Government has been chided for not including trans people in its Employment (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill, 2020.

The tongue-lashing has come from chairman of the United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTRANS) Alexa Hoffmann, who has accused authorities of neglecting the concerns of persons in the LGBTI community.

As a result, she has started an online petition to include trans people in the Bill. The petition, which is aiming to attract 1,000 signatures has so far garnered over 800 supporters.

Hoffman said it was disappointing that Government did not consider gender identity and expression in its tabling of the Bill.

“In Barbados, legislation intended to protect individuals in the workforce from discriminatory practices was tabled and debated in Parliament. The Employment (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill, 2020, seeks to protect various categories of individuals from discrimination, including those of divergent sexual orientation.

“However, nowhere in the Bill is mention made of gender identity and expression, despite members of Parliament stating categorically that numerous consultations were held with civil society organisations. Furthermore, members of the LGBTI community in Barbados have reported that recommendations were made to include gender identity and expression in the Bill, however these recommendations fell on deaf ears and were not included,” Hoffmann maintained. Read more via Barbados Today