As the Polish education minister announces legislation to outlaw all material dealing with homosexuality, including educational information, as a means to protect children from ‘homosexual propaganda’, UK Green MEP Jean Lambert has warned against the disturbing proposals and welcomed the European Parliament’s investigation into the legality of such a move.
Jean, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights, sits on the Civil Liberties Committee which has decided to launch a study into the compatibility of such legislation with EU anti-discrimination rules following the recent proposals.
Today Jean expressed her concern over Poland’s actions which come at the beginning of the European Year of Equal Opportunities. Jean commented; "The disturbing proposals to outlaw discussion of homosexuality raise serious concerns about the commitment of fundamental rights in Poland. It is shocking and completely unacceptable that a Government of a modern European country would consider the introduction of a law that could see teachers fined or even fired if they merely mention same sex relationships in the classroom.
"2007 is the European Year of Equal Opportunities yet Polish politics and much of society there continues to promote the discrimination of minorities and the disregard of civil rights. How can we claim to be a union based on values and fundamental rights when we have governments behaving in this way? The promotion of gay hatred is the antithesis of EU anti-discrimination rules and the Polish government must publicly reject this approach."
ENDS
For more information please contact:Morwenna Holland, Media Officertel: 020 7407 6280 or 07813149812 email: media@jeanlambertmep.org.uk www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
Notes to editors: Jean Lambert: In October 2005 Jean was named MEP 2005 for Justice and Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections. She was re-elected in 2004. She is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament.