The Rainbow Platform is celebrating its two-year anniversary of inspiring political engagement for stronger diversity and representation across Europe. 

Founded in November 2021 by Luis Cano and Daniel Csomor with ALDE Party members Centerpartiet (Sweden), Momentum Mozgalom (Hungary), Nowoczesna (Poland), D66 and VVD (The Netherlands), the Rainbow Platform is a cross-institutional initiative that aims to elevate LGBTQI+ voices by creating role models who can inspire change through their fight for equal rights on a local and European level.

United in representation!

34 liberal parties from all over Europe have pledged to actively create a diverse political landscape by signing the Rainbow Platform Dublin Diversity Declaration at the #ALDECongress this weekend!

We cross the road to progress together! pic.twitter.com/5G4Y0bmaCV

— Rainbow Platform (@RainbowP_EU) June 7, 2022

At the ALDE Party Congress in June 2022, 34 other liberal parties joined the call by signing the Dublin Diversity Declaration with a pledge for a more diverse and open political representation. 

Over the last two years, the Rainbow Platform launched several publications including "The Blue Book of LGBTQI+ Liberal Representation" and "The Liberal Book of Diversity", curating a host of analysis, writings and commentary on prominent liberals across Europe, with the debut of the Rainbow Platform Magazine coming up in May 2024. 

Diversity is a liberal value!

It feels fantastic to be back with our liberal friends at the @ALDEParty Congress in Stockholm to discuss inclusive parties and diversity in European politics.

The future is liberal!#ALDEcongress pic.twitter.com/mnQq5dd5xR

— Rainbow Platform (@RainbowP_EU) May 27, 2023

The Rainbow Platform has also launched several programmes, including the Diversity Circles of Expertise, a project combining a long-term learning course with three in-person workshops for the operational leadership of liberal organisations to shape their internal cultures to empower diversity.  

Meanwhile, the Talent Diversity Incubators feature a series of round table discussions between staff and candidate recruitment teams from political parties, experts and practitioners to debate inclusive recruitment, internal party culture management and dealing with identity politics within liberal organisations.

The second session of the Diversity Talent Incubator is in the books!

On Friday we completed the second occasion in our series of moderated discussions around the topic of inclusive politics, at the heart of European politics, in Brussels, and in cooperation with @fnfeurope.… pic.twitter.com/hjyodNOrZ3

— Rainbow Platform (@RainbowP_EU) June 25, 2023

Finally, ALDE Party and the Alliance Of Her have partnered the Rainbow Platform for its Liberal Diversity Commissions, a series of political discussions to reach common liberal conclusions and produce consensus statements about issues affecting politically underrepresented minorities. 

Over 180 participants attended the first event at the ALDE Party Congress in Stockholm in May this year, where the first commission discussed liberal solutions to hate crimes against the LGBTQI+ community, fighting anti-LGBTQI+ legislation worldwide and solidarity with civic movements standing for individual freedoms. 

Make sure to follow the Rainbow Platform on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. If you would like to get in touch, email [email protected] 

Greetings from beautiful Budapest! 🇭🇺

Our passionate participants from all over Europe came together for the Circles of Diversity Discussions made possible by @EurLiberalForum, diving deep into the ways of creating diverse and inclusive parties. It's been an enriching journey!… pic.twitter.com/sEH4lOJYM0

— Rainbow Platform (@RainbowP_EU) October 15, 2023

Photo: Rainbow Platform