The Government’s latest decision to cancel their flagship LGBT+ conference has been labelled as ‘truly shameful’ by local MPs.
The UK has decided not to proceed with its first-ever international “Safe To Be Me” conference after it was boycotted by more than 100 organisations. The convention, which was scheduled to take place in London in June, was set to be a national and global promotion of LGBT+ rights. The event however will not go ahead as a result of the government’s stance on conversion therapy which triggered numerous charities and other groups pulling their sponsorships.
It was revealed, last week, on Trans Day of Visibility, the government would impose a ban on conversion therapy but it would only apply to someone’s sexual orientation rather than gender identity, meaning it would not protect the trans community. Subsequently a number of LGBT+ organisations and charities signed an open letter written by campaign group Stonewall which, in summary, highlighted that they would not support the event unless the Prime Minister include transgender people in the ban.
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Liverpool’s MPs have echoed this sentiment with Dan Carden, representative of Walton, arguing it is a “dangerous misstep” for LGBT+ rights. He told the ECHO: “This summer’s UK-hosted global equality conference had the potential to deliver new rights and freedoms to LGBT+ people still being persecuted around the world. It is truly shameful that Boris Johnson’s government has sacrificed our global leadership on LGBT+ rights in this way. His government would rather sow division in society at home, over the rights of trans-people, than save LGBT lives abroad. This is a tragic and dangerous mis-step in the timeline of progress for LGBT rights.”
Whereas Kim Johnson, MP Liverpool Riverside, added: "I am appalled at the Government's decision to exclude trans people from the ban on conversion therapy. After initially deciding not to ban conversion therapy at all, despite the overwhelming support of most people - including many Christians and church leaders - the partial U-turn, while the right thing to do, was totally unjustified in excluding trans people. Trans people are twice as likely to undergo enforced "conversion" therapy and their abandonment by the Government is cruel and discriminatory. I call on Boris Johnson to extend this ban equally, without delay.
“The cancellation of the Safe To Be Me conference sends a loud and clear message to the Government that their ban on conversion therapy must be trans-inclusive. I applaud the principled stand taken by these organisations and hope to see the Government U-turn again immediately, having listened and paid attention to the call for equality, ensuring the ban on conversion therapy no longer excludes our trans brothers and sisters.”
The practice, which has previously been dismissed as "repulsive and abhorrent" by Boris Johnson, attempts to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity according to NHS England.
One of the charities to pull out was HIV charity Terence Higgins Trust. Explaining more on why they decided to do so, head of policy, Debbie Laycock, told the ECHO: “Terrence Higgins Trust and 27 other HIV charities and community groups withdrew their support for the global LGBT+ Safe To Be Me conference due to the Government U-turn on its initial promise of a trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban. We have seen the devastating impact of conversion therapy on the lives of LGBT+ staff and service users, many of whom are living with HIV.
"The Government's decision to go back on its promise to ban conversion therapy for all LGBT people is outrageous and must be reversed. Trans rights are human rights – progress without or at the expense of trans people is not progress at all. We stand together with Stonewall and the whole LGBT+ sector and will not be divided.”
On Tuesday, April 6, the government’s first LGBT+ business champion, Iain Anderson, resigned over the exclusion of transgender people from any conversion therapy ban. In a letter to Boris Johnson, Iain said he had “no choice” but to quit with a “heavy heart.” He penned: "Trust and belief in the government's overall commitment to LGBT+ rights has been damaged. I believe a comprehensive plan to support LGBT+ people to play their full part in our society is urgently needed." The unpaid role was created in the lead-up to the conference and was expected to last 18 months.
