The European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian groups a member of the Council of Europe within the International NGO (INGO) Conference. As from this year the European Forum also is a full member of the European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network (EFPN). As part of our Working Group Political Advocacy we were present at a number of meetings on the topic of the access to healthcare for LGBTI persons, taking place in Strassbourg on 14-16 November 2023.

Three meetings were held:

1. Working Group on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression
and sex characteristics (GT-ADI-SOGI).
The working group has the task to give policy recommendations to the Committee of Ministers of the European member states on issues important for the LGBTI community. In this meeting the need for a comprehensive glossary to facilitate a transparent communication was expressed, and the outlines for various reports were discussed with topics such as the rights for intersex persons.

2. A European Roundtable on advancing healthcare access for LGBTI people in Europe. Several experts from all over Europe shared their research and best practices. Topics of other roundtables are: trans specific healthcare, healthcare for older people, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

3. The Roundtable of the European Governmental LGBTI Focal Points Network
A meeting not unlike our AGM. A big part of the agenda was next year's IDAHOT Forum in The Hague, the Netherlands, for which the European Forum is invited to organize a workshop.

The European Forum is the only (volunteer) organisation active in this place that connects religion and LGBTI in a positive way. It is therefore a unique opportunity to make our voices heard.

More on the work of the Council of Europe on the position of LGBTI+ persons:
https://www.coe.int/.../european-governmental-lgbti-focal...
https://www.coe.int/.../sexual-orientation-and-gender...

Wielie Elhorst and Kees Goedegebuur