In 1776, in drafting the United States’ Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

And as I end my first week at the European Parliament in Brussels, I cannot help but think that even though this was a phrase which was coined for a place far away from here, at a time so distant to now, these words have never felt so close to my own heart.

As human beings, we are always on the pursuit of happiness. Be it the pursuit of family, friendship, self-fulfilment, or love- as human beings we are always seeking to attain a state of content which gives us fulfilment and makes us feel whole. But in Europe, while many of our countries recognise the right to life and liberty before the law- we stop before arriving at the need to recognise the pursuit of happiness a right within its own right. In France they have “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite”. In Germany, "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit". Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it’s "Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person". But happiness, even here, seems to get left behind.

But what is the pursuit of happiness? Is it leading the life you always dreamed of living? Is it loving someone with no boundaries? Is it growing a home and a family? Or is it something more basic? The laugh of your children or coming home to a happy dog, or maybe peace and solitude after a long day? The pursuit of happiness is whatever we know it to be in accordance with the lives that we chose to live. It is the acceptance of ones-self and the belief that we all deserve to be happy.

But the issue with this is that not everyone believes that everyone deserves to be happy. And as a politician, I refuse to allow that mentality to win.

The recent attacks on the rights of LGBTIQ persons in Hungary and Poland have shown us that the right to the pursuit of happiness is dependent very much on our privilege - who we love, where we live and who we happen to be. Many of these things are not choices, but yet they are seen by such Governments to be an act of defiance, rather than an identity.

This week was my first time speaking in the European Parliament Plenary and this coincided with the debate on the new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy proposed by Commissioner Helena Dalli. In my maiden speech, I wanted to send a clear message to my LGBTIQ brothers and sisters who find themselves in such repressive situations, having their fundamental rights ripped away from them. I wanted this to be my opening speech, because I recognise the privilege that I have living in Malta, over those living in Poland and Hungary. And I wanted to use my place of privilege to remind the European Institutions that while as Europeans we have indeed come far to recognise the pursuit of happiness- we still have much further to go.

As a gay Maltese man, I saw my government take into consideration my pursuit of happiness years ago, and today as a European politician I watch as the European Union has taken those ideas and chosen to implement them beyond our shores. However more must be done to ensure that all countries comply with these values. More must be done to ensure that LGBTIQ persons in Poland are not persecuted simply for their identity or who they happen to love. More must be done to ensure that LGBTIQ persons are given the right to the pursuit of their own happiness.

In my maiden speech, I wanted to remind institutions in power that the least governments can do, in whichever state, is to ensure that their citizens, be it men, women and even those who do not place themselves in a specific gender box, are allowed to reach their full potential. But how can we as human beings, reach our full potential if we are being denied our right to be ourselves? How can I, as a human being, consider myself to be free when I know that should my rainbow family and myself cross certain European borders- our right to love each other may be denied and our happiness may be forbidden.

So today, as I reflect back on my first month as a Member of European Parliament, I recognise that I have a duty to use my privilege, as someone whose country fights back against all those forces who want to make people’s happiness forbidden. I recognise that I have an opportunity to create change, to invite others to understand the greatness that comes with our individuality. But most of all, I have a duty to recognise that my pursuit of happiness is well on its way and thus it is my responsibility, as a Maltese, LGBTIQ European decision maker to use that privilege to bring up others who have not been granted those same opportunities. Thus, as I said in plenary this week, to my polish brothers and sisters- we will not forget you. Your fight is our fight.

 

Cyrus Engerer is an MEP