Rainbow Cities Network (RCN) has launched new LGBTQ+ policy guidelines for local governments in Europe. Published on Friday, October 20, Rainbow Cities in Action encompasses a series of recommendations and examples for authorities to improve the lives of the queer community.
In order to enhance accessibility, the guidelines are available in eight different languages: Catalan, Dutch, French, German, Montenegrin, Slovenian, Spanish and English.
The document builds upon the European Commission’s LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and proposes more than 30 recommendations accompanied by 21 cities that have successfully implemented such policies. The guidelines are divided into four different strands: Responsibility and Accountability, Awareness and Education, Access and Participation, and Visibility and Representation.
“With this brochure, we share our experiences, our knowledge, and our expertise, to achieve equal rights for queer people everywhere,” Juliane Steeger, Chair of RCN and Hannover city LGBT Officer, said.
“The past two years we worked on putting together best practice examples from more than 20 European cities on how to battle discrimination and improve the living conditions of queer people on a local level and we are very pleased to present the outcome to the public now.”
Cork, through its LGBTI+ Inter-Agency Steering Group, is the only RCN representative from the island of Ireland, with the city’s Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran Mc Carthy saying, “It is our sincere hope that many more cities on our shared island and across the world will follow us in seeking and achieving Rainbow City status.
“Cork and its citizens are leading the way in recognising, supporting, celebrating, listening to and learning from our LGBTQI+ communities; making Cork a great place to live and work for all our citizens. In the world we live in, togetherness and inclusion are more important than ever.”
Local Cork Rainbow Cities representatives added that they are delighted to be collaborating “on this important work to create a network of safer, more inclusive and LGBTIQ Friendly cities across Europe”.
To find out more about Rainbow Cities Network and the new LGBTQ+ policy guidelines for local governments in Europe, visit www.rainbowcities.com.
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