Anti-trans speeches reported to increase at Brussels events

POLITICO reported that a series of events were held in Brussels, the European Parliament and other EU institutions, against the backdrop of discussions on trans rights. Human rights organizations say that in the past year, anti-trans speeches in Brussels have been increasingly given space on institutional platforms.

Cianán Russell, policy representative for ILGA-Europe, noted that the trans issue is “a politically easy target” because it concerns “a small and widely misunderstood community.” According to him, at least five events have taken place at the European Parliament in the past year, where anti-trans actors have gained access to more formal, institutional spaces. One of these was the “Seventh Transatlantic Summit” held this month. The US-based Global Project Against Hate and Extremism reported that some speakers at the event mocked trans people.

The organizers of the events rejected this, stating that they “respect the dignity of every person” and that “using scientific data” on the topic of “transgenderism” was not a mockery. At the same time, it was noted that there were speakers who made comparisons that equated trans identity with animals. Such comparisons are seen as part of a rhetoric that questions the human status of trans people and presents them as frivolous, even dangerous.

Other events held at the European Parliament have used titles such as “The Threat of Trans Ideology” and have claimed that the EU is “addicted to gender ideology.” Such statements frame queer identities as a political project or ideological threat. This serves to present the rights of trans people and LGBTQI+ people in general as a contested political position, rather than a fundamental human right. Human rights activists see this as part of a process of withdrawing fundamental rights.

According to the European Parliamentary Forum (EPF), hundreds of groups associated with the so-called “anti-gender” movement raised a total of $1.18 billion between 2019 and 2023. These groups lobby on issues such as abortion, sex education and trans rights. In the US, these discussions are mainly led by religious right-wing forces, while some American groups are reported to be collaborating with political figures and think tanks in Europe.

In the UK, the debate around trans rights has intensified in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to base the legal definition of women on biological sex. According to ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, the UK has fallen from its highest position in 2019 to 22nd place out of 49 countries in 2025. Rights activists see this as an indicator of changes in the legal and political environment.

These processes are not just a theoretical debate for queer communities. The portrayal of trans identities as an “ideology,” a “threat,” or an “elite value” can weaken their legal protections, reinforce public stigma, and increase security risks. The legitimacy of this rhetoric, especially in political institutions, could have long-term impacts on LGBTQI+ people’s opportunities to participate in civil society and the protection of their rights.

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