Brussels, 17/05/2013
Today, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published the results of its largest ever survey on the life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.
The findings concerning employment raise serious concerns as "one in five respondents who had been employed in the year preceding the survey had felt discriminated against at work or when looking for a job". Furthermore, the survey brings evidence that a high proportion of LGBT workers employed in precarious jobs experienced incidents of hate-motivated harassment.
"EU-wide surveys of this kind are key to unveil the discrimination and attacks on human rights that are still widespread at work place level and in society. The EU should move forward and set a more ambitious anti-discrimination agenda. This also includes stronger EU legislation, more effective monitoring and support to social dialogue” states ETUC's Deputy Secretary General, Patrick Itschert.
Equal rights, respect and dignity for workers regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity are at the core of policy resolutions and activities promoted by the ETUC. Raising awareness about LGBT rights, campaigning for LGBT members, ensuring that LGBT rights and equality are included in unions’ education and training programmes are among ETUC commitments to prevent and put an end to discrimination towards LGBT people.