LGBTIQ+ equality strategy 2026 - 2030

LGBTIQ+ equality strategy 2026-2030

Our social, political and economic strength comes from our unity in diversity: Equality and non-discrimination are core values and fundamental rights in the EU, enshrined in its Treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The European Commission, the Parliament and the Council, together with Member States, all share a responsibility to protect fundamental rights and ensure equal treatment and equality for all.

In recent decades, legislative developments, case law and policy initiatives have improved many people’s lives and helped us building more equal and welcoming societies, including for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people. In 2015, the Commission presented the “List of Actions to Advance LGBTI Equality”, the first policy framework specifically combatting discrimination against LGBTI people.

Social acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people has steadily increased across the EU over the last years. The findings of the third LGBTIQ survey of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) show that LGBTIQ people are more open about their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics in their social environment (52%, up 6 percentage points since 2019), with this trend more evident for trans, non-binary, gender diverse and intersex respondents. 

At the same time, according to the FRA survey, there has been a significant increase in hate-motivated harassment targeting LGBTIQ people, with more than half reporting that they had experienced this (55%, up 18 percentage points since 2019). Respondents in most EU countries also reported more frequent physical and sexual attacks, particularly affecting trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex people.The European Union has to be at the forefront of efforts to better protect LGBTIQ+ people’s rights. In November 2020 the Commission adopted the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025, which was the first-ever Commission strategy on LGBTIQ equality and delivered on the European Commission's commitment to building a Union of Equality. 

In October 2025, the Commission adopted its successor strategy, the LGBTIQ+ equality strategy 2026-2030 . It aims to build on the ambition and achievements of the 2020-2025 Strategy and is part of the EU’s effort to build a Union where diversity is celebrated as part of our collective richness, where all people can be themselves without risk of discrimination, exclusion or violence.

The post-2025 Strategy marks a new phase in our efforts to promote equality for LGBTIQ+ . It aims at protecting LGBTIQ+ people from harmful practices and hate-motivated offences, empowering LGBTIQ+ communities and bodies promoting equality, and engaging civil society as well as Member States and other actors.   In doing so it sets out a series of measures to step up action, to integrate LGBTIQ equality in all policy areas and to help lift the voices of LGBTIQ+ minorities, for example by addressing conversion practices and funding civil society organisations.

LGBTIQ+ equality strategy 2026 - 2030

LGBTIQ+ equality strategy 2020 - 2025

LGBTIQ Subgroup

The LGBTIQ Equality Subgroup was set up for enhancing implementation of the LGBTIQ equality strategy under the High-Level Group on non-discrimination, equality and diversity. The Subgroup is composed of Governmental experts, nominated by Member States’ Governments, to support and monitor progress of the protection of LGBTIQ people’s rights in the Member States. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) contributes to its work, and the Subgroup cooperates on a regular basis with civil society and international organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Council of Europe.

The Subgroup started its work in May 2021. It prepared the Guidelines for Strategies and Action Plans to Enhance LGBTIQ Equality  and the related Monitoring checklist to support concrete action to enhance protection of the rights of LGBTIQ people across in the EU Member States. These guidelines identify what LGBTIQ policies, strategies and action plans should cover in order to be useful and effective. The guidelines support and encourage the Member States in line with the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, as advised, prioritized and agreed by the Subgroup.