Europe has become a destination for those fleeing discrimination

The migration of the LGBT+ community to Europe is increasing and responds to a need for social, political and civil space in contrast to the dangerous criminalisation taking place in the rest of the world. A trend justified on the one hand by the worsening of the situation in some of Europe's neighbouring countries, and on the other by the EU's positive commitment to issues of LGBT+ inclusion. Starting with the adoption of the 'Lgbtqi Equality Strategy 2020-2025' by the EU. The mid-term report of 2023 summarised the actions taken and still ongoing in the member states, identifying best practices against discrimination, violence and exclusion. The strategy focused on priority areas including: the protection of the rights of Lgbtq+ migrants seeking international protection, legal protection for hate crimes and discrimination, and inclusiveness in social and employment contexts. The European Commission also proposed the New Pact on Migration and Asylum in 2020, approved this year, including Lgbtq+ applicants. However, it remains the sole responsibility of Member States to assess reception criteria on the basis of data provided by the EU Agency, supported by the EU Asylum Agency, which has been working since 2022 on the practical guide for interviews considering the parameters of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sexual characteristics. Examples in the EU report include Ireland, which has developed a reception policy including national accommodation standards for persons under protection in synergy with UNHCR, and providing training on Lgbtq+ issues to office staff.

Hate crimes and transphobia, on the other hand, require more legal protection. The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) reported sexual orientation as the third most reported category of hate speech in 2019 (15.5%). On protest rights, Amnesty reports an incidence of online hate speech aimed at the Lgbtq+ community (Hate Barometer 2024), right after hate comments towards women. Portugal, in this case, has set up dedicated training for authorities, reception spaces and an emergency service.

Discrimination also involves practices aimed at restoring sexual orientation on a binary and heteronormative basis: the report 'Conversion Practices on Lgbt+ People' (2023) requested by the Libe commission promotes the prohibition of conversion practices, considered a crime and recently eliminated in Belgium, Iceland, Portugal, Cyprus and Greece. Inclusion, on the other hand, also involves workplaces: in Italy, Unar and Istat have been working together since 2020 investigating discrimination in the workplace towards Lgbtq+ people by analysing access, conditions and diversity management in companies. In addition to data, in Croatia and Slovenia the EU-funded Work Equality Alliance project aims to raise awareness and improve the skills of employers and trade unions through a targeted training programme.