There are few events that cast as many people under their spell as a European football championship. A period during which the football and not politics should dominate.
Still, a Hungarian law managed to push sports into the background through in favour of social policy. It was no longer about strategies on the pitch or video evidence, but about the lighting of the Munich Allianz Arena in symbolic rainbow colors. Ultimately, UEFA prevailed with its negative stance. The same UEFA, which normally claims to stand for respect and anti-racism.
What was it actually about? It is about a Hungarian law that forbids the positive representation of homosexuality, transsexuality and gender reassignment towards children and adolescents. For Hungary, only heterosexuality fits into ‘normality’, a similar take on the matter as one can find in Russia. Young people must not be informed about other types of sexuality…. You are not allowed to talk to them about it in schools.
Luxembourg and the majority of the EU countries have made it clear to Hungary what they think of this stance. Our government, together with the governments of Belgium and the Netherlands, initiated a letter in which they clearly oppose discrimination against the LGBTI community and demand that central European values be adhered to. The majority of the EU states have declared their solidarity.
This reaction shows that fundamental rights and the rule of law are non-negotiable for the European Union.
In recent years, a lot has changed for the better when it comes to the rights of homosexual and transgender people. However, even in Luxembourg there are forces who find this development a thorn in their side.
For the DP it’s been clear for a very long time that nobody should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Our liberal DNA is more than clear on this point – in this country as well as in Europe.
