Union of Equality: LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030

Key points

The EESC:

• welcomes the new 2026-2030 LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy while calling for stronger action as persistent discrimination, violence, harassment and exclusion, especially affecting trans, non-binary and intersex persons, require more robust policy actions; 

• demands stronger enforcement and accountability through binding benchmarks, systematic infringement procedures, rule-of-law conditionality and implementation of national LGBTIQ+ strategies; 

• calls for decisive action to protect fundamental rights and civic space by countering backlash, disinformation and hate speech, and ensuring sustained support for civil society; 

• urges full equality in everyday life by guaranteeing inclusive access to healthcare, education and employment by strengthening workplace inclusion;

• calls on the European Commission to propose a legally binding EU-wide ban on conversion practices, covering both the conduct and the advertisement of such activities, by including conversion practices as ‘EU crimes’ and to recognise them as hate crimes to ensure a uniform level of protection across the EU;

• calls for tackling structural inequalities by embedding LGBTIQ+ equality in social inclusion, housing and anti-poverty policies, with targeted support for those facing intersectional discrimination;

• demands future-proof and rights-based frameworks by closing legal gaps, ensuring self-determined gender recognition, strengthening access to justice, securing adequate funding for civil society organisations, improving intersectional data and safeguarding equality in digital technologies and AI.