Pride in 2026: How open data supports equality in Europe
Every June, Pride celebrations take place across Europe, bringing
visibility to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex
(LGBTQI+) communities and advocating for equal rights. In 2026, these
events coincide with the implementation of the European Commission’s
LGBTQI+ equality strategy
[https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/lesbian-gay-bi-trans-and-intersex-equality/lgbtiq-equality-strategy-2026-2030_en],
which aims to ensure that everyone in the EU can live freely and
safely. As Pride highlights both progress and ongoing challenges, data
plays a key role in understanding the real-life experiences behind
these celebrations. 

Across the EU, research shows a mixed picture. Findings from the
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
[https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=35ec278e64428585f11dfa046df5161be15b8cd71760435abe457ae2f23230d9JmltdHM9MTc4MDYxNzYwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=104a5717-23b3-6a2c-3933-428a225e6b5b&psq=the+european+union+agency+for+fundamental+rights&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9mcmEuZXVyb3BhLmV1L2Vu]
indicate that more people feel comfortable being open about their
identity, yet over half still report experiencing harassment.
Large-scale surveys such as the FRA LGBTQI survey data explorer
[https://fra.europa.eu/en/publications-and-resources/data-and-maps/2020/lgbti-survey-data-explorer]
provide detailed insights into discrimination, safety, and quality of
life for more than 100,000 respondents. These datasets help
policymakers, researchers, and civil society organisations track
trends and identify where action is most needed. 

Platforms like the European Data Portal [https://data.europa.eu/en]
make datasets on equality, demographics, and social conditions freely
available, enabling transparency and evidence-based policymaking. In
addition, Eurostat’s work on equality statistics allows data to be
broken down by characteristics such as age, gender, and sexual
orientation. The European Data Portal also hosts datasets from FRA
[https://data.europa.eu/data/catalogues/fra?locale=en&sort=relevance%2Bdesc,+modified%2Bdesc,+title.en%2Basc]
and Eurostat [https://data.europa.eu/data/catalogues/estat?locale=en],
helping reveal inequalities and intersectional discrimination. By
opening this information, institutions empower citizens and
organisations to better understand disparities and advocate for
inclusive policies. 

As pride month unfolds, exploring open data is a powerful way to move
from awareness to action. Discover datasets, stories, and tools on the
European Data Portal, and learn how data can support equality for
all. 

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Publication Date/Time
2026-06-10T08:00:00+00:00
From visibility to evidence – using data to strengthen LGBTQI+
rights