bill named the “Protection of Family Values and Minors.” The law, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTI law by activists, encompasses a broad range of discriminatory provisions. By June, the Georgian Parliament granted preliminary approval to the draft legislation. The law came into force in December 2024 and includes measures that prohibit non-heterosexual people from adopting children, prevent LGBTI people from changing their gender marker on identification documents, outlaw public gatherings that promote same-sex relationships, and prohibit educational institutions from presenting what the government terms “LGBTI propaganda.” Additionally, the law bans legal gender recognition, criminalises medical procedures related to transitioning, equates samesex relationships with incest, and declares May 17 a “Day of

Family Purity and Respect for Parents”, a holiday opposing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). In addition, the law exempts labour relations from anti-discrimination obligations to avoid terminology referring to ‘’biological sex’’.

FAMILY Previously, there was no legal recognition for same-sex couples living together, and the anti-LGBTI law further excludes individuals who have undergone gender transition from any recognition in the context of marriage. The law also prohibits the adoption or foster care of minors by unmarried couples or single LGBTI people, allowing this only for married heterosexual couples or single heterosexual people. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination.)

FOREIGN POLICY Georgia’s foreign policy took a dramatic turn away from the West, culminating on November 28, when PM Irakli Kobakhidze announced a halt to Georgia’s European integration process. All key strategic partners repeatedly expressed grave concern over the actions of the Georgian Dream party, which were contrary to the values ​​and principles on which the European Union is based. According to the enlargement report published by the European Commission, the rate of compatibility of Georgia with the common foreign and security policy of the European Union was significantly low, at 49%. Bidzina Ivanishvili, from the Georgian Dream party, was sanctioned by the United States for “undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”. Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for foreign affairs at the time, called on Georgian authorities to withdraw the anti-LGBT law, as it would “undermine the fundamental rights of the people and increase discrimination & and stigmitisation” and further derail the country from the EU integration path.

FREEDOM FROM TORTURE, CRUEL, INHUMAN, OR DEGRADING TREATMENT During mass protests against alleged election fraud and the halt to Georgia’s European integration, several protesters, including LGBTI people, were subjected to torture and cruel treatment. Police committed human rights violations, including unlawful force, torture, and the targeting of journalists. Detained protesters have testified to widespread abuse. (See also under Police and Law Enforcement.)

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FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY The anti-LGBTI law severely restricts freedom of assembly, effectively outlawing public gatherings such as Pride and IDAHOT events. Before the adoption of the law, Tbilisi Pride had already decided not to hold any events in 2024 due to the increase in homophobic and transphobic speech and violence, promoted and coordinated by the government in the pre-election period. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination.)

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION In May, Georgia’s parliament passed the “Transparency of Foreign Influence” law, which requires organisations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” While the law is widely known as the foreign agents law, the 2024 version removed the term “agent” and replaced it with the less controversial-sounding phrasing. The law compels civil society groups and independent media to submit their internal documents for government inspection. Although Georgian authorities have not yet taken direct action against non-compliant organisations, methods of intimidation and harassment have been used, particularly ahead of the 26 October elections. These tactics included an attempt to block organisations from monitoring the elections, though this was reversed after international backlash. In June 2024, the bill was signed into law by Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili ,following the legislature’s rejection of a veto by President Salome Zourabichvili and the law began to be implemented. The deadline for registration under the law expired on September 2, with only 476 organisations expressing interest in complying, which is approximately 1.5% of all registered CSOs in Georgia. In November, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) registered a case against the law.

The passage of the law is part of a broader crackdown on democratic freedoms by the ruling Georgian Dream party, drawing inspiration from a similar foreign agent law introduced in Russia in 2012.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION The anti-LGBTI law severely restricts freedom of expression by prohibiting the distribution of materials that promote same-sex relationships, gender transition, or non-heterosexual identities. The law’s vague definition of “popularisation” could encompass even the provision of factual information on gender identity and sexual orientation. This has raised concerns among artists, writers, and academics, who fear that their work will be severely limited due to censorship. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination.)

HEALTH The anti-LGBTI law undermines Georgia’s efforts to end AIDS and combat other infectious diseases, posing a significant threat to public health. The United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has expressed deep concern, stating that the law exacerbates stigma and hinders LGBTI people’s access to essential health services. The Women’s Initiatives Support Group (WISG) launched a study to assess the healthcare needs of trans people. The analysis of numerous individual cases revealed specific issues encountered by trans people in accessing healthcare services and the need for coordinated responses to tackle such shortcomings. Even before the anti-LGBTI law was enacted, there were cases when healthcare service providers practiced self-censorship and refused to provide services to trans people. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination.)

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS Following the enactment of the foreign agents law, a coalition of NGOs is preparing to challenge the law by filing a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court of Georgia. In addition, they plan to submit a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, seeking to suspend its implementation. (See also under Freedom of Association.)

LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION The anti-LGBTI law has reversed any progress towards legal gender recognition. It particularly targets trans people, prohibiting both surgical and legal gender reassignment procedures, effectively denying them the right to change their gender marker on official documents. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination.)

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT In June, the Venice Commission declared the legislative proposal for the foreign agents bill non-compliant with European and international standards. The Commission’s review condemned the draft constitutional law as detrimental and unsatisfactory, asserting that it exacerbates prejudices and stereotypes against LGBTI people.

PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL LIFE In October, the parliamentary elections in Georgia were marked by significant challenges, with international observers noting reports of voter intimidation, particularly in rural areas, and a significant imbalance in financial resources, with the ruling party Back to index <-->

enjoying significant advantages. The election sparked numerous protests across the country, driven by frustration over the government’s delay in EU accession negotiations and calling for a new parliamentary election, alongside chants against Russian influence. (See also under Freedom From Torture, Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment, and under Police and Law Enforcement.)

PUBLIC OPINION The Georgian Dream party lawmakers appealed to the supposedly negative public opinion towards LGBTI people in segments of the Georgian society as a justification for adopting anti-LGBT law. However, the Venice Commission states that even if the majority was opposed to LGBTQI equality, this could not be invoked to justify discrimination and hate speech. In truth, there is no recent data to measure public opinion towards the antiLGBT law or LGBTQI people. While the last decade has seen an increase in acceptance of LGBTQI people in Georgia, community organisations fear that the wide distribution of governmental homophobic and transphobic rhetoric could reverse the hard won progress. (See also under Equality and Non-discrimination.)