Last week the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released their response on the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) and so-called ‘conversion therapy’.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is supposed to 'promote and uphold equality, human rights ideals and laws across England, Scotland and Wales', yet this response fails trans and non-binary people, and the entire LGBTIQA+ community.
Updating your gender should be simple, and as Green Party policy states, we support the right for individuals to update their legally recognised gender by self-determination, the only requirement being a statutory declaration. The EHRC warning the Scottish parliament from going ahead with these plans is deeply damaging, and shows their lack of regard for trans and non-binary people, lived experience and expert opinion.
The rights and protection of trans and non-binary lives is a necessity and the ban of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ must include them. The EHRC’s suggestions are ill-informed, and puts our trans siblings at further risk from this psuedo-scientific torture.
As an supposedly ‘impartial’ equality organisation, they should have done far better. The statements, and recent evidence showing that senior officials at the EHRC met with anti-trans lobbyists, highlights their incompetence. These actions have undermined the EHRC’s ability to upload human rights and do its job, leaving the commission no longer fit for purpose. It is concerning that this ‘impartial’ organisation has become a voice for the government, who has continually delayed any action to support our trans and non-binary siblings. We join the many LGBTIQA+ organisations and human rights groups in condemning the EHRC. Our communities need a stronger human rights organisation.
We urge you to complete the conversion therapy consultation by February 4th and to sign Stonewall’s open letter to review the EHRC.
To find out what else you can do to help make sure the law protects all LGBTIQA+ people from conversion therapy, check out this page.
