Several "fundamentalist" groups in Ireland are opposed to the Lisbon Treaty “precisely because” it protects the rights of gay people and other minorities, it was claimed today.
The Labour Party’s Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Rights (Labour LGBT) said the Charter of Fundamental Rights included in the treaty sought to prevent discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Speaking at the launch of the Labour LGBT’S campaign for a Yes vote in Dublin today, Labour’s Joe Costello said: “It is because of these human rights commitments for gay men and women in the European Union treaties and in Lisbon, in particular, that the fundamentalist group Cóir is so vehemently opposed to the Lisbon Treaty”.
The Dublin Central TD welcomed the addition of Labour LGBT to the list of groups campaigning in support of the treaty, which he said was an indication of the diversity of support which exists for Lisbon.
He said the gay community in Ireland should be to the forefront in this campaign as the EU was founded on the values of respect for minorities.
“And the Charter of Fundamental Rights further enhances the human rights and equality provisions,” he said.
Mr Costello said the European Parliament was debating a controversial Lithuanian legislative proposal which would ban “public information that agitates for homosexual relations”.
He said MEPs were concerned that the proposed law would contravene fundamental human rights and therefore the values on which the EU is based.
“Already the EU takes very seriously its commitment to human rights. The Lisbon Treaty will enhance and copperfasten that commitment,” he said.
Under the slogan “Lisbon is Good for Gays”, Labour LGBT said several articles in the charter relating to the prevention of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and guaranteed rights to assemble represented “major steps forward”.