LGBTIQA+ Greens call on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to "reverse course and create guidance that protects trans people rather than simply ostracising them"
LGBTIQA+ Greens have sent an open letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) outlining their concerns with the recent 'guidance' from the EHRC with the title ‘Clarifying the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act’.
In the letter, LGBTIQA+ Greens state "It is extremely disappointing to see an organisation with its remit in Equalities law advocating for the removal of rights for transgender people in this country" and go on to say "This is yet another attempt to de-humanise trans people and we cannot stand for it."
The letter calls on the EHRC to "reverse course and create guidance that protects trans people rather than simply ostracising them."
The LGBTIQA+ Greens committee, Green Party of England & Wales Leadership, key GPEW elected representatives and many other GPEW members have signed the letter.
The full letter is below.
Baroness Kishwer Falkner
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Third Floor
Windsor House
50 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0TL
Dear Baroness Falkner,
We are writing to you as the LGBTIQA+ affiliate of the Green Party of England and Wales in regards to a recent article posted on your behalf with the title ‘Clarifying the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act’. We are deeply concerned that this is fundamentally at odds with the spirit of the Equality Act 2010 as well as the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
As you know, this letter advises the government to treat trans men with a GRC as women and trans women with a GRC as men; we believe this advice to be contrary to Section 9, subsection 1 of the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Trans women are women and trans men are men in all cases, but those with a GRC are legally their gender in the eyes of the UK government. It is extremely disappointing to see an organisation with its remit in Equalities law advocating for the removal of rights for transgender people in this country.
This latest move also harms the recognition of intersex and non-binary people, who have even less protection in UK law than binary trans people. We believe in the full recognition of non-binary identity and allowing intersex people to be authentically themselves without being forced to pick a gender that doesn’t reflect their reality.
Trans people face significant discrimination in their lives, particularly when it comes to dealing with the British state. Trans healthcare is being chipped away at and forcing trans people to go to separate clinics simply slows down the system and prolongs the suffering of many trans people. This is yet another attempt to dehumanise trans people and we cannot stand for it.
We sincerely hope you will reverse course and create guidance that protects trans people rather than simply ostracising them.
Signed:
Cade Hatton
Co-Chair, LGBTIQA+ Greens
Trans Liberation Officer, Young Greens
Conferences Committee Member
Dylan Lewis-Creser
Co-Chair, LGBTIQA+ Greens
Equality & Diversity Officer, Young Greens
Green Party candidate for Fulwood Ward, Sheffield
Mina Cousins
External Communications and Press Officer,
LGBTIQA+ Greens
Manchester Green Party
Thomas Atkin
International Officer, LGBTIQA+ Greens, Sheffield Green Party Elections Coordinator & Candidate for Graves Park Ward, Sheffield
Joshua Harris
Campaigns Officer, LGBTIQA+ Greens
Marz King
Membership Secretary, LGBTIQA+ Greens
Membership Secretary, Greens of Colour
BME Officer, Federation of London Green Parties
Membership Secretary, Sutton and Croydon Green Party
Olli Watkins
Co-Secretary, LGBTIQA+ Greens
Ria Patel
Liberation Officer, LGBTIQA+ Greens
Sutton & Croydon Green Party
Green Party Spokesperson for Equalities & Diversity
Green Party Councillor for Fairfield, Croydon
Matt Rogan
Policy Officer, LGBTIQA+ Greens
Rob Callender,
Digital Communications Officer, LGBTIQA+ Greens,
Co-Chair Newham Green Party.
Supported by:
Carla Denyer
Co-leader, Green Party of England and Wales
Zack Polanski
Deputy Leader, Green Party of England and Wales
Anthony Slaughter
Leader, Wales Green Party
Chesca Walton
Co-Chair, Green Party Women
Benali Hamdache
Green Party Councillor in Islington
Green Party Spokesperson for refugees and migrants
Catherine Rowett
Spokesperson for work, employment and social security, former MEP,
Norwich Green Party
Nate Higgins
Green Party Councillor in Newham
Green Party Spokesperson for Democracy and Citizen Engagement
Danny Keeling
Newham Council Leader of the Opposition, Green Party Councillor in Newham
Sian Berry
Green member of the London Assembly
Caroline Russell
Green member of the London Assembly
Rowan McLaughlin
Candidate for Saltburn Ward (Redcar and Cleveland)
Green Party South Tees Coordinator
Finn White
Co-Chair, LGBTIQA+ Young Greens
Under 18s Officer, Young Greens
Ash Routh
Candidate for Walkley Ward (Sheffield)
Green Party Regional Council Rep (Yorkshire & Humber)
Alexi Dimond
Green Party Councillor for Gleadless Valley, Sheffield
Ben Foley
Green Party Councillor for Castle Ward, Bedford
Green Party Regional Council Rep (Eastern)
Joe Hudson-Small
Green Party Regional Council Rep (London)
Adam Turner
Green Party Regional Council Rep (Wales)
Scott Ainslie
Co-Leader of Lambeth Green Group of councillors
Pete Johnson
Elections Co-ordinator, Lambeth Green Party
Phil Davies
Campaigns Officer, Young Greens
Gwent Green Party
Chris Jarvis
Leader, Oxford City Council Green Group
Emma Edwards
Green Group Leader, Bristol Green Party
Rachel Collinson
Former Business Spokesperson
Disciplinary Committee (London rep)
Lee Huntbach
Tameside Green Party, Sole Green Councillor on Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Claire Carr
Deputy Group Leader of the Green Group on Hastings Borough Council, Hastings Green Party
Dan Kittmer
Young Greens Chair, Cambridge Green Party
Melanie Earp
Green Party Regional Council Rep (North West)
2021 Candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester
Trafford Green Party
Bex Whyman
Sheffield Green Party
2022 Candidate for Mayor of South Yorkshire, Candidate for Dore & Totley Ward, Sheffield
Jenny Vernon
Candidate for Filton Ward (South Gloucestershire)
Elections Coordinator, South Glos Green Party
Disciplinary Committee (Conference)
Elaine Francis
Co-Chair, South Tyneside Green Party
Cllr David Francis
Green Group Leader, South Tyneside Council
South Tyneside Green Party
Isabella Metcalf-Riener
Candidate for University Ward (Lancaster)
Green Students Committee
Cllr Lucy Pegg
Deputy Leader on Oxford City Council Green Group, Young Greens LGBTIQA+ Officer
Miranda Heath
Events Officer, Young Greens
Benjamin Wold Birmanis
International Officer, Young Greens
Elise Benjamin
Comms Officer, Jewish Greens
Green Party International Coordinator
Patrick McAllister
Green Party Councillor for Hotwells & Harbourside, Bristol City Council
Robin Brabham
Cambridge Green Party
Disciplinary Committee (Conference representative)
Darren Yates
Co-ordinator Derbyshire Green Party
Treasurer East Midlands Regional Green Party
Green Party Regional Council Rep (East Mids)
Candidate for Hasland ward (Chesterfield)
Mark Posen
Candidate for Stour Valley North Ward (Braintree)
Witham and Braintree Green Party
Catherine Goodman
Green Party Councillor for Church, St Neots
Huntingdonshire Green Party
Ben Samuel
Campaigns Committee, Green Party of England and Wales
Martin Phipps
Green Party councillor for City ward, Sheffield Council
Amanda Jobson
Green Councillor Hastings Borough Council, Hastings Green Party
Vinnie Wainwright
Co-coordinator, Bristol Green Party
Treasurer, South West Green Party
Chris Brooks
Co-Chair, Newham Green Party
Alex Catt
Green Party councillor for Sewell, Norwich City Council
Co-Chair of Norwich Green Party
Jenny Bartle
Green Party Councillor for Easton, Bristol City Council
Cllr Daniel Laycock
St Neots Town Council &
Chair - Huntingdonshire Green Party
Laura Eccott
Chichester and Arundale Green Party
Non-Portfolio Officer, Green Party Women
Rupert George
Policy and Campaigns Officer for the Federation of London Green Parties
Ruben Gonzalez
Secretary for the Federation of London Green Parties
Adi Daly-Gourdialsing
Diversity Officer Federation of London Green Parties
Devon Osborne
Membership Secretary, Green Party Women
Alastair Binnie-Lubbock
Green Party Councillor in Hackney
Zoë Garbett
Green Party Councillor in Hackney
Nathalie Bienfait
Green Party Councillor in Tower Hamlets
Rachel Rodwell
Candidate for Allington Ward
Maidstone Green Party
Cllr Ani Stafford-Townsend
Bristol Green Party
Green Councillor for Bristol City Council
Former Green Party Women Co-Chair
David Farbey,
Treasurer Barnet Green Party, Treasurer London Green Party,
Non-Portfolio Officer Jewish Greens
Paul Burgess
Comms Officer, Tower Hamlets Green Party
Edward Saul
Social Media Officer, Cheltenham Green Party
Tabi Joy
Green Party Councillor for St. Paul’s Ward, Cheltenham
Charlotte Lafferty
Chair
Waltham Forest & Redbridge Green Party
Lizzie Waight
Social Officer, Tower Hamlets Green Party
Florent Zwiers
Co-chair, Tower Hamlets Green Party
Malcolm Powell
Coordinator, London Green Party
Simon Levey
Events Officer, Tower Hamlets Green Party
TJ Milburn
Treasurer and election agent, Exeter Green Party
Cllr Matthew Snedker
Coordinator, Darlington Green Party
Cllr Bryony Holroyd
Campaign Manager, Darlington Green Party
Mike McTimoney
Safeguarding Officer, Electoral Officer, Darlington Green Party
Jon Barley,
Data Manager, Darlington Green Party
Rachael Reid
Internal Comms, Darlington Green Party
Peter Greenwood
External Comms, Dalington Green Party
Roz Henderson
Members Secretary, Darlington Green Party
Megan Hemsley
Equality Diversity and LGBTQ+ Co-Contact, Young Greens Coordinator, Darlington Green Party.
Jane Mitchell
Equality Diversity and LGBTQ+ Co-Contact, Minutes Secretary, New Members Contact, Darlington Green Party.
Co-ordinator and Mentor for Phoenix Trans Darlington.
Anna-Maria Toms
Darlington Green Party
Kate Mammolotti
Darlington Green Party
Martin Wood
Darlington Green Party
Louise Maddison
Darlington Green Party
Thomas Robinson
Darlington Green Party
Judith Parker
Darlington Green Party
Richard Lawless
Darlington Green Party
Stefan Liberadzki
Co-ordinator, Hackney Green Party
Jake Welsh
Manchester Green Party
Katie Fenn
Sheffield Green Party
Peter Brommer
Coventry Green Party
Robert Crowston
Cardiff, Vale & RCT Green Party
Owain Sutton
Trafford Green Party
Rob & Nicole Freeman
Sheffield Green Party
Sam Easterby-Smith
Manchester Green Party
Kerry Dooley
Green Party South Tees
Ben Brown
Sheffield Green Party
Glenn Haffenden
Hastings Green Party
Jay Calderisi
Cardiff, Vale & RCT Green Party
Jon Owen
Kendal Green Party
Meg Shepherd-Foster
Maidstone Green Party
Laura Potter
Manchester Green Party
Avery Withers
Sheffield Green Party
Logan Robin
Sheffield Green Party
Emma Garnett
Oxfordshire Green Party
Barry Jobson
South Tees Green Party
Tony Nicholson
Doncaster Green Party
Phil Di Palma
Norwich Green Party
Matthew Jenkins
Worcester Green Party
Amy Benson
Sheffield Green Party
Chris Ogden
Manchester Green Party
Rebecca Mulvaney
Sheffield Green Party
Louis Stephen
Worcester Green Party
Fiona Aviani-Bartram
Sheffield Green Party
Robert Gardner
Waltham Forest and Redbridge Green Party
Sue Avery
Worcester Green Party
Neil O’Doherty
North Somerset Green Party
Stephen Brennan
Wakefield Green Party
Connie Muir
Sutton & Croydon Green Party
Emily Stewart
Mole Valley Green Party
Valerie Remy
Southwark Green Party
Xingyu Liu
Tower Hamlets Green Party
Kirsty Chestnutt
Tower Hamlets Green Party
Emma M. Dungey-Betts
Brighton and Hove Green Party
Haris Hussnain
Gwent Green party
Jack Philipson
Gateshead Green Party
Hilary Rosser
Sheffield Green Party
Easwar Vivekanandan
Solihull Green Party
Alice Spendley
Hackney Green Party
Melissa Poulton
Worcester Green Party
Amelia Jones
Lancaster Green Party
Grazyna Buczkowska
Manchester Green Party
Maria Deery
Lancaster Green Party
Simon Stafford-Townsend
Bristol Green Party
