Brussels, Belgium. Elam MEP Geadis Geadi criticised the display of the LGBT flag outside the European Commission headquarters, saying it amounted to an “unacceptable equation” with official state flags. In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he asked whether the Commission was “institutionally equating the LGBT flag” with sovereign state flags and the EU flag.
Letter to the Commission president
Geadi sent the letter on Monday following events marking May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, during which the LGBT flag was raised outside Commission buildings. He said European institutions were being transformed into “a mechanism for promoting political and activist symbols” and requested clarification on the basis for such displays.
Questions on legitimacy and institutional neutrality
Geadi asked whether there was “democratic legitimacy or any approval from European citizens” for EU institutions to display symbols linked to specific social or political causes. He also asked whether the Commission had shown “similar sensitivity, symbolic gestures or public statements” for the International Day of Families as it had during Pride Week events.
Criticism of von der Leyen’s social media comments
Geadi also criticised comments published by von der Leyen on social media in which she wrote that “the Commission is proud” and described Pride Week as “a celebration of love, identity, courage and community”. He said the statements represented “the open political identification of European institutions with specific ideological agendas” and what he described as “the complete abandonment of institutional neutrality by Brussels”.
Commission response and EU practice
The European Commission has not publicly responded to the letter. The EU regularly marks the International Day Against Homophobia through public statements and awareness initiatives linked to equality and anti-discrimination policies.
Do you agree with Geadis Geadi’s call for clarification on the display of the LGBT flag at European Commission buildings?
