About this video
As 2022 comes to an end, we asked LGBTQI young people across Europe about their thoughts on policies and developments related to LGBTQI human rights in their country this year. This short movie shows what 2022 looked like through the lens of LGBTQI young people in Europe.
Quotes in the video
‘This year, Slovenia adopted amendments to the Family Code, which define marriage as the union of two persons. It allows same-sex partners in a civil partnership to adopt a child under the same conditions as spouses. After more than 30 years of demands for legal recognition of same-sex partnerships, we are finally closer to equality.’
— Miha (He/Him), 28, Slovenia
‘I’m really sad to see that the Finnish government’s draft bill on new legal gender recognition based on self-determination is only made available for adults. This shortcoming of the proposal is not in line with the rights of the child, and will leave us behind in the most important years of our life.’
— Natalia (She/They), 26, Finland
‘Sadly, in May 2022, the police brutally thrashed the Pride March that was planned to take place in Istanbul, at the Boğaziçi University. Many students were attacked, threatened, and taken into custody for several hours. This attack adds to the many we had to experience in Turkey.’
— Anonymous student, Turkey
‘Many LGBTQI Refugees are still not granted Asylum in Iceland and are deported to unsafe and hostile nations, when they should be able to get refuge here. This goes against the right to non-refoulement, by which a country cannot send a person to a country where they will face endangerment upon return.’
— Hrefna Ósk (She/Her), 28, Iceland
‘In March 2022, the selection criteria based on sexual orientation was finally deleted for people to give blood in France. This means that gay and bi men must no longer be abstinent for 4 months before donating their blood. This is a big step towards anti-discrimination of LGBTQI+ people, and for general better acceptance in society.’
— Ophélie (She/Her), 29, France
‘In October, Matúš and Juraj were killed outside an LGBTQI bar in Bratislava. This crime comes as a result of the heightened hate that state officials and extremist groups are addressing to the LGBTQI community in Slovakia.’
— Anonymous, Slovakia
‘In November 2022, Belgium announced the banning of conversion therapy practices on LGBTQI people. These aim to change an LGBTQI person’s sexual orientation or gender identity through torture and inhumane methods — most often targeting youth. It was high time they were made punishable in Belgium, for the safety and protection of LGBTQI people, especially younger ones.’
— Jeremy (He/Him), 26, Belgium
‘The Minister for Children is trying to introduce a ban on conversion therapy practices in Ireland, but it is taking so long to be passed… I hope they understand this is an emergency. This ban would save the lives of many LGBTQI young people currently endangered by such practices.’
— Casey (She/Her), 30, Ireland
‘In June 2022, Romania almost adopted a draft bill prohibiting the dissemination of information on sexual orientation and gender identity to minors, copying the Hungarian anti-LGBT law. The draft bill was using the excuse of protecting the children to attack the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community, while creating a very dangerous context for minors and youth.’
— Ralu (He/They), 27, Romania
‘The Greek government has finally banned medical interventions on intersex children. This is only a first step into recognising intersex rights as human rights, and it goes in line with protecting everyone’s bodily integrity. However, it doesn’t repair the damage done thus far and it doesn’t provide a solution to the rest of violations and stigma that intersex people have to endure daily in Greece.’
— Spyros (He/Him), 28, Greece
‘I am concerned about the lack of inclusion of non-binary identities within the new Legal Gender Recognition legislation proposal in Spain, which is a missed opportunity for many of us. Also, there have been some attempts to weaken the current proposal by limiting legal gender recognition to minors. I hope that, at least, the law is finally approved by the government in a way that protects the rights of the child.’
— Don (Elle), 28, Spain
‘Germany’s new government coalition vowed to replace the 1981 law on legal gender recognition. The new law would be based on self-determination, and would end years of harmful and dehumanising practice that affected trans and non-binary people in the country. While the draft law has been presented by the competent ministers in 2022, it remains to be introduced into parliament. Let’s work towards an entry into force in 2023!’
— Electra (She/Her), 31, Germany
‘This year, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution calling to end discrimination against LBTI women in sports. I’m happy the resolution talked about the sexism directed at LBTI women and called for ending the discrimination we face in sports.’
— Lucille (She/They), 27, Belgium
