The European Union is one of
the best places in the world as regards LGBTQ rights. 15 of the EU member
states are in the top 25 "gay-friendly countries" in the world. Despite
this, equality for everyone in Europe is far from having been achieved: women
are still not equal to men, and minorities such as members of the LGBTQ
community are still not equal to other citizens. We must find ways of improving
our system, to achieve equality for all
human beings.
Of the 28 countries in the
European Union, 14 have legalized same-sex marriage and 23 have civil unions. But,
according to a survey done back in 2012 for the European Union Agency for
Fundamental Rights, over 47% of people in the EU felt discriminated against or
harassed based on their sexual orientation, lesbian women being the most affected
(55% had felt discriminated against).
In only 14 states are same-sex
couples allowed to adopt a child. How is it still possible that some people are
not allowed to adopt a child just because of the sex of their partner? Having
two fathers or two mothers rather than a father and a mother is still
considered, in many countries, as having a potentially negative impact on a child.
Go explain that to those thousands of orphans who need, more than anyone, a
family to care for them! We talk about social justice and equality, so why
don't we consider having a family as a fundamental right?
And did you know that only
eight EU states allow women to use assisted reproductive technology?
In March 2018, the European
Parliament passed a resolution condemning conversion “therapy”, urging European
Union member states to ban the practice, but only the United Kingdom, Malta and
a couple of regions in Spain have explicitly banned these so-called “therapies”
(which aim to convert LGBTQ people to a more “normal” state of being).
I feel the European Union
member states must put more effort in applying EU directives and regulations.
So, what more can the
European Union do for the LGBTQ community?
Having members of the LGBTQ
community being a part of the EU's political life is a big game changer. One of
the greatest advantages of the EU is being able to pass laws on a grand scale;
I mean, 28 countries can agree on something and apply it, which is fantastic!
By rights, there should be
people from different backgrounds and communities within the EU institutions, but
that’s not the case. At the European Parliament for example, only 36% of MEPs are
women. Of the 751 MEPs, only 12 self-identify as “non-white”. I think we need
people from every community possible to be represented in institutions and
law-making bodies, so as to have more laws that take into consideration
everyone’s needs. For example, there should be laws to ban outright hate-speech
against minorities, don’t you think?
I am convinced that greater equality
and social justice starts with education; it's the main means to change the
world because it can promote respect for differences, and love over hate. We
are all different from each other in many ways, but we are also connected in so
many ways, and that should be taught and cherished. Kids being the future, what
they are going to learn and experience is part of who they’re going to be as
adults, when they are going to impact other lives.
So, one thing that needs to
be taught at school is LGBTQ history. We talk about men, sometimes about women,
but LGBTQ community members are nowhere mentioned in school history books, as
if they never existed or are too strange to mention…
Another thing missing in the
curriculum is sex education for those who do not identify as “straight”. Many LGBTQ
students have only a limited idea about how to protect themselves against
diseases like AIDS. You have to search for answers by yourself, and many young
people in fact do not realize that what they are is completely okay.
There is so much more that
the EU could do, and not only for LGBTQ people. You and I can also do a lot
more in our daily lives to achieve greater equality for everyone, regardless of
their gender identity, biological sex, sexual orientation, religion, skin-color,
or origin, etc. The fundamental values of the EU are: respect for human dignity
and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law. Let us show
ourselves worthy of those values by respecting each other, however “different”
we may be!
I enjoyed Camille’s speech because the subject interests me a lot. I’m for the LGBTQ+ community; I think everyone has the right to be him/herself and to act as s/he wants to without others meddling in their lives.
RépondreSupprimerHowever, not everyone agrees with Camille’s ideas. Even someone who does not belong to the LGBTQ+ community can be pestered (i.e. most women!), but this community suffers a lot because of other people’s intolerance/violence. And have you noticed that more and more politicians exploit people’s hate of minorities to gain votes?
Despite the laws that have been passed for the LGBTQ+ community, things have not changed much. Adoption, for one, is a real ordeal (there is a good France Culture radio programme on this issue which explains just how complicated adoption is for same-sex couples). For example, a homosexual couple put in a request for adoption 3 years ago and nothing has happened yet. Once a year they send in a good dossier but social services cannot do more because a child has to be in a “normal” family with a father and a mother.
Camille talks about progress, but only 14 out of 28 countries have so far legalized same-sex marriage! To be part of the EU is great, but the good laws in one country do not necessarily apply in all the member states.
A politician does not of course need to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community in order to protect it, just as you do not have to be black to be against racism.
I very much agree with Camille when she says we all need to know the history of the LGBTQ+ community in order to understand it better. And we all need to know how to protect ourselves against diseases such as Aids. 21% of 15 to 24-year olds believe Aids can be transmitted just by a kiss, and 18% by touching someone’s sweat! There is only one reliable website (“Dr Gay”) about homosexuality; people can ask competent professionals about diseases or sexuality in general.
Could the European Union do more for the LGBTQ+ community?
RépondreSupprimerThis subject is very interesting because it tells us about a minority of people who are victims of prejudice within Europe.
This subject is a little closer to that of gender parity because it also defends equality for all. But Europe remains ahead in this area as 15 EU countries are among the 25 most LGBTQ-friendly countries. Despite this, only 14 EU countries allow same-sex couples to adopt a child. But to combat this inequality, members of the LGBTQ community must be politically present in the EU decision-making institutions. Perhaps there are some who do not really dare to make public their gender identities? LGBTQ members are marginalized at an early age, at school, where we talk about relations between men and women, but rarely about the LGBTQ community.
I think that for the situation to improve, everyone must make an effort to accept LGBTQ members and so everyone can live better.
This speech discusses the status of the LGBTI community, but it also defends all minorities including religious and ethnic minorities. Today there are too many countries that do not allow same-sex couples. Everyone should be allowed to choose his sexual orientation; everyone is different so why should we not be allowed to identify as whatever we want to be (straight, gay, whatever)?
RépondreSupprimerThe first Gay Pride was on the 1st of June 1970 in New York, but I consider the most important and famous Gay Pride in the world to be the one in Paris. Since 1970, the status of LGBTI people has evolved, thanks mainly to the different Gay Pride celebrations. However, there are still people who are shocked to see same-sex couples in the streets.
The EU must improve the situation of LGBTI people through education programmes; children need to learn about and to accept gender differences.
The EU should also do more to prevent discrimination against LGBTI people, to make adults accept them as being as worthy of respect, freedom and equality as everyone else.
Mattéo Mourrat writes: The LGBTQ community has been created to advocate the cause of the millions of people who suffer from perpetual mockery and belittlement by sexist people who allow themselves to judge others. The European Union has set up reforms and laws to legalize and make homosexual weddings quite legitimate and to have two parents of the same sex in certain European countries. I agree with this cause because sexual orientation, biological sex or even the skin-color is defined by nature, we are born with our particular genes and, whatever we do, we aren't the masters of our fate or our sexuality. So I would like in future decades that this hatred towards the LGBTQ community becomes a bad memory and that everybody is accepted whatever their differences might be.
RépondreSupprimerElise writes: What we need to understand with this speech is that we are all human, so we must all be equal, and we must have the same rights no matter our gender identity. In some countries (even in the EU), members of the LGBTQI community suffer discrimination and harassment because they are not seen as “normal”, same-sex marriage is illegal, and adoption by same-sex couples is not allowed, etc. I think the European Union should encourage the member states to do more for their LGBTQI communities.
RépondreSupprimerYann writes: Through her speech, Camille allows us to learn about an important subject, LGBTQ. She explains that even though the EU is one of the best places for these groups, there is still discrimination against them. Just because sexual orientation is not the same as that of the majority. Camille brings to her point full of data such that 14 of the 28 EU countries do not allow same-sex couples to adopt a child or only 14 have legalized same-sex marriage and 23 civil unions. Whether or not she likes this speech, she brings great examples that show that the EU must improve with, for example, assisted reproductive technologies or conversion "therapies" to the right direction. This part on the problems on the EU allows to bring an important phase of his speech. It's the help. She shows us her desire to fight for this community. It brings resolutions to these serious problems. She mentions it with, for example, the education of students in this community and the sex education that should be taught. Faced with this speech, I want to help her, to help this community that needs our help. It is important to respect people's sexual orientation. I think we need to continue to talk more about this subject.
RépondreSupprimerThomas writes: First of all, reminding ourselves of the term “LGBTQ” is a good thing. I didn’t know what the Q stands for. I also like how she almost introduces the next theme (equality between men and women). In the first part of the speech, Camille makes our anger rise with some statistics (like the only eight states allowing women to use assisted reproductive technology, I mean, who are we to decide if someone will have a child?). She also mentioned education as the first step to change people. The speech ends with much more powerful tone than Killian, she almost attack us when she says “let’s show ourselves worthy of those values” which make us guess that we are not worthy yet. This is a problem, and it’s on us to solve it. Very nice ending.
RépondreSupprimerNoellia writes: This speech talks about the LGBTQ community and their rights. Today we live in a world where a couple is not necessarily made up of a man plus a woman; same-sex couples are no longer seen as abnomal by most people. However, homosexuals still suffer every day mockery, even physical injuries caused by sexists who do not accept these people and who judge them “not normal”. The EU has created laws that allow marriage for all and the adoption of a child by same-sex couples. I am for this legislation that helps people of different sexual orientations to accept themselves, to live their lives as they decide and not to impersonate a person that they are not just to please society.
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