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UK: LGBT political group anger at trans law 'changes'

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By Ben Hunte

LGBT groups from the UK political parties have expressed "disappointment and anger" over potential changes to laws affecting trans people.

Leaders of the groups representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members directly addressed the minister for women and equalities in a letter.

They fear leaked plans show it could be harder for trans people to transition.

The government said it will publish its response to a consultation on the Gender Recognition Act in the summer.

The LGBT groups featured in the letter to Liz Truss, seen by the BBC, are from the Conservatives, Labour, Scottish National Party, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Greens and Alliance parties.

The groups are concerned the potential plans will see the government amend laws to make it more complicated for trans people to transition and access facilities such as toilets and changing rooms.

The leak, first reported by the Sunday Times, stated that ministers have "ditched" plans developed under Prime Minister Theresa May to allow trans people to change their birth certificates without a medical diagnosis, and that "safeguards" will be put in place to "protect safe spaces for women," with amendments to the Equality Act. Read more via BBC

Cross-Party LGBT+ Group Statement on Trans Equality

We write together as representatives of the LGBT+ Groups of seven political parties represented in Westminster. We stand together in our opposition to any proposal to place unnecessary restrictions on trans people, hindering their ability to live freely and without fear.

It’s now nearly two years since Theresa May launched the LGBT Action Plan. There was an acknowledgement that trans people faced indignities and prejudice. We all welcomed efforts to reform the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), to remove the current costly, overcomplicated and bureaucratic process and move towards a self-declaration process – which is used, without issue, in eight countries across the world, including the Republic of Ireland.

As well as waiting for a year for the Government’s consultation to be launched, it has now been over 18 months when there has been no response from the Government. These delays have meant trans people have had to face abuse and continuous scaremongering and vilification in the media.

If recent reports in the media are correct regarding the Government’s plans for trans rights in the UK we will condemn their actions, and work cross-party in the interests of making the lives of trans people across the UK better. We are deeply alarmed that the government may be looking at restricting access to trans healthcare for young people or excluding people from the changing rooms and bathrooms of the gender with which they identify.

The proposed measures are of deep concern. We believe they would lead to the inappropriate policing of gender in single-sex spaces such as bathrooms, additional mental health needs amongst those who were unable to transition, and breed a culture of mistrust and aggression towards trans people and others who don’t meet society’s gender expectations.

Finally, we wish to register our concern about the Government’s recent statements on trans children and young people. This contrasts to the Minister’s statement that all trans adults should be “free to live their lives as they wish without fear of persecution”. Young people’s healthcare should be guided by evidence,best practice and Gillick competence. Right now practitioners in the NHS and decades of research back the current approach to supporting trans people.

We stand united across parties in our firm support for our trans siblings. The last time that the UK moved backwards on LGBT+ equality was in 1988 with the introduction of “Section 28”, which left a whole generation of LGBT+ young people without an education that recognised them. A rollback on trans rights risks repeating past mistakes.

We urge the Minister for Women and Equalities to:

  • Meet with the representatives of this broad political coalition to hear our position on trans equality

  • Rule out any revisions to the Equality Act 2010 or any restrictions on trans young people’s access to healthcare

  • Publish a timeline for legislation for meaningful reform of the GRA in line with recommendations of the Women and Equalities Select Committee inquiry and the results of the Government’s consultation.