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May Not Join European Union Britain Wants to Settle Gay Group-Sex Case |
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By Rex Wockner Anti-Gay Nations May Not Join European Union
Equal treatment of gays and lesbians is a basic principle of the European Union, he said. The comments were believed to be directed at Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Romania, among other nations. "Mr. Verheugen's statements are a welcome confirmation that the European Commission sees sexual orientation discrimination as something which accession country governments must tackle," said Romanian gay leader and ILGA activist Adrian Coman. "This comes on top of the position already adopted by the European Parliament, which has warned that it will not give its consent to the accession of any country that violates the human rights of lesbians and gay men." According to ILGA: "Discriminatory attitudes and practices are widespread in many of the accession countries. There is neither an acceptable level of respect for the human rights of the lesbian, gay and bisexual minority, nor anything approaching adequate protection from discrimination in many of these countries." Britain Wants to Settle Gay Group-Sex Case
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Günter Verheugen 