The European Union’s executive Commission presented its very first strategy to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex, and queer (LGBTQ+) equality, proposing to extend the list of EU crimes to cover hate crime and ensure that EU policymaking reflects LGBTQ+ concerns.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan in her 2020 State of the Union Address. The proposal aims to strengthen equality and non-discrimination in the EU, noting that discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals has increased in the EU in recent years. The Commission cited survey figures showing that 43% of LGBT people said they felt discriminated against last year. Further, the strategy stated that “right-wing governments in Poland and Hungary have become increasingly homophobic in the past years.” The Commission also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsen discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. The strategy sets out several of targeted actions that the EU will mainstream into all EU policies, legislation, and funding programs for the next five years.