Homophobia and Discrimination on

National Council for Combating <strong>Discrimination</strong> (Romania) <strong>and</strong> The Danish Institute for
Human Rights. 359 In Romanian legislation it is considered an aggravating circumstance if
a person is discriminated against on more than one ground. 360 In Irel<strong>and</strong>, detailed
statistics of cases involving discrimination on more than one ground are available,
including the intersection of sexual orientation <strong>and</strong> other grounds. 361
There is rather limited data on LGBT persons’ experiences of multiple discrimination in
the EU. According to The National Disability Authority (2005) in Irel<strong>and</strong>, ‘being an
accepted member of a subculture is vital to [the] process of valuing one’s own identity
<strong>and</strong> social role.’ 362 The experience of not being an accepted member of any subculture
or minority community may put members of multiple identity groups in a vulnerable
position <strong>and</strong> lead them to establish their own communities. Furthermore, as a European
Commission report 363 suggests, the single ground approach may fail to represent the
reality of discrimination as it is experienced by individuals with multiple identities.
Good practice: In interview, the LGBT NGO Cultuur en Ontspannings-Centrum [COC
Netherl<strong>and</strong>s] highlighted that it has established special groups for disabled LGBT
persons <strong>and</strong> cooperates with organisations for the elderly. They have opened a café in
Nijmegen for mentally disabled gays <strong>and</strong> lesbians. 364 Another Dutch project concerning
elderly LGBT persons was initiated by several civil society organisations with
government funding. The project identifies the needs of elderly LGBT persons,
particularly regarding social <strong>and</strong> medical care. 365
Pilot projects for LGBT youth with a non-Dutch ethnic background are taking place in
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague <strong>and</strong> Tilburg focusing on breaking isolation <strong>and</strong>
providing counselling, support <strong>and</strong> shelter. 366
Being LGBT <strong>and</strong> part of an ethnic minority
The double minority status of LGBT persons expresses itself in different ways <strong>and</strong>
generates complex challenges. The coming out process can be particularly difficult for
an ethnic minority LGBT person within her/his own community as confirmed during
359 Fieldwork meeting with the Equal Treatment Commission (Netherl<strong>and</strong>s 31 March 2008); The Equality
Authority (Irel<strong>and</strong> 3 April 2008); the Danish Institute For Human Rights (Denmark 23 April 2008); the
National Council for Combating <strong>Discrimination</strong> (Romania 7 April 2008)
360 Fieldwork meeting with the National Council for Combating <strong>Discrimination</strong> (Romania 7 April 2008)
361 Fieldwork meeting with The Equality Authority (Irel<strong>and</strong> 3 April 2008)
362 National Disability Authority (2005) Disability <strong>and</strong> Sexual Orientation: A Discussion Paper. Dublin: NDA.
P. 14
363 European Commission (2007) Tackling Multiple <strong>Discrimination</strong>. Practices, policies <strong>and</strong> laws
364 Fieldwork meeting with the COC (The Netherl<strong>and</strong>s 31 March 2008)
365 Fieldwork meeting with the COC (The Netherl<strong>and</strong>s 31 March 2008)
366 Fieldwork meeting with the COC (The Netherl<strong>and</strong>s 31 March 2008)
Part II - The Social Situation
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