In October 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) approved the first-ever resolution specifically addressing the rights of lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women. This landmark resolution recognizes the unique challenges faced by LBQ women, who experience both gender-based violence and discrimination due to their sexual orientation.

A Historic Move for Equality

The resolution, authored by PACE rapporteur Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, aims to raise awareness of the struggles faced by LBQ women and calls for legal protections and support. Fresko-Rolfo emphasized the report’s intersectional approach, highlighting the compounded discrimination LBQ women face—especially racialized and trans lesbians. “We should be able to live together in all our diversities,” she said, underscoring the need for inclusive policies that protect all women, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The resolution condemns lesbophobia and discriminatory practices, such as LGBTI “propaganda” laws and the revocation of birth certificates for children born to lesbian families in Italy. It also calls on European countries to adopt national strategies to combat violence against LBQ women, support LBQ civil society, and improve access to legal protections. Member states are urged to ratify the Istanbul Convention, which addresses violence against women, and to provide training for authorities on properly handling cases of LBQ discrimination and violence.

Political Support for LBQ Rights

The resolution has received strong backing from European political leaders. Kim Van Sparrentak, chair of the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup, emphasized the importance of continued efforts to protect LBQ women’s rights. Kate Osborne, a Member of PACE, praised the resolution for addressing the rise of lesbophobia and for rejecting divisive narratives that pit trans women against lesbians.

Ilaria Todde, Advocacy Director of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C), called the resolution “a huge step toward achieving full equality for lesbians in Europe,” particularly in countries with weaker legal protections for LGBTI+ individuals.

Impact on Women in Sports

While the resolution focuses on legal protections and social recognition, its implications extend to sectors like sports, where LBQ women also face unique challenges. The WSRO: LBTI+ Women in Sport: Research & Outcomes project aims to gather data on the participation and visibility of LBQ women in sports, both in mainstream and LGBTIQ+ sports organizations. This initiative aligns with the Council of Europe’s resolution by promoting equality, visibility, and inclusion, particularly in the face of homophobia and discrimination in sports.

The European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF), which supports the WSRO project, works to create inclusive spaces for LGBTIQ+ individuals in sports. By addressing the barriers faced by LBQ women, the WSRO project complements the goals of the new resolution, which calls for comprehensive measures to protect and empower LBQ women in all areas of life.

Moving Forward

The adoption of this resolution by the Council of Europe represents a critical step in recognizing the rights of LBQ women across Europe. By encouraging member states to adopt protective measures, invest in LBQ support programs, and uphold human rights, the resolution creates a foundation for further progress. For initiatives like WSRO, this resolution provides an essential framework to advance equality, visibility, and inclusion for LBQ women in sports and beyond.

WSRO : LBTI WOMEN IN SPORT

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The overall objective of the project WSRO LBTI+ Women in Sport: Research & Outcomes is to start creating research data to reflect the situation regarding participation and visibility of LBTI+ women in sport, as individuals, and through their participation in mainstream and in LGTBIQ+ sports organisations, promoting equality and European values in and through sport by highlighting the needs, barriers, and challenges that they are presented with. While there is a certain focus on addressing homophobia in sport, discrimination, and violence against LBTI+ women is left largely unaddressed.

The project consortium comprises 4 organisations including Valencia University, recognised for its research into LGBTQI+ and gender equality issues, 2 local grassroots sport clubs from France and Germany and EGLSF, who represent LGBTQI+ in Europe. All organisations are dedicated to inclusion and diversity, and gender equality issues, recognise the distant lack of research available on the participation and visibility of LBTI+ women in sport and are eager to take steps to remedy this with this project by conducting qualitative and quantitively research.

The research report resulting from this project will offer the European sports community valuable insight into how to make both LGBTQI+ and mainstream clubs and sport organisations more diverse, welcoming and sustainable by understanding how they can address LBTI women with true offers of participation and engagement. And by taking their lived experiences and needs into consideration  here is a chance of a real offer to LBTI women for a pathway to sport participation and leadership, as well as the fulfilment of a European mandate to address barriers to participation to a HealthyLifestyle4All.

  • Read about the Kick Off meeting of the project HERE

PROJECT PARTNERS