The Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations (NELFA), a COFACE member, is very worried about the recent developments in Bulgaria and Italy. The Supreme Administrative Court in Sofia decided to leave “Baby Sara” at risk – against the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union in December 2021. And the government in Rome forces liberal cities to stop their co-mother recognition.
In a press release, NELFA’s new President Björn Sieverding says, “EU Members States must respect the private life of people, promote the best interests of a child and accept alternative family concepts including LGBTIQ* parents. A Bulgarian court just decided to leave a young child at stake because it didn’t accept legal parenthood by two lesbian mothers established abroad. And Italy replaces reason (the recognition of rainbow families as they are) with ideology (the only valid family is the one that consists of father, mother, and child). Our position is very clear: this needs to be corrected immediately. Rainbow families are families. Full stop!”
NELFA’s Vice President Dominique Boren adds, “NELFA will continue to convince governments, particularly in the EU, to ensure free movement and children’s rights for rainbow families. It’s time for supportive Member States to come out and to act as stakeholders for children with LGBTIQ* parents. The EU Commission has published a legislative proposal on parenthood recognition and it’s more urgent than ever to promote this comprehensive piece of paper that won’t hurt anyone but will better the situation for many.”
At its Annual General Meeting in Madrid, NELFA decided to work unyieldingly for the mutual recognition of parenthood within the EU and a rainbow families’ inclusive education. NELFA declares further: “We want to make schools safe for our children.” Prior to its Annual General Meeting NELFA, together with Galehi Asociación de Familias LGBTI, organised a rainbow families conference entitled ‘Families & Borders’. At the conference, NELFA shared an overview on the current legal status of LGBTIQ* parents in Europe.
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