Being Trans in the EU – Comparative analysis of EU LGBT survey dataFigure 5: Perceived level of discrimination on the grounds of g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity, by respond<strong>en</strong>ts to the 2012Eurobarometer and the 2012 EU LGBT survey (%)EU <strong>trans</strong> average4585CY*76100IT6495PL3590RO2589FRPT53508887BG1687HR( 1 )8741UK86EL6486ES5385IE2083HULT*34308281Eurobarometer 2012FI5181EU LGBT surveyDE3780MT*5180LV*1780ATSI*BEDK3742453879787777NL5077SK2776SE5776LU*3572EE*CZ22237169EU LGBT Survey Question:0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100C1A. In your opinion, in the country where you live, how widespread is discrimination because aperson is Transg<strong>en</strong>der?Special Eurobarometer 363 Question: QC1 For each of the following types of discrimination, could you please tell me whether, in youropinion, it is very widespread, fairly widespread, fairly rare or very rare in (OUR COUNTRY)?Discrimination on the basis of g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity (<strong>being</strong> <strong>trans</strong>sexual or <strong>trans</strong>g<strong>en</strong>der).Notes:Base:Figure 5 depicts the perc<strong>en</strong>tage of <strong>trans</strong> respond<strong>en</strong>ts who chose response categories ‘Fairlywidespread’ and ‘Very widespread’.* Cases with fewer than 30 responses.(1) The special Eurobarometer 363 did not include Croatia.Trans respond<strong>en</strong>ts in the EU LGBT survey; all special Eurobarometer 363 respond<strong>en</strong>ts. The specialEurobarometer 363 did not include Croatia.Source: FRA, EU LGBT survey, 2012 ; special Eurobarometer 393, 201226
Discrimination: experi<strong>en</strong>ces, awar<strong>en</strong>ess, reporting and perceptionssurvey are pres<strong>en</strong>ted alongside those from the SpecialEurobarometer 393. 38 Both surveys asked respond<strong>en</strong>tshow widespread, in their opinion, discrimination basedon a person’s sexual ori<strong>en</strong>tation and g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity isin their country of resid<strong>en</strong>ce. The results are not directlycomparable but are pres<strong>en</strong>ted here together to id<strong>en</strong>tifymajor discrepancies and tr<strong>en</strong>ds.Trans respond<strong>en</strong>ts to the EU LGBT survey are more likelythan Eurobarometer survey respond<strong>en</strong>ts to say thatdiscrimination based on a person’s g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity iswidespread in their country of resid<strong>en</strong>ce. The EU LGBT<strong>trans</strong> respond<strong>en</strong>ts are more likely to be directly affectedby discrimination based on a person’s g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>titythan the Eurobarometer’s random sample.Trans respond<strong>en</strong>ts’ views and those of Eurobarometerrespond<strong>en</strong>ts differ by country. The lowest differ<strong>en</strong>cesare found in Swed<strong>en</strong> (19 perc<strong>en</strong>tage points) andGreece (22 perc<strong>en</strong>tage points), and the highest in Bulgaria(71 perc<strong>en</strong>tage points), Romania (64 perc<strong>en</strong>tagepoints ) and Ireland (63 perc<strong>en</strong>tage points).1.4. Discrimination inemploym<strong>en</strong>tEU-wide protection against discrimination in the areaof employm<strong>en</strong>t and occupation is provided for in theG<strong>en</strong>der Equality Directive (recast). The directive, asinterpreted in light of CJEU case law, covers discriminationon the ground of g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity with respect to<strong>trans</strong>g<strong>en</strong>der persons who underw<strong>en</strong>t, are undergoingor int<strong>en</strong>d to undergo g<strong>en</strong>der reassignm<strong>en</strong>t. EU MemberStates have a legal obligation to set up structures tocombat discrimination and to promote equal treatm<strong>en</strong>tin employm<strong>en</strong>t, by <strong>trans</strong>posing this legislation. TheEuropean Parliam<strong>en</strong>t called on the European Commissionto include a focus “on g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity wh<strong>en</strong> monitoringthe implem<strong>en</strong>tation of Directive 2006/54/EC”. 39In addition, the European Social Charter refers to “theright to equal opportunities and equal treatm<strong>en</strong>t in mattersof employm<strong>en</strong>t and occupation without discriminationon the grounds of sex” (Article 20). The Charteralso contains an anti-discrimination clause, accordingto which “the <strong>en</strong>joym<strong>en</strong>t of the rights set forth in thisCharter shall be secured without discrimination on anyground […].” 40 At the UN level, Article 6 of the ICESCRguarantees the “right to work, which includes the right38 For the results of both the EU LGBT survey andthe Eurobarometer survey, see the FRA mainresults report (<strong>2014</strong>). For more information on theEurobarometer 393 (2012), see http://ec.<strong>eu</strong>ropa.<strong>eu</strong>/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_393_<strong>en</strong>.pdf.39 See Point C (i) of the EU Roadmap against homophobia anddiscrimination on grounds of sexual ori<strong>en</strong>tation and g<strong>en</strong>derid<strong>en</strong>tity (European Parliam<strong>en</strong>t (<strong>2014</strong>).40 Part V, Art. E.of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living bywork which he freely chooses or accepts.” Taking intoaccount the anti-discrimination clause from Article 2.2of the ICESCR, this right must “be exercised withoutdiscrimination of any kind.”In Recomm<strong>en</strong>dation 2010(5),the Council of Europe m<strong>en</strong>tionsemploym<strong>en</strong>t in the context of g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity:“Member states should <strong>en</strong>sure effective protectionagainst discrimination on grounds of sexual ori<strong>en</strong>tationor g<strong>en</strong>der id<strong>en</strong>tity in employm<strong>en</strong>t and occupation in thepublic as well as in the private sector.” 41 What is more,the Committee of Ministers agreed that “[p]articularatt<strong>en</strong>tion should be paid to providing effective protectionof the right to privacy of <strong>trans</strong>g<strong>en</strong>der individualsin the context of employm<strong>en</strong>t, in particular regardingemploym<strong>en</strong>t applications, to avoid any irrelevant disclosureof their g<strong>en</strong>der history or their former name tothe employer and other employees.” 42The FRA survey asked respond<strong>en</strong>ts if they had felt personallydiscriminated against because of <strong>being</strong> <strong>trans</strong>wh<strong>en</strong> looking for work or at work in the year precedingthe survey. To develop a broader understanding of <strong>trans</strong>persons’ experi<strong>en</strong>ces at the workplace, respond<strong>en</strong>tswere also asked if they had be<strong>en</strong> op<strong>en</strong> about <strong>being</strong><strong>trans</strong> at work, and if they had heard or se<strong>en</strong> negativecomm<strong>en</strong>ts or conduct towards LGBT persons, orexperi<strong>en</strong>ced g<strong>en</strong>eral negative attitudes regardingLGBT persons at work, during the five years precedingthe survey.1.4.1. Discrimination wh<strong>en</strong> lookingfor a job or at work in thelast 12 months“I just feel it is sad. I tried to get a job with op<strong>en</strong>ness andhonesty about my <strong>trans</strong> past and didn’t find any. I lie myass off saying that I am the rather large and masculine Momof two grown boys and have be<strong>en</strong> in employm<strong>en</strong>t about12 years now based on a lie [...] Living the lie is easier thanfighting all the time against society in everyday life [...It ]keeps myself and my boys fed and clothed.”(Trans, Lesbian, 44, Germany)Over one in three <strong>trans</strong> respond<strong>en</strong>ts have felt discriminatedagainst because of <strong>being</strong> <strong>trans</strong> wh<strong>en</strong> looking for ajob (37 %) and slightly over a quarter report discriminationwh<strong>en</strong> at work (27 %) in the 12 months preceding thesurvey (Figure 6). This is more than twice the perc<strong>en</strong>tageof lesbian, gay and bisexual respond<strong>en</strong>ts who havefelt discriminated against in employm<strong>en</strong>t. A breakdownin subgroups shows that of all <strong>trans</strong> respond<strong>en</strong>ts, <strong>trans</strong>wom<strong>en</strong> are the most likely to indicate that they have feltdiscriminated against.41 Point 29.42 Point 30.27
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