Greece, alongside 14 other European Union nations, signed a declaration on Wednesday condemning Hungary’s recent anti-LGBT+ bill which bans the “display and promotion of homosexuality” to those who are under 18 years old.
Greece condemns Hungary’s anti-LGBT+ bill
Hungary’s new legislation bans the teaching or portrayal of homosexuality and transgender issues in school education material and television programs addressed to people under 18 years of age.
The bill has caused domestic and international outrage, which has only been intensified due to the fact that it was passed during Pride month, which is meant to be a time of celebration and liberation for the LGBT+ community.
The EU condemnation was led by Benelux, the politico-economic union between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Ministers from the three countries discussed the controversial bill before consulting other like-minded countries to gain their support.
The Belgian Deputy Prime Minister issued a tweet on the issue as well.
On the initiative of Belgium and #Benelux, 13 member states send a strong signal against recent anti-#LGBTIQ laws 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️passed in #Hungary and call on @EU_Commission to act. Determined to protect Europe’s values and the rights of ALL ! https://t.co/q4Pp2fe5LY
— Sophie Wilmès (@Sophie_Wilmes) June 22, 2021
Italy did not add its show of support until the end of the meeting, and Greece and Austria both signed the EU initiative the next day.
“(The law) represents a flagrant form of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and hence deserves to be condemned. Inclusion, human dignity and equality are core values of our European Union, and we cannot compromise on these principles,” the EU countries said in a statement.
“Stigmatizing LGBTIQ persons constitutes a clear breach of their fundamental right to dignity, as provided for in the EU Charter and international law.”
Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Greece’s Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, also spoke on the country’s move to condemn Hungary’s anti-LGBT+ law.
Η Ελλάδα μετά τις ανεπαρκείς εξηγήσεις της Ουγγαρίας στο χθεσινό συμβούλιο Γενικών Υποθέσεων συνυπογράφει την κοινή δήλωση των χωρών που ζητούν δράση της Ε. επιτροπής για τον νόμο που στρέφεται ενάντια στα δικαιώματα της ΛΟΑΤΚΙ κοινότητας. 1/2
— Varvitsiotis Miltiadis (@MVarvitsiotis) June 23, 2021
