LGBTQI Inclusive Education Faces Alarming Backlash in Europe, Warns IGLYO’s New Index & Map
Press Release, 20 May 2025
The Third Edition of IGLYO’s LGBTQI Inclusive Education Index and Map raises the alarm for LGBTQI Inclusive Education in Europe, exposing little progress since 2022 and a total of 7 countries with laws and policies prohibiting the mention of LGBTQI topics in schools.
IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation’s research continues to show that young people and children who are LGBTQI, or are perceived to be, experience higher rates of discrimination, violence and bullying in schools. This deeply impacts their wellbeing and mental health, as well as their ability to succeed. Safe and inclusive schools and learning environments as well as protective legislation are essential to guarantee their fundamental right to Education.
With this in mind, IGLYO just released the Third Edition of their LGBTQI Inclusive Education Map and Index. This interactive tool scores and ranks 49 countries in the European Region based on how inclusive their education systems are for LGBTQI youth and students. Each country is scored according to a set of 10 indicators. For instance, does the country have in place any anti-bullying policies or national action plans to protect LGBTQI learners? Do the country’s laws protect against discrimination in schools? Are learning environments inclusive for trans and intersex learners? Are LGBTQI topics included in the school curriculum? Do teachers and educators receive mandatory training on LGBTQI topics? And more.
But let’s cut to the chase: the overall picture is deeply concerning. Since the last edition of IGLYO’s research in 2022, there has been very little progress in the European region, and in some countries, the situation has gotten much worse. A growing number of countries are rolling back on LGBTQI rights and adopting anti-LGBTQI laws that ban the mention of LGBTQI topics to people under the age of 18 and in schools. This was already the case in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Latvia, and Russia. Now Bulgaria, Georgia, and Türkiye have also introduced similar measures.
“Education is under scrutiny and the rise of the anti-gender movement has positioned inclusive education as a key focal point, with debates around diversity, inclusion, and human rights being instrumentalised to advance broader anti-rights agendas”, says IGLYO Policy & Research Officer Amélie Waters (They/She).
But there are also reasons for hope. Most countries that were already top of the class in 2022 have continued to improve their scores. This is true for Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, which demonstrates that progress is possible even in a challenging political climate. IGLYO’s map also highlights best practices implemented by governments and civil society across Europe, offering concrete inspiration for action, whether you’re a policymaker, an educator, or an activist.
“Education should never be a privilege or a battleground — it’s a fundamental right that must ensure safety and dignity for every LGBTQI learner. Hope is vital, but it cannot be our only road; we need action and accountability”, says IGLYO Board Chair Yassine Chagh (They/He).
Access the IGLYO Education Website & Map on https://education.iglyo.org.
The Map & Index will be further discussed at the IGLYO Proud Pupils Conference, which will gather over 150 civil society representatives, education professionals, youth activists and policy-makers on 25-27 June in Barcelona.
Key Findings
- The situation of LGBTQI Inclusive Education and the protection of the rights of LGBTQI learners has improved in 21 countries compared to 2022, including in Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, and Norway.
- However, in 13 countries, including Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, and the United Kingdom, the situation has deteriorated.
- In 15 countries, there has been no notable progress since 2022 in ensuring the rights of LGBTQI learners or in advancing inclusive education policies.
- Only six countries currently provide most of the recommended measures across Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden). Some regions in Spain have also implemented most of the measures.
- In contrast, 13 countries have failed to implement almost any measures at the time of this research (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Monaco, Poland, Russia, San Marino, Türkiye and Ukraine).
- Seven countries have put in place so-called “anti-LGBTQI propaganda” laws and policies that prohibit the mention of LGBTQI topics to minors and thus make it impossible for students to learn about LGBTQI-inclusive content in schools.
- Although 71% of Member States have adopted anti-discrimination laws, action plans, or policies related to LGBTQI inclusive education, this does not always translate into meaningful change on the ground. Key areas remain challenging across most countries, highlighting the gap between legislation and effective implementation in schools.
- Teachers still report that they lack the confidence and skills to discuss LGBTQI topics or to support LGBTQI students, yet only three Member States have introduced mandatory teacher training on LGBTQI topics.
- Most European states continue to inadequately protect the rights of trans, non-binary, and intersex children and youth in schools. 15 countries still do not have any type of legal gender recognition procedures in place.
- Self-determined legal gender recognition for LGBTQI youth under the age of 16 has only been reported in six Member States: Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, and Spain.
About IGLYO
IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is the world's largest network dedicated to LGBTQI young people and their rights. We represent the voice of over 125 Member Organisations in more than 40 countries across the European region. We advance the rights of LGBTQI young people, advocate for their equality and inclusion, empower their voices, and connect them across borders through international events, capacity-building training, thematic research, advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns, network building, regranting, and intersectional community dialogues. www.iglyo.org | www.education.iglyo.org
Contacts
- For Press Enquiries: Jeremy Gobin (He/him), Comms & Network Manager, jeremy@iglyo.org
- For Research Enquiries: Amélie Waters (They/She), Policy & Research Officer, amelie@iglyo.org
With the support of
The IGLYO LGBTQI Inclusive Education Website was produced with the support of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) 2021-2027 Programme of the European Union, and the Dutch Ministry of Education Culture & Science. The contents of the research are the sole responsibility of IGLYO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission or the Dutch Ministry.