Chapter 1 1 Introduction Among the recent positive developments in European Union law with regard to the legal situation of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons, the clear prohibition of discrimination in employment and occupation contained in the Employment Equality Directive is the most important. Certainly, since 1999 article 13 of the EC Treaty, which forms the legal basis for this Directive, already mentions sexual orientation among the protected grounds, but this Treaty provision only enables the Council of the EC to adopt appropriate action against discrimination. This is precisely what...

Homosexuality: A European Community Issue is a groundbreaking study of the situation of lesbians and gay men in the European Community and how this will be affected by the evolution of the EC into the European Union. It provides a cogent analysis of the social, legal and economic discrimination against homosexual men and women, their organisations and businesses. Twelve authors from different academic backgrounds investigate if, where, and how the European Community institutions are competent to combat discrimination against lesbians and gay men. The authors deal extensively with many...