Transphobic and anti-LGBTI rhetoric is on the rise among politicians in Europe, according to a new report, prompting alarm ahead of the EU elections in June.
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00:00 Politicians are using transphobic and anti-LGBTI rhetoric to sow division ahead of June`s European
00:07 elections. These are the findings of a new study by advocacy group ILGA Europe. It finds
00:14 that hate speech towards the LGBTI community has surged in the past year and that children
00:20 are being weaponized.
00:23 Students are demonizing the LGBTI community and are using children as an argument that
00:30 they need to be protected from harm. And we see that leading to example for very violent
00:36 process outside libraries and schools where children are actually supposed to feel safe.
00:41 These scare tactics aim to build opposition to trans minors` access to health care and
00:47 skepticism towards sex education. The report says physical attacks against the LGBTI community
00:53 are also on the rise with all but one EU member state reporting a hate crime in the past year.
00:59 ILGA Europe is calling on candidates and parties to commit to upholding LGBTI rights in the
01:05 campaign leading up to June`s vote.
01:08 In the campaign specifically, we need everyone to work against polarization and against the
01:14 fact that the debate is getting more and more violent. So, we are asking for reason, we
01:20 are asking for calm, we are asking for understanding.
01:25 The EU says disinformation using identity-based stereotypes is a threat to democracy. ILGA
01:31 says political parties must take action to protect both human rights and electoral integrity.
01:38 See?
01:39 (whooshing)