INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS AND INTERSEX ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS AND INTERSEX ASSOCIATION
FRANCE
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YOUR STORIES
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Let others know what it’s like to be LGBTI in your country! If an experience is meaningful for you, it will probably be meaningful for someone else. On whatever topic, whether good or bad, your story is how the world knows about your country and LGBTI life. By selecting tags that mark the topic your story, others can learn from your experience.
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Readers Experiences
This is what people are saying about life for LGBTI people in FRANCE...
showing stories 1-50
posted for
readers
on 02/12/2010
tagged with health
I am ashamed to be french. The French State is hypocritical: It gives lessons to the other countries onto human rights but does not apply itself in its own country. The French State discriminates the trans persons and LGBT considering them as lower citizens with subordinates rights. France does not apply the resolution 1728 ( 2010 ) of the Council of Europe (discrimination against LGBTI people)
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Good afternoon
Please find below an op-ed by the Council of Europe's Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland which marks the International Day Against Homophobia on 17 May.
The article underlines the organisation's fight against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity and offers an important European perspective.
I hope that it will be of interest to you and your readers.
Do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to have more background information on the organisation's work against discrimination at the national and European level.
Kind regards
Nigel Smith
Nigel SMITH
Direction de la Communication/Communication Directorate
Conseil de l'Europe/Council of Europe
Tel.: +33 3 90 21 52 81
Fax: +33 3 88 41 27 45
E-mail: nigel.smith@coe.int
Secretary General's website: http://www.coe.int/T/SECRETARYGENERAL/SG/
Council of Europe: http://www.coe.int/aboutCoe/index.asp?page=quisommesnous&l;=en
To: Advocate
Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity should be consigned to the pages of history
By Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Council of Europe
17 May marks the International Day against Homophobia. Europe has seen important progress in addressing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. But there is more to be done.
In March, the representatives of the 47 member countries of the oldest European organisation, the Council of Europe agreed that all individuals must be able to enjoy their rights and freedoms without discrimination – including on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. They also recognised that non-discriminatory treatment by state actors, and, where appropriate, positive state measures for protection against discriminatory treatment, including by non-state actors, are fundamental components of the international system protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Last week in Vilnius, European values of respect for agreed human rights standards won out over bigotry and hatred. For the first time ever, the city successfully hosted a gay pride parade. 500 people participated in the parade, and roughly twice as many people demonstrated against the event. Regrettably, reports suggest that one policeman and a journalist were injured in clashes with protesters against the parade, but the authorities are to be congratulated for their success in protecting the participants. The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Lithuanian Constitution, and the rights of LGBT people cannot be denied. Banning Pride festivals is alien to the values of a modern European country and contrary to Council of Europe standards.
The World Health Organisation ruled almost 20 years ago that homosexuality is not an illness, and mainstream scientific and medical opinion holds that it is a natural variant of human behaviour. I believe that prejudiced attitudes on the part of the majority towards the homosexual minority cannot be used to justify discrimination. I also believe that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is as unacceptable as discrimination on grounds of sex, race, or religion.
Of course, the theory may be good, but what is really happening on the ground? Homosexuality has been decriminalised in all member states of the Council of Europe, and yet LGBT persons still face deeply rooted prejudices, hostility and widespread discrimination all over Europe. Now it’s time to do something about it.
In April this year, whilst debating a major report on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, parliamentarians from all over Europe coming together at the Council of Europe voiced serious concerns about violations of the freedom of association and of expression of LGBT persons. They also referred to worrying occurrences of "hate speech by certain politicians, religious leaders and other civil society representatives".
European identity is as much about values as it is about geography. It is not just where we live, it is how we live together that defines us as Europeans. The eradication of homophobia and transphobia requires political will in member States. It is only a constructive debate within societies, initiated and led by visionary politicians, that will finally consign discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity to the pages of history.
Nigel SMITH
Direction de la Communication/Communication Directorate
Conseil de l'Europe/Council of Europe
Tel.: +33 3 90 21 52 81
Fax: +33 3 88 41 27 45
E-mail: nigel.smith@coe.int
add response to story
Please find below an op-ed by the Council of Europe's Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland which marks the International Day Against Homophobia on 17 May.
The article underlines the organisation's fight against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity and offers an important European perspective.
I hope that it will be of interest to you and your readers.
Do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to have more background information on the organisation's work against discrimination at the national and European level.
Kind regards
Nigel Smith
Nigel SMITH
Direction de la Communication/Communication Directorate
Conseil de l'Europe/Council of Europe
Tel.: +33 3 90 21 52 81
Fax: +33 3 88 41 27 45
E-mail: nigel.smith@coe.int
Secretary General's website: http://www.coe.int/T/SECRETARYGENERAL/SG/
Council of Europe: http://www.coe.int/aboutCoe/index.asp?page=quisommesnous&l;=en
To: Advocate
Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity should be consigned to the pages of history
By Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland
Council of Europe
17 May marks the International Day against Homophobia. Europe has seen important progress in addressing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. But there is more to be done.
In March, the representatives of the 47 member countries of the oldest European organisation, the Council of Europe agreed that all individuals must be able to enjoy their rights and freedoms without discrimination – including on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. They also recognised that non-discriminatory treatment by state actors, and, where appropriate, positive state measures for protection against discriminatory treatment, including by non-state actors, are fundamental components of the international system protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Last week in Vilnius, European values of respect for agreed human rights standards won out over bigotry and hatred. For the first time ever, the city successfully hosted a gay pride parade. 500 people participated in the parade, and roughly twice as many people demonstrated against the event. Regrettably, reports suggest that one policeman and a journalist were injured in clashes with protesters against the parade, but the authorities are to be congratulated for their success in protecting the participants. The right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Lithuanian Constitution, and the rights of LGBT people cannot be denied. Banning Pride festivals is alien to the values of a modern European country and contrary to Council of Europe standards.
The World Health Organisation ruled almost 20 years ago that homosexuality is not an illness, and mainstream scientific and medical opinion holds that it is a natural variant of human behaviour. I believe that prejudiced attitudes on the part of the majority towards the homosexual minority cannot be used to justify discrimination. I also believe that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is as unacceptable as discrimination on grounds of sex, race, or religion.
Of course, the theory may be good, but what is really happening on the ground? Homosexuality has been decriminalised in all member states of the Council of Europe, and yet LGBT persons still face deeply rooted prejudices, hostility and widespread discrimination all over Europe. Now it’s time to do something about it.
In April this year, whilst debating a major report on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, parliamentarians from all over Europe coming together at the Council of Europe voiced serious concerns about violations of the freedom of association and of expression of LGBT persons. They also referred to worrying occurrences of "hate speech by certain politicians, religious leaders and other civil society representatives".
European identity is as much about values as it is about geography. It is not just where we live, it is how we live together that defines us as Europeans. The eradication of homophobia and transphobia requires political will in member States. It is only a constructive debate within societies, initiated and led by visionary politicians, that will finally consign discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity to the pages of history.
Nigel SMITH
Direction de la Communication/Communication Directorate
Conseil de l'Europe/Council of Europe
Tel.: +33 3 90 21 52 81
Fax: +33 3 88 41 27 45
E-mail: nigel.smith@coe.int
Yann Koeberlé Arnoult
(user currently living in FRANCE)
posted for
gay
readers
on 18/03/2010
tagged with hate crime and violence prevention, health, sexual orientation
Hi,
Hoping it will explain homosexuality and help other gay people like me.
The video is on youtube and was also sent to the Paris and L.A.Gay and Lesbian centre, and I.L.G.A. Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_1qBM0th70
Feel free to contact me on you tube.
Thank you. Yann Koeberlé Arnoult
add response to story
Hoping it will explain homosexuality and help other gay people like me.
The video is on youtube and was also sent to the Paris and L.A.Gay and Lesbian centre, and I.L.G.A. Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_1qBM0th70
Feel free to contact me on you tube.
Thank you. Yann Koeberlé Arnoult
