The European Union likes to say it's achieving "Unity through diversity," but that's not always the case when it comes to gay rights.

While Spain allows gay marriage, other nations, like Poland, stridently oppose such civil expansions. What, then, can progressive member states do? Nothing, says Vladimir Spidla, the Union's Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

Speaking with The International Lesbian and Gay Association's Destination Equality, Spidla explained that while the Union this year called for all nations to take steps toward inclusive non-discrimination policies, it's up to the home government to determine their own course, especially in terms of same-sex unions, marriage and partnerships.

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As a member of the European Union, Lithuania's meant to treat all its citizens with respect. Unfortunately, the nation's leaders don't always agree and have on more than one occassion found themselves embroiled in gay scandal. Take, for example, the capital city Vilnius mayor's repeated prohibition of gay pride. Or how about when they banned the European Union's gay bus from parking on government property? That was some bullshit, for sure.

Sick and tired of representing a homophobic country, Lithuanian foreign minister Petras Vaitiekunas spoke out against his nation's anti-gay ways this week:

…Vaitiekunas told the national parliament Monday that the country's reputation for homophobia was justified. "This is true: Lithuania is one of the most homophobic countries in the EU. This has to be viewed as a fact," Vaitiekunas said.
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"The situation cannot be changed by any one party or minister," Vaitiekunas said, adding that it would likely take a "change of generations" to develop a more tolerant attitude toward homosexuality in Lithuania.

Or perhaps more people like Vaitiekunas. Or, dare we say, more involvement from the European Union, which should really be holding its members accountable for their actions.

As France's security forces keep an eye on "radical" gay groups, like ACT-UP, Junior Human Rights Minister Rama Yade, seen here looking quite lovely, today pushed the EU and the United Nations to take more progressive stances on women's and gay rights, respectively:

France is to call for a European Union drive to tackle violence against women worldwide and for the United Nations to step up action against homophobia, the French human rights minister said on Wednesday.
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France, as holder of the six-month EU presidency, hopes to "set the criteria for EU intervention" in the fight against violence towards women, including by mobilising Europe's diplomatic networks.

Paris also plans to submit a draft declaration to the UN General Assembly in December aimed at combating homophobia and decriminalising homosexuality, which is punishable by prison in 90 countries and in theory by death in six of them, Yade said.

The European Union, too, could use a bit more gay progress - countries like Turkey and Poland continue to repress the lavender set.

Human Rights Watch puts more pressure on Turkey this morning.

The non-profit last month demanded that the nation cease-and-desist its anti-gay ways. Apparently the Turkish government didn't meet HRW's expectations, because they've today released a 123-page report highlighting human rights abuses against the homos.

In addition to compiling a startling collection of violence - like trans people being raped by cops - HRW's urging the European Union to withhold Turkey's membership until they've cleaned up their act.

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Poland
ain't alone! Latvia came out today to protest the European Court of Human Rights' ruling this week that single gays should be able to adopt babies. Two Latvian politicos describes the law as "completely unjustified and unacceptable". The dominant political parties say it refuses to compare gay people with "families". How quaint…

The Polish government continues its anti-gay ways. Officials announced that they will disregard yesterday's historic European Court of Human Rights ruling and will continue denying gay people the right to adopt.

Via UK Gay News:

If a similar judgment dealt with Poland we would still not agree to adoption by homosexuals”, said deputy speaker of the Polish Parliament, Stefan Niesiolowski, a member of the ruling Citizen’s Platform (PO).

“The Court can go on and make a ruling,” he continued. “[But] it still won’t be enforced in Poland. We will defend ourselves because it’s unthinkable that homosexuals would adopt children.”

It's unthinkable that Poland considers it's above EU mandates! Aren't there laws against that? If not, there should be!

Three cheers for the European Union! Well, most of it.

Sure, its employment policies hinder some homo movement, but the international governing group just extended a bit of a queer olive branch:

The European Union has become the first international body to have a treaty containing explicit language prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
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The Charter brings together into a single document all of the separate EU laws and regulations on human-rights but despite the fanfare it has no legal force. That will only happen when the parliaments of all 27 member states ratify a concord called the Lisbon Treaty that reforms the way the EU operates.

The International Lesbian and Gay Association - Europe hailed the Charter on Wednesday and urged member states to ratify the Lisbon Treaty saying that the document will advance the rights of LGBT people throughout Europe.

Britain and Poland refused to sign the Charter, for which they wanted a referendum. Spoil sports.

There may soon be some happy happy homos in Hungary. The government's currently debating the next step for gay rights legislation. Left-leaning politicos are reportedly holding talks on how to bring gay citizens into the cultural and social fray. Right-wing leaders, however, are vowing to oppose any measure, which comes after last week's Parliamentary committee voted not to hear the marriage matter. 365Gay delves deep:

Hungary's left-of-center coalition government is reportedly considering legislation that would give limited rights to same-sex couples.
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[Free Democratic Party] member Peter Gusztos said denying property and inheritance rights to same-sex couples was discriminatory. A member of a Budapest LGBT rights group compared laws limiting rights to opposite-sex married couples to the country's anti-Jewish laws of the latek 1930s.

The majority Socialist Party said that society is not yet ready for such a step and pointed to a recent court ruling that upheld the current law.

What prompted the change in attitude by the government is not known, but the country has been prodded by the European Union to recognize gay and lesbian relationships.

And when the EU prods, small, post-socialist states listen. They don't always do the right thing, but they listen…