From Free Speech to Hate Speech: The VII. Transatlantic Summit at the European Parliament

On February 3, another edition of the summit organized by the Political Network for Values (PNfV) took place, this time at the European Parliament in Brussels. As reported by an article published by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), the event featured speakers who defended Uganda’s highly repressive anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, mocked transgender people, and criticized bans on so-called “conversion therapy.” These positions were presented under the banner of “free speech” at a gathering that brought together anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-women actors from Europe, Africa, and the Americas, including U.S.-based organizations such as the Heritage Foundation, Family Watch International, and Alliance Defending Freedom International.

Several speakers used the platform to legitimize harmful narratives under the guise of protecting democracy and free expression. Ugandan MP Lucy Akello defended legislation that criminalizes same-sex relationships and allows for the death penalty in some cases, while other participants compared transgender identity to absurd or pathological claims and argued that affirming trans youth constitutes coercion. Conversion therapy was repeatedly defended, despite its characterization by the UN as a form of torture. Some speakers portrayed themselves as victims of censorship, even as they disseminated disinformation and hostile rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ people, women, and migrants.

The summit also served as a rallying point against the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which far-right actors framed as authoritarian censorship rather than a safety and transparency measure. Speakers attacked the EU, progressive governments, and content moderation policies, while defending Elon Musk and X amid ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny. Throughout the event, organizers and participants invoked “free speech” to shield extremist positions from criticism, illustrating how the concept is being weaponized within EU institutions to undermine LGBTQ+ rights, democratic norms, and human rights protections more broadly.

It was the first participation of José Antonio Kast, who chaired the PNfV for two years, after being elected for president of Chile, and shortly before his inauguration in March. He was received with great honors by those in attendance. In his closing speech at the event, he offered strategic acknowledgements, said he wanted to see the alliance between Europe and the United States strengthened, and attacked climate activism, animal rights advocacy, the defense of Indigenous communities, and gender equality.

In Kast's words: “Today, we are seeing the fruits of a culture dominated by isms. You may be wondering, what are these isms? Well, there is environmentalism, extreme environmentalism, which prioritises the environment over persons. Extreme animalism, you could call it. We, of course, respect animals, but that puts animals above human dignity. And we are seeing the genderism and radical fight for indigenous people.” He then called on participants to take action: “And I want to be very clear on this. It's not enough just to resist, as many say. It's not enough just to criticize or denounce, as many say. And it's not enough just to preserve spaces. We need to get involved. We need to influence and win.”

Also read the GPAHE article Weaponizing ‘Free Speech’ Against LGBTQ+ Rights at the European Parliament.

See more details on the event in our event calender and the Report from the VI. Transatlantic Summit in Madrid in December 2024 by Andrea Dip (in German language).