by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
The European Union's commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, Viviane Reding, has received kudos from the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights for including gender-identity equality in the EU's 2010-2015 strategy for equality between men and women.
The plan commits the European Commission to promoting less-rigid gender roles, examining discrimination based on gender identity, and analyzing whether EU member nations adequately protect transgender people's access to goods and services.
"This is a positive sign that the European Commission has started listening to both (the European) Parliament and civil society," said Intergroup Co-President Ulrike Lunacek. "I am optimistic that this strategy will ultimately have a positive effect on the lives of many transgender people."
Intergroup member Marije Cornelissen said she and other MEPs hope the commission "will not only monitor the situation carefully, but also that it will be firm with member states violating European equal-treatment legislation."
