Greens warn that exclusion from harassment in Equality Act is "appalling"

NEWS FROM LGBTGreens In the GREEN PARTY of England and Wales

http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/

Welcome for Equality Act

Greens warn that exclusion of LGBTs from harassment is “appalling”

Equality Act enshrines hierarchies

8.4.10

Peter Tatchell commenting on the Act said: "The Equality Act includes many positive advances for LGBT rights. But it is appalling that harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity is explicitly exempted. This exemption applies to many institutions, including schools. Under the Equality Act, schools will have no legal obligation to prevent the harassment of LGBT staff or pupils, despite the pandemic of homophobic bullying. Gordon Brown supported this exemption, as did David Cameron."

Caroline Lucas, Leader of the Green Party, commented:

“Tories battled the Equality Bill in the House of Lords while the vote on the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 was only supported by 29 Conservative MPs[1]- the following members of the shadow cabinet voted against the bill: Kenneth Clarke, Mark Francois, Dominic Grieve, Erik Pickles and George Young. Many more members of the party were conspicuous by their absence with a Conservative turnout of 58.2%[2]

“The Green Party will continue to campaign on 6 core areas which offer the strongest, most comprehensive and radical LGBT equality policies of any party:

(1) Open up civil marriages and civil partnerships, without discrimination, to both same-sex and opposite sex couples.

(2) Require all police forces to have LGBT Liaison Officers with paid time allocated within their work schedules to tackle homophobic and transphobic hate crime.

(3) End the blanket, lifetime ban on gay and bisexual blood donors.

(4) Amend the Equality Bill/Act to provide explicit protection against harassment to LGBT people.

(5) Refuse visas and work permits to "murder music" singers and others who incite homophobic and transphobic violence.

(6) Ensure safe haven and refugee status for LGBT people fleeing persecution in violently homophobic and transphobic counties.”

Phelim Mac Cafferty, National Chair of LGBT Greens stated: “There can be no doubt that the Green Party welcomes the Equality Act which will become one of the final pieces of legislation of this government to be read before prorogation. However let us also be clear: we will continue to demand that LGBT are explicitly protected from harassment under legislation.

“The Green Party has deep concerns that the way in which the Equality Act has been written may establish a hierarchy in how equalities are understood. So for example the rights of lgbt people could be pitted against those with religious beliefs.”

ENDS