Luxembourg, May 11, 2023 – Today, as is customary shortly before the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), ILGA Europe has released the current Rainbow Europe Index. This benchmarking tool highlights the progress and setbacks of individual European countries regarding the legal situation of LGBTIQ+ people.
Luxembourg Slips to Seventh Place in the Ranking
Luxembourg, which had previously held third place for three consecutive years, already fell to fifth place last year and has lost two more places this year with a score of 68%, landing it in seventh place. Luxembourg’s fall in the ranking is not the result of a deterioration in legislation, but rather a consequence of a near standstill in legislative work. Over the past 24 months, there have been no notable advancements in legislation, and no new bills have been introduced in parliament to strengthen the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in Luxembourg.
Urgent demands by Rosa Lëtzebuerg, which the queer community has been waiting for a long time, and which we have repeatedly highlighted in the past year, have not yet been implemented: for instance, the prohibition of surgeries on children with variations of sex characteristics without their informed consent, or the long overdue automatic recognition of parenthood for same-sex couples. The relatively straightforward implementation of a ban on conversion therapies has not even been addressed as a necessity. Particularly in the category of Intersex bodily integrity, Luxembourg has not yet established any legal framework and has accordingly scored no points.
Positive and Negative Trends in Europe
The Rainbow Europe Index 2023 shows that, despite setbacks in some countries, progress in the legal recognition and equality of LGBTIQ+ people in Europe is possible. Positive examples include Spain, which introduced comprehensive legislation for the legal recognition of gender on the basis of self-determination, and Belgium, which rose four points in the ranking due to the inclusion of gender identity and sex characteristics as aggravating factors in its penal code.
On the other hand, countries such as Serbia and Turkey, where the freedom of assembly of LGBTIQ+ people is restricted, as well as the increasing anti-trans rhetoric in many countries, deserve negative mention. In the United States, over 492 laws have been introduced in states such as Texas, Tennessee, or Florida that could cause significant harm to the lives of trans people.
Rosa Lëtzebuerg Contributes as a National Advocacy Group to the ILGA Europe Survey
Rosa Lëtzebuerg asbl, as a national advocacy group for queer people, participated in the data collection for Luxembourg. Our association points out that in addition to public support for socio-cultural and socio-educational institutions such as the Rainbow Center and the Centre LGBTIQ+ CIGALE, progress in legal equality must not be neglected.
In the run-up to the parliamentary elections in October 2023, we will provide all parties with a catalog of demands that describes the priorities of the queer community in Luxembourg. The results of the Rainbow Europe Index 2023 are a call to action.
