Leader pledge responses

The scores for leaders are: Shahrar 4, Rosi 8 and Sian and Jonathan 8

We asked the three candidates for leader to back our eight LGBTIQA+ pledges. Rosi and Shahrar submitted written responses.  A committee of volunteers scored all written responses. We have scored:

  • Rosi Sexton -  8 points
  • Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley- 8 points
  • Shahrar Ali- 3.5 points out of 8
See the rest of the pledges

Pledge one - responses

We ask you to commit to: Campaign with the LGBTIQA+ Greens to protect trans rights in the Equality Act and fight for reform of the Gender Recognition Act. For a kinder and less bureaucratic process for recognising trans people’s gender

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 0

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"Yes, this is a priority for me. I understand the difficulties that the current process trans people have to go through to have their gender recognised is problematic and can cause a lot of needless distress."

"I reject the assertion that reform of the GRA would adversely impact the rights of cis-women, and I'm concerned that much of the misinformation being promoted by certain groups about this topic is designed to stir up resentment towards trans people." 

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar wrote:

"There is considerably more work required across the Party to establish our campaigning positions and ensure that everybody is on the same page. Absolutely, many of the original proposals for reform in the GRA that were being consulted over were fully in line with our policy, especially to reduce the administrative burden, wait time and cost of acquiring a GRC and to generally humanise the process for transgender people."

"However, a policy announced in our manifesto for the general election 2019 on self-declaration has not been approved by conference and must be proposed there first to make sure that all members have an opportunity to amend and debate it. The Scotland example shows that this is a very complex area."

We scored this zero

Pledge two - responses

Recognise non binary identities are valid and promise to ensure they are recognised in internal processes and in wider society

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 0

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"Yes. In addition, I would like to improve understanding of non-binary people amongst our membership about this issue, and where appropriate amplify the voices and perspective of non-binary people in explaining why this is important. "

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar wrote:

"Non-binary identities are valid and we need wider discussion, through conference, of what language should be used to describe all members according to their gender in our processes. For example, the terms “cis- gender” or “non-men” are neither universally understood nor liked by some who would be classified in those terms, including the public. "

We scored this zero

Pledge three - responses

Supporting reserved places on the Green Party Council for LGBTIQA+ people

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 0.5

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"I absolutely agree about the importance of ensuring that LGBTIQA+ people are represented in all of our decision making processes as a party."

"For technical reasons I don't want to make a concrete commitment to a specific method of doing it at this stage, however this seems a sensible approach. If a different method were suggested, that would need to be decided in close consultation with our LGBTIQA+ group." 

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar wrote:

"There should be wider discussion about which, if any, protected characteristics require reserved places on a new Council – as there would need to be equality of treatment about how these places would be filled in the round and which special interest groups should have dedicated representation and which not, say. "

We scored this half a point

Pledge four - responses

Supporting efforts to get more LGBTIQA+ people elected to be Councillors and more

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 1

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"Agree. It's crucial to ensuring that LGBTIQA+ people are properly represented at all levels in our democracy." 

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar unequivocally backed this pledge

Pledge five - responses

Supporting gender affirming healthcare for trans youth rejecting ideological interference with current practice

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 0

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"Yes. Healthcare decisions should be made with (not for) the people involved, and based on expertise and understanding of the subject. There's no place for ideology." 

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar wrote:

"I find this statement too vague to be able to affirm as is (e.g. age brackets, which ideology?). Moreover, whilst NHS healthcare provision and support should be improved, the medical science is still developing and risk of side-effects being studied. NHS advice currently states, “Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria.”

We scored this zero

Pledge six - responses

Agree to press for full implementation of the government's LGBT+ Action plan including legislating a ban on conversion therapy

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 1

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"Yes. Conversion therapy is dangerous and abusive. The plan covers many other important commitments too, including improving the police response to hate crime targeted at LGBT+ people, improving equality in the workplace and addressing health inequalities that LGBT+ people face." 

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar unequivocally backed this pledge

Pledge seven - responses

Calling for proper funding for trans healthcare in the NHS to reduce 3 year+ waiting lists

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 1

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"Yes. Long waiting lists can have a huge impact on trans people's physical and mental health, and can lead to additional problems and worse outcomes." 

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar unequivocally backed this pledge

Pledge eight - responses

Supporting LGBT+ inclusive schools in line with the new Relationship and Sex Education curriculum due to roll out from September

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley - 1

Rosi Sexton - 1

Shahrar Ali - 0

Siân Berry and Jonathan Bartley

Siân and Jonathan unequivocally backed this pledge

Rosi Sexton

Rosi wrote:

"Appropriate and inclusive Relationship and Sex Education is vital for the mental and physical health of LGBT+ children, both at the time and in the future; and it is also important to help improve understanding and awareness in society as a whole.
" 

We scored this one point

Shahrar Ali

Shahrar wrote:

" I could have said in full, except I believe it should not go unremarked that some materials being produced for schools by charitable organisations need to be better regulated to ensure they are both age- appropriate and all-inclusive."

"RSE within current PSHE is vitally important to teach as part of the core curriculum (including exemptions for primary schools). There needs to be better consultation with parents to know what is being taught to their children and by whom. "

We scored this zero