On 24 and 25 February, Luxembourg's prime minister Xavier Bettel was at the EU-Arab League summit in Sharm El Sheikh representing the Grand Duchy.

Xavier Bettel, who is the first openly-gay prime minister to ever be re-elected for a second term, did not shy away from discussing homophobia at the summit between the EU and the Arab League.

Indeed, Bettel brought a room to silence when he reminded those present that he is married to a man and if he lived in some of the countries represented at the summit, he would face the death penalty for his sexuality. The statesman confronted those countries with their homophobia by being present at the summit and highlighting his sexuality.

Nichts sagen war für mich keine Option.XB https://t.co/g19bc88V1H — Xavier Bettel (@Xavier_Bettel) February 27, 2019

ZDF correspondent Stefan Leifert reported on Bettel's confrontation with heads of states representing homophobic countries. He described the reaction as a room half full of icy silence and half full of silent glee on behalf of those who supported Bettel's assertion.

Bettel then responded to Leifert's tweet, writing: "To remain silent was not an option for me."

Bettel married his partner Gauthier Destenay in 2015 following the same-sex marriage law reform that came into effect in the same year.