Do you have friends or relatives in non‑EU countries who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or have another non-cisgender identity or non-heterosexual orientation? The EU is working to protect their rights, as many non‑EU countries do not respect LGBTI+ people's human rights, criminalise homosexuality or punish LGBTI+ advocacy.

In 2013, the EU adopted LGBTI+ guidelines requiring EU delegations (diplomatic missions) to take a proactive approach to promoting LGBTI+ people's human rights, with a focus on decriminalisation, combating discriminatory laws and policies, fighting LGBTI+-phobic violence, and supporting LGBTI+ human rights defenders. EU delegations must also include LGBTI+ people's rights in the human rights strategies they develop with host countries.

The EU's first-ever LGBTI+ equality strategy, released in 2020, includes measures to spearhead LGBTI+ equality around the world. It envisages stronger EU engagement on LGBTI+ issues in all its external relations at political and technical levels. In 2023, the European External Action Service – the EU's diplomatic service – adopted a plan to promote diversity and inclusion among its staff and in its work with others.

Through its Global Europe funding, the EU also supports action worldwide to defend LGBTI+ rights. Moreover, the EU's human rights action plan calls for more EU action to prevent and combat all forms of discrimination against LGBTI+ people in its dealings with non‑EU countries. In April 2023, the European Parliament called for the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality and trans identities.