ATHENS – “Seventeen years ago, May 17 was designated as International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, which is celebrated in all modern democracies. Not as a fashion of the time. But as a moment of brave admission,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday in his message for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

“Acknowledging that, for decades, millions of people around the world have been – or continue to be – victims of prejudice. Discrimination, violence, persecution, and even murderous attacks. While others were led to misery, isolation, and even suicide,” he said.

He pointed out: “As a father, today I address the parents of LGBTQI + children. To ask them the obvious: to never stop loving and supporting them. But also as a prime minister, I pledge that I will not leave anyone alone in this struggle for freedom and equality. I will be next to the teenager who is bullied at school because he is gay. I will be next to the transgender person who does not find a job because of his gender identity. I will be next to the woman who is stigmatised as a lesbian.

The injustices and hatreds that, unfortunately even today, exist for our fellow citizens, must finally be eliminated. That is why the state is rapidly implementing the National Equality Strategy. The abolition of the ban on blood donation by homosexuals, the participation of transgender people in the work programmes of OAED and the ban on the so-called conversion therapies are just some of the policies that are already being implemented.

I know that much remains to be done. Modern Greece, however, has the will, the maturity, the heart and the soul to cover the lost ground. And if there is one thing we must keep from this day it is the image of a just society where everyone can freely be themselves. Happy for that, and in solidarity with each other. Because a free country is a country that has free citizens,” Mitsotakis concluded in his message.