The European Parliament condemned Italy again for its use of “rhetoric” against the LGBTQIA+ community

The European Parliament, on 20 April, condemned Italy again during the plenary session of the Euro Chamber in Strasbourg. This time for the use of “rhetoric” against the LGBTQIA+ community.

The strong disapproval of the Italian government’s propaganda was expressed in an amendment to the resolution condemning Uganda’s new law criminalising homosexuality. The European Parliament expressed concern about the current global trends in anti-rights, anti-gender and anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric, fuelled by certain political and religious leaders around the world, including those in the European Union. It considers that such movements considerably hinder efforts to achieve the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality and transgender identity, as the comments legitimise the thinking that LGBTQIA+ people are part of an ideology rather than human beings with alternative sexual persuasions. The European Parliament strongly condemns the dissemination of such rhetoric by some influential political leaders and governments in the EU, such as in Hungary, Poland and Italy. 

The amendment involving Uganda’s new law was passed with 282 votes in favour, 235 against and 10 abstentions and was included in the report on the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality. The voting pattern suggests that there is still a significant anti-gay sentiments held in countries across Europe. The purpose of the European Parliament is to represent the citizens of the EU and to promote their interests but it seems that some countries’ interests are directly opposed to those in other European countries, which presents a dilemma.

For the first time, writes MEP Alessandro Zan on Twitter, Italy is formally associated with Visegrad, a town in Hungary, where persecutory laws are in force. 

Italy is, therefore, considered on a par with those led by sovereignist executives who were punished by the EU for undemocratic procedures and violations some years ago.