"I'm afraid of where things are going. Europe is still the light when it comes to human rights and democracy and freedom of expression, given what else is going on in the world but it's a flickering light."
"It's clear that Russia has decided that this is one of the issues that they're taking an interest in. Putin has embraced a particularly conservative form of Christianity, and they're spreading that message into Europe."
"So in many ways they had a kind of liberal influence from America pushing one way and very conservative forces from Russia pushing the other way. And now the Americans are off the pitch. There's a chill wind coming in from the west as well as from the east and that's where Europe is now caught."
Leo Varadkar, Ireland's former taoiseach and first out gay prime minister, warns that LGBTQ+ rights in Europe are under threat from conservative forces on both sides. Russia actively exports a conservative Christian agenda into Europe, while the United States has withdrawn its traditional liberal influence, with over 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and American corporations reducing Pride sponsorships. Varadkar emphasizes that Europe must step up as the primary defender of human rights and democracy, as the continent faces a squeeze from both eastern and western pressures. He stresses that progress in human rights is not guaranteed and can be reversed, calling Europe's commitment to these values a flickering light.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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