European Network of Parents of LGBTI+ Persons

The European Network of Parents of LGBTI+ Persons (ENP) is a non-governmental organisation based in Malta that connects and represents parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI+) people across Europe. It operates as a network rather than a commercial enterprise, bringing together parents' groups and individual parents who support their LGBTI+ children and who campaign for equal rights and social acceptance. Its public identity is built around family acceptance, the mental health and well-being of LGBTIQ youth, and the role that families play in protecting young people from discrimination and harm. ENP's activity is visible through its website, enparents.org, which serves as its main communication platform. The organisation publishes news, statements and resources, and it organises and takes part in events across Europe. Documented activities include participation in Moldova Pride in May 2019, an invitation to a Council of Europe round table in April 2019, and a webinar in collaboration with researcher Dr Caitlin Ryan and her team at the Family Acceptance Project on the critical role families have in the mental health of their LGBTQI children. In September 2022 ENP presented a manifesto in the Portuguese Parliament advocating for the rights of trans* and gender-diverse youth in Europe. A recurring ENP project is "Tell It Out!", a collection of parents' stories intended to encourage other parents to accept and support their LGBTI+ children. The book was launched in 2021, and in February 2022, with the support of the Council of Europe, an Albanian-language version was officially launched. The network also runs parent interviews and invites parents to join the network. ENP positions itself within the broader European LGBTIQ equality movement, engaging with institutions such as the Council of Europe and responding to European Union policy developments, including the European Commission's LGBTIQ equality strategy under the "Union of Equality" framework. Its focus is on the family as an agent of acceptance and on the rights of LGBTI+ youth, particularly trans* and gender-diverse young people. As an NGO network, it does not sell products; its "offerings" are advocacy, community building, resources and events for parents and families.

The European Network of Parents of LGBTI+ Persons (ENP) is a non-governmental organisation based in Malta that operates as a European network of parents of LGBTI+ people. Its documented public activity on its website, enparents.org, dates back at least to 2018, when it published parent interviews. In April 2019 ENP was invited to a Council of Europe round table, and in May 2019 it took part in Moldova Pride, indicating an early focus on engaging both with European institutions and with grassroots LGBTI+ events in different countries. In September 2019 ENP issued an open invitation for parents to join its network, reflecting its role as a membership and community-building organisation rather than a commercial entity. In November 2020 the network reported on the European Commission's LGBTIQ equality strategy presented under the "Union of Equality" framework, positioning itself within the broader European policy debate on LGBTIQ rights. A central project of ENP is "Tell It Out!", a collection of parents' stories aimed at encouraging parents to accept and support their LGBTI+ children. The project was published in May 2021. In February 2022, with the support of the Council of Europe, ENP officially launched an Albanian-language version of Tell It Out!, extending the reach of the resource to the Western Balkans. In September 2022 ENP presented a manifesto in the Portuguese Parliament advocating for the rights of trans* and gender-diverse youth in Europe, an example of its direct engagement with national parliaments. In November 2023 ENP co-hosted a free webinar with researcher Dr Caitlin Ryan and her team at the Family Acceptance Project on the critical role families have in the mental health of their LGBTQI children, linking its family-acceptance message to public-health and mental-health research. Across these activities, ENP has consistently combined advocacy at the European and national levels with resources and events for parents and families.

• ENP published parent interviews on its website.

• ENP was invited to a Council of Europe round table.

• ENP participated in Moldova Pride.

• ENP invited parents to join its network.

• ENP reported on the European Commission's LGBTIQ equality strategy under the Union of Equality framework.

• Publication of the Tell It Out! project.

• With the support of the Council of Europe, ENP launched the Albanian version of Tell It Out!.

• ENP presented a manifesto in the Portuguese Parliament advocating for the rights of trans* and gender-diverse youth in Europe.

• ENP co-hosted a webinar with Dr Caitlin Ryan and the Family Acceptance Project on family roles in LGBTQI children's mental health.

A European NGO network of parents of LGBTI+ persons advocating for family acceptance and LGBTIQ equality.

• Tell It Out!

  A collection of parents' stories aimed at encouraging parents to accept and support their LGBTI+ children; an Albanian-language version was launched in 2022 with the support of the Council of Europe.

• Webinars

  Online events such as the 2023 webinar with Dr Caitlin Ryan and the Family Acceptance Project on family acceptance and mental health.

• Advocacy manifestos and statements

  Policy documents such as the manifesto presented in the Portuguese Parliament in 2022 on the rights of trans* and gender-diverse youth.

1. 1ENP – European Network of Parents of LGBTI+ Personsenparents.org
2. 2European Network of Parents of LGBTI + Personswikidata.org