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European Union Bans Employment Discrimination

New Law is 'Historic' says IGLA-Europe Co-Chair

Jean-Luc Romero, an Outed French Politician Sues

By Rex Wockner
International News Report

The Council of Ministers of the 15-nation European Union outlawed employment discrimination based on sexual orientation October 17.

Member countries will have three years to implement the mandate in their national laws.

The ministers also banned discrimination based on religion, belief, age and disability.

International Lesbian and Gay Association European co-Chair Jackie Lewis called the new law "historic."

"It is arguably the most important law ever introduced in relation to sexual orientation discrimination," she said.

"It will lead to the banning of all aspects of employment discrimination first in the 15 European Union member states, and then in a further 13 countries, as those countries currently applying to join the European Union become members."

The members of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

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Jean-Luc Romero, an Outed French Politician Sues

A regional councillor from the Ile-de-France region around Paris said October 23 he is suing the gay magazine "e.male" for reporting that he is gay.

"I am not ashamed of who I am but it's up to me, and me alone, to decide whether to reveal my homosexuality," Jean-Luc Romero said.

"This is unheard of in this country. I had planned to come out but on my own terms and after having informed my family."