Liberal Democrats welcome International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

Baroness Liz Barker, Lord Jonny Oates and fellow Parliamentarians marking IDAHOBIT 2016 with LGBT+ Stronger In Europe

On Tuesday 17th May, we as a international community recognise that people facing homophobic, biphobic or transphobic discrimination and harassment wherever it exists is not acceptable and has to be fought against in every possible way.

It is something we should be challenging every day of the year. The consequences to individuals are life-threatening, whether that's execution or imprisonment in 78 countries across the world, or the pervasive grind of bullying in the classroom, workplace or sports field. We must remove discrimination to enable people to lead their lives to be free, loved and respected whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.

On this day, Co-President of LGBT+ Lib Dems Baroness Barker and fellow Peer Lord Oates joined the LGBT+ Stronger in campaign for Europe, highlighting that this day "serves to amplify that we must not be complacent about our freedoms and rights. The fight to remain in the European Union is crucial to keep our protections gained through European Court of Human Rights. We don't want to become synonymous with Belarus or Russia".

Chair of LGBT+ Lib Dems Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett, following an early morning breakfast event at KPMG on mental health, highlighted that "LGBT+ phobia leads to bullying, mental illness and breakdown increased suicidal behaviour especially amongst the trans community, and that worldwide we all have to acknowledge the devastating impacts of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and the consequences that this endures and we must do everything to eradicate it in all forms."