But she said full equality would only come when all couples – regardless of their gender, sexuality or faith – could choose between marriage and a civil partnership.

Ms Lambert said: “Same sex marriage is a vital step towards equality – and I am delighted it has finally become an option for the many gay couples in committed relationships in London.

“But the struggle for full equality goes on – and Greens in the European Parliament will be at the heart of it.

“Earlier this year MEPs adopted a Green proposal calling for concerted EU action to stamp out homophobia across the union.”

The full report, drafted by Austrian Green MEP Ulrike Lunacek, is available here .

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Members of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee have today voted with a large majority to establish an EU road-map against homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including the need to deal with bullying in schools and workplaces.

Ms Lambert, a member of the committee which called for the plan, said:

“The UK has made a lot of progress in promoting LGBTI rights – including tackling homophobic bullying – over the years and has much to contribute towards an EU-wide policy.

“But there is room for improvement – particularly in schools, where homophobic bullying is all too frequent.

“The reality is that despite EU legislation to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation, there is still massive discrimination, bullying and violence – in schools, workplaces and in everyday life situations in many parts of the EU.

“To address this, MEPs have today supported the call for an EU road-map against homophobia and discrimination based on sexual identity: the European Commission must finally outline a coherent approach at EU level, with concrete action.

“The strong support from almost all political groups for this report shows that homophobic tendencies in Europe are losing ground and a large majority in Europe no longer wants to accept this intolerance.

“Homophobic laws are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in Europe. We now hope for broad support from all political groups for this important issue when Parliament votes as a whole in plenary.”

A final decision will be taken next year by the European Parliament as a whole.

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IDAHO marks 23 years since the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

LGBT rights have come a long way in the past few decades, with homosexuality legal in all European Union (EU) states.

However, there is still a long way to go as discrimination in daily life and law continues within the European Union and across the globe.

EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has today published a report  detailing the results of a survey covering the EU with over 93,000 respondents, to discover the everyday issues affecting LGBT people.

This survey, which is the most extensive of its kind to date, collected comparable data on LGBT people’s experiences of hate crime and discrimination, as well as their level of awareness about their rights.

While the UK has a strong record on legislation, there is still a significant problem for young people at school: 95% of responders for the UK said they had heard homophobic insults used at school and 68% said they had hidden their sexual orientation at school at times.

There is a real need for continued action from Government and a concerted strategy in all schools to change this threatening culture.

Ms Lambert said:

Today is International Day Against Homophobia, and the release of the EU survey gives us a chance to review progress in tackling gender and sexual identity discrimination and recognise there is still much work to do in delivering equality.

“We must stand in solidarity with all LGBT people winning fights for equality across the world whilst not forgetting the continued discrimination and prejudice faced by many.

“The figures show that homophobic and transphobic violence is still at shocking levels.

“There is no excuse for members of our communities living in fear because of their sexuality or gender orientation. Governments across the EU, including our own in Britain, must take these findings seriously and ensure that LGBT people are given the full protection of the law.”

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The film forms part of the ‘It Gets Better’ project, an online collection of videos from activists, politicians and media personalities assuring teenagers struggling with homophobic bullying that life will get better.  The European Parliament video features MEPs from across the EU offering encouraging words to young people in 17 different languages, from Italian to Bulgarian and Swedish and Polish.

Growing up lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender in the EU can be challenging; in the UK alone, studies show that almost two-thirds of LGBT teens experience homophobic bullying whilst 60 per cent feel that there is neither an adult at home nor at school who they can talk to about being gay [2].

Jean, a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT rights, said: “Every young person has the right to live their life free from the fear of bullying and in an environment which embraces diversity, yet many teenagers in Europe still suffer from homophobic attacks, abuse and mistreatment.

“IDAHO gives us all the opportunity to celebrate equality.  The EU has a responsibility in ensuring that the LGBT community can live free from oppression by taking a firm stance against homophobia and by fostering a positive shift in public attitudes and behaviour.  By openly rejecting intolerance, we can make sure life really does “get better” for our young people.”

Notes to Editor

1. The video can be watched at http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-leaders-it-gets-better
2. ‘Education for All – Tackling homophobia in secondary schools’, Stonewall. http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_school/education_for_all/quick_links/education_resources/5739.asp

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