Media Reporting and Reference Guide on LGBT Issues

• Sexism: Any act, gesture, visual representation, spoken or written words, practice or
behaviour based upon the idea that a person or a group of persons is inferior because
of their sex, which occurs in the public or private sphere, whether online or offline,
with the purpose or effect of:
i. violating the inherent dignity or rights of a person or a group of persons; or
ii. resulting in physical, sexual, psychological or socio-economic harm or suffering to a
person or a group of persons; or
iii. creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment; or
iv. constituting a barrier to the autonomy <strong>and</strong> full realisation of human rights by a
person or a group of persons; or
v. maintaining <strong>and</strong> reinforcing gender stereotypes (Council of Europe
Recommendation No (2019)1)
• Transphobia: is a matrix of cultural <strong>and</strong> personal beliefs, opinions, attitudes <strong>and</strong>
aggressive behaviours based on prejudice, disgust, fear <strong>and</strong>/or hatred directed
against individuals or groups who do not conform to, or who transgress societal
gender expectations <strong>and</strong> norms. Transphobia particularly affects individuals whose
lived gender identity or gender expression differs from the gender role assigned
to them at birth, <strong>and</strong> it manifests itself in various ways, e.g., as direct physical
violence, transphobic speech <strong>and</strong> insulting, discriminatory media coverage, <strong>and</strong>
social exclusion. Transphobia also includes institutionalized forms of discrimination
such as criminalization, pathologization, or stigmatization of non-conforming gender
identities <strong>and</strong> gender expressions (TGEU 2016 July 4).
Marriage, family, parenthood <strong>and</strong> LGBT people
• Cohabitation agreement/rights: two persons living together at the same physical
address can, in some European countries (<strong>and</strong> regions), make a legal agreement on
some practical matters (which vary from country to country). The rights emanating
out of cohabitation are limited (ILGA Europe 2015).
• Custody rights: where an individual LGBTI person, trans parents or same sex couple
are treated in the same way as different-sex couples <strong>and</strong> single people when custody
of children is discussed (ILGA Europe 2015).
• Joint adoption: where a same-sex couple is allowed to apply for adoption of a child
(ILGA Europe 2015).
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