Rainbow Rose Marks a Decade of Progress in Dublin and elects new leadership
Marking ten years since the Republic of Ireland’s landmark advances for LGBTIQ+ equality, Rainbow Rose held its General Assembly in Dublin on 21–22 November, hosted by Labour Ireland and its LGBTI network, Labour LGBTQ+. Delegates from across our political family gathered to celebrate progress, take stock of the challenges ahead, and to strengthen their common fight against the backlash on LGBTIQ+ rights in Europe.
Ireland has seen huge social progress in the past 15 years, making it the perfect country to not only host Rainbow Rose’s General Assembly with the support of LGBTQ+ Labour, but also to highlight and celebrate the success of referenda to achieve progressive change – notably equal marriage and the right to abortion.
However, across the continent, the rise of the far right and the direct attacks on the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people is of grave concern. Right-wing governments continue to scapegoat LGBTIQ+ people as a threat to the status quo and promote policies that actively undermine their basic rights. Whether in Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, or any other country where the community is under attack, we reaffirm a simple truth: LGBTIQ+ rights are, and always will be, human rights.
During the two-day programme, Rainbow Rose elected its Board for a new two-year mandate, heard reports from the out-going Board of its past work, considered policy motions and statute amendments, and hosted a workshop on how we can best support the transgender community – especially important given that this week we honour Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the PES and sister parties to hold national governments accountable on human rights, to ensure full compliance with the EU LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030, and to help create a safe environment for LGBTIQ+ people. This means refusing to look the other way as members of the community continue to face harassment and violence.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“Ten years of equal marriage in the Republic of Ireland. Building not only a more equal Ireland, but a more equal Europe. Love is not defined by gender or sexual orientation; it’s defined by how we live our lives and the people we choose to invite into our worlds. We stand for a progressive Europe. A Europe where we all progress together. A Europe where we can love without fear of intimidation, without fear of violence, without fear of death. This is what we as progressives stand for, and only when this has been realized for all, can we take the next step in the journey towards realising equality.”
President of Rainbow Rose, Dajana Bakić, said:
“Rainbow Rose’s power is in its members and its activism. This coming together, here in Dublin, is a powerful reminder that we can defeat far-right and populist ideology – and secure LGBTIQ+ equality by focussing on hope and building trust with people that can lead to lasting change. Never before have we seen this type of pressure on the LGBTIQ+ community, coming at us from many directions – both online and in-person, and from many actors and organisations. The use of the LGBTIQ+ community as a scapegoat is fuelling the climate of hate. And we are here to challenge and defeat those forces. I am determined, and trust that the newly elected Rainbow Rose Board, together with our members, activists and progressive allies can lead this fight and deliver lasting change for the LGBTIQ+ community through solidarity, unity, and courage.”
Ivana Bacik, Leader of the Labour Party in Ireland, and Rainbow Rose Presidency member said:
“The Labour Party is so proud to host Rainbow Rose here in Dublin at this significant year for us in Ireland as we mark the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum. We [Ireland] have come an enormously long way in a very short space of time, and Labour has been strong driving force in that. But as you all know, all these changes only come about through years of campaigning, years of advocacy, court cases, legal challenges, and brave people who are willing to put their head above the parapet and all of you have that bravery and courage. We can be proud of what the Labour Party has done, what the LGBT movement has done, what Labour LGBTQ+ has done, but there’s so much more to do and we are focused on the future and on future change. We have a motion on trans healthcare coming before the Dáil in a few weeks’ time and we’ve also been working to ensure that the gaps in Legal protections of children of same-sex couples with a Bill before the Dáil which we have been pioneering, too. So, there’s a lot still to be done, and we thank you all for all the work you’re doing across Europe in your own countries and LGBT rights. And we know that in Hungary and other countries across the EU that the far-right have made moves against LGBT rights, against feminism, against the Left, so we have to hold firm, and we must keep campaigning. I know we’ll never give up, and I know you’ll never give up.”
This commitment is fully in line with our PES Congress declaration Democratic, Vibrant and Inclusive Societies, where we reaffirm our zero-tolerance stance on all forms of discrimination and demand the full implementation of the EU Gender Equality Strategy and the EU LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy.
PES Panel: Learning from a Decade of Change
As part of the General Assembly in Dublin, a PES-branded panel took place, offering a moment to look back at ten years of historic progress in Ireland, to draw lessons from the campaigns that made these achievements possible, and to debate the challenges that remain for the LGBTIQ+ community in Ireland and across Europe.
The discussion brought together party representatives, activists and equality champions, reinforcing our shared commitment to defending and advancing LGBTIQ+ rights across the EU.
Ten years on from three landmark milestones in 2015, the referendum on marriage equality and the 34th Amendment to the Irish Constitution, the Children and Families Act, and the pioneering Gender Recognition Act based on self-determination, this gathering served as a space to celebrate, reflect, and renew our determination to push forward equality for all.
The new Rainbow Rose team for the next mandate is:
President: Dajana Bakić (SDP Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Secretary General: Ian Dylan Thomas (LGBT+ Labour, United Kingdom)
Treasurer: Carola Ebhardt (SPDqueer, Germany)
Vice Presidents:
Sam Van de Putte (Regenboog.Rood, Belgium)
Marene Elgershuizen (PvdA Roze Netwerk, Netherlands)
Sebastian Pay (SOHO, SPÖ Austria)
Board Members:
Jessica Ekerbring (HBTS, Sweden)
Sofia Di Patrizi (PD, Italy)
Karl Hayden (LGBTQ+ Labour, Ireland)
Control Commission:
Philipp Ebenbichler (SOHO, SPÖ Austria)
Jan Beugelaar (PvdA Roze Netwerk, Netherlands)