Since the Treaty of Amsterdam ratified in 1997, the European Union is equipped to take measures against discrimination.

The EU plays a central role in combatting discrimination against LGBTI community in Europe, and partly thanks to the European Parliament, but there are still significant shortcomings troughout the EU.

Despite progress in many areas over the last decades, people in Europe are still stigmatised because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons cannot fully enjoy their universal rights. They run a risk of becoming victims of hate crime and may not receive protection when attacked in the street by fellow citizens.

Public discrimination and hate speech against LGBTI people, including LGBTI free zones: extracts from the debate