Rainbow Families Not Recognized in Half of EU
Rainbow families — families in which parents identify as LGBTQ — are not recognized by almost half of the European Union, EUObserver reports.
RAND Europe research examined the access rainbow families have to maternity, paternity, and parental leave throughout the EU. While efforts have been made to standardize family leave, families' rights are dependent upon whether rainbow — and other non-traditional — families are recognized at the national level. In such instances, this is because same-sex marriages and partnerships are not recognized by that given country.
So far, thirteen member states of the EU recognize same-sex marriage and also allow same-sex couples to adopt, while fourteen allow adoption of a partner's child by non-biological parents; and eight automatically register same-sex co-parents as such when a child is born. In the twelve remaining EU member states, same-sex parents are not recognized by law.
The report by EUObserver compares the rights afforded rainbow families in Denmark versus Poland, the latter of which has been troubled by anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation, particularly in recent years. For instance, where a Danish same-sex couple could get married and adopt in any number of ways, in Poland neither the options of marriage or adoption are available. When LGBTQ couples and rainbow families move from one EU member state to another, their rights are at stake.
Last month, the European Commission unveiled its first-ever EU Strategy for LGBTIQ equality, in order to address and remedy inequalities throughout the EU — including homophobic hate speech, hate crimes, and the rights of same-sex couples and rainbow families. The Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said, "We are still a long way away from the full inclusion and acceptance that LGBTIQ people deserve. Together with the Member States, I trust we can make Europe a better and safer place for all. In this regard, the strategy calls on those Member States that do not have national LGBTIQ equality strategies to adopt one, addressing the specific equality needs of LGBTIQ people within their country."
Where the protection of rainbow families is concerned, the Commission states they "will bring forward a legislative initiative on the mutual recognition of parenthood and explore possible measures to support the mutual recognition of same-gender partnership between Member States."