Standing up for LGBTI+ rights, Member of the European Parliament for Malta and Gozo, PN MEP Roberta Metsola underlined that gender identity should not be classified a mental disorder. 

"We have come so far in the last years, with the World Health Organisation leading the way in this regard, but LGBTI+ rights are still unevenly protected across the EU," said Metsola who joined cross-party calls for a debate on the issue in the European Parliament. 

"I am still receiving too many people contacting me with heart-breaking stories of discrimination and even violence. It is not acceptable and the EU still needs comprehensive protection against discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation or sex characteristics. Sterilisation is a requirement for legal gender recognition in eight Member States, and 18 member states require a mental health diagnosis. We must do better," said Metsola who is a Member of the European Parliament LGBTI InterGroup. 

In a report adopted on 4 February 2014, the European Parliament called on the Commission to work on a multiannual policy framework to protect the fundamental rights of LGBTI people. Roberta Metsola was the principle EPP negotiator on that report. 

The issue is expected to be debated in the European Parliament in the coming weeks.