LGBT

London had the honour of hosting not just London Pride but 'World Pride' last Saturday. Even though the day's events had to be scaled back, there were still tens of thousands on the march and the usual carnival atmosphere prevailed.

Meanwhile in Budapest, their Pride took place on the same day with 3,000 marchers. It was judged a success simply for taking place safely, since threats from far-right groups necessitated heavy police protection.

A lot of hard work has gone into changing attitudes and laws in the UK over the last 50 years to get us to the point where equal marriage is a real prospect. The UK is now judged by the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) to be the leader in Europe on human rights of LBGT people.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford is attending this year’s World Pride march to show her commitment to LGBT equality.

She will be part of a Liberal Democrat group including LGBT+LibDem chair Adrian Trett and Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone.

Sarah Ludford, who is Vice President of UK LGBT+ Liberal Democrats and active in the European Parliament LGBT intergroup, commented:

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford is hopeful of strong cross-party support for a resolution in the European Parliament today against homophobia in Europe.

The resolution highlights laws in Eastern European countries such as Russia, Hungary, Lithuania and Latvia restricting public information about LGBT issues and the banning of Pride marches. It deplores hate speech, violence and murder against gay people.

The resolution calls on the European Commission and Member States to ensure that same sex couples enjoy EU free movement rights without discrimination.

Sarah Ludford, Vice President of UK Liberal Democrats' LGBT+, commented:

On International Day against Homophobia, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has given her support to young LGBT people suffering from bullying or discrimination at school.

Sarah has taken part in a video message from European leaders to gay and lesbian youngsters, telling them how they are working to ‘make things better.’ She commented:

Dear friends,

We were particularly busy on consumer and citizens' rights in Brussels last week, as well as - very importantly - the interests of taxpayers. More on those stories later, first a word about the London Liberal Democrat conference last Saturday. 

London LibDems

The European Parliament has adopted its latest annual report on implementation of rights for European citizens under EU law. One of the issues highlighted was the barriers that still exist for same-sex couples.

The report demands full freedom of movement with recognition of legal rights for same-sex couples and an end to Member States' obstruction of a 2004 EU law meant to achieve this.

Sarah Ludford, Vice President of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrat group commented:

“Due to disarray in the ranks of the European Socialist and Democratic group (S&D) to which the Labour party belong, the key relevant paragraph got deleted at committee stage due to the voting power of the right-wing parties.”

In recent days the debate over equality in marriage for same-sex couples has been marked by inflammatory and derogatory remarks by vocal opponents the Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien and his apparent echo the newly UKIP MEP Roger Helmer.

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has expressed outrage at UKIP MEP Roger Helmer's comments on same-sex marriage.

Sarah Ludford who is also Vice President of the LGBT+ LibDems and an active member of the European Parliament lesbian & gay rights intergroup said:

"Mr Helmer's backward comments are a disgrace. To link gay marriage to incest and polygamy typically scrapes the barrel of prejudice without any foundation whatsoever."