The motion of greeting for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, celebrated on 17 May, was presented by the BE at the private meeting of the city council executive, taking place at City Hall.

According to executive sources, of the five points foreseen in the motion, only the one referring to raising the rainbow flag at the City Hall was rejected.

The other points were opposed by Chega but approved with the support of the other political forces.

Thus, the council approved “to salute the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, reaffirming the commitment of the Municipality of Lisbon to the equality, dignity and human rights of all people”, “to express recognition for the work carried out by LGBTI+ associations, collectives and activists who, in Lisbon, fight daily against discrimination and for the construction of a city where all people can live in safety, freedom and respect” and, also, “to reaffirm the importance of municipal public policies that promote inclusion, education for diversity and the effective fight against hatred, prejudice and violence”.

The rainbow flag, a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride, was hoisted for the first time at Lisbon City Hall on 17 May 2016, at the initiative of Citizens for Lisbon, and was considered the first time it was raised in a city hall or public institution in Portugal. Last month, PSD, Chega and CDS-PP approved, in a final global vote in the Assembly of the Republic, a bill that prohibits the hoisting of flags "of an ideological, partisan or associative nature", including the LGBTI+ flag, on public buildings.

The new law covers "all buildings, monuments, facilities, flagpoles, facades and interiors for official use, belonging to or assigned to sovereign bodies, services of the direct and indirect administration of the State, autonomous regions, local authorities and other public entities".

The new law provides for fines of between €200 and €2,000 for negligence and between €400 and €4,000 for intent.