The European Parliament has declared that the EU is an “LGBT freedom zone”, BBC News reports.

Such a resolution was adopted in response to Poland’s discriminatory policies towards the LGBT community. Recall that in recent years local authorities in Poland have called themselves “LGBT-free zones” and have banned same-sex couples from adopting children. Under the new law, authorities will be required to check the identity of anyone applying to adopt a child as a single parent. If such a person is found to be in a same-sex relationship, they will be criminally liable.

The document states that authorities at all levels of government in the EU must protect and promote the equality and fundamental rights of citizens, including LGBT persons. They may live freely within the EU and “publicly express their orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution”.

The resolution was supported by 492 MEPs, with another 141 voting against it and 46 abstaining.