LGBTIQA+ Greens

OUR

Commitment

to

LGBTIQA+

PEOPLE

LGBTIQA+ GREENS

This Commitment sets out the impact that the Green Party Manifesto 2019 would have upon LGBTQIA+ people. It has been prepared by LGBTQIA+ Greens, a group of Green Party members who campaign for the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer, and Asexual people To find out more about Green Party policies, please refer to the full Green Party Manifesto at https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/Elections/Green%20Party%20Manifesto

The last two years have been an incredibly turbulent time. Brexit has paralysed the government and poisoned our public debate. There has been a 25% increase in sexual orientation-based hate crimes and a 37% increase in hate crimes against transgender people in the last year and government has failed to progress its LGBT+ Action plan. Under Boris Johnson this government threatens to go backwards.

Back in 2018 launched a bold promise to make LGBTIQA+ lives better. Since the launch of her LBGT+ Action Plan the government has: > failed to respond to protests against inclusive education, leaving schools unsupported in introducing LGBTIQA+ friendly relationships and sex education > neglected to bring forward any plans to ban conversion therapy > failed to expand access to HIV prevention drug PrEP to all LGBTIQA+ people who need access > enforced the hostile environment against LGBTIQA+ refugees and migrants > stalled any progress on reforming the Gender Recognition Act, leaving trans people without better recognition in law > abandoned our role in being a global leader for LGBTIQA+ rights, with a Conservative minister defending the brutally homophobic Sultan of Brunei

This is all against a backdrop of an increasingly toxic culture, with certain commentators becoming increasingly hostile to trans people.

LGBTIQA+ Greens have been at the forefront of resisting. From protesting to lobbying decision makers, we’ve been fighting for the rights of LGBTIQA+ people. We’re proud of the progressive and inclusive values in the Green Party Manifesto. With your support and your vote we can champion these values and elect Greens committed to protecting and furthering all our rights.

Chandler & Benali LGBTIQA+ Greens Co-Chairs LGBTIQA+ Greens Manifesto 2019 1 LGBTIQA+ refugees and For LGBTIQA+ refugees, the Green migrants Party would: > call an immediate suspension of deportation flights The current government’s official policy > conduct a public enquiry into the has been to make life in the UK a hostile environment and the hostile environment for refugees and mistreatment of LGBTIQA+ migrants. Nowhere is this more clear refugees than the treatment of LGBTIQA+ > end detention of refugees waiting refugees. for their claims to be processed. > protect the right of appeal, so that Despite promises for reform we every refugee can get a fair hearing. repeatedly see LGBTIQA+ refugees > remove barriers to allowing subjected to humiliating interrogations refugees to work whilst their and be deported back to danger. Since application is under review. 2016 the Home Office has rejected > Implement the recommendations thousands of claims for asylum over made by John Vine, former Chief gender or sexual identity. Judges have Inspector of Borders and told refugees they are “too religious to Immigration, which include: be gay” or not “effeminate enough”. » full training for border agents This must stop. so they can sensitively ascertain refugees’ identity The government’s flirtation with a No and past experiences. Deal Brexit has also left EU migrants in » an end to sexually explicit a great deal of uncertainty. Many questioning. LGBTIQA+ migrants who came and » ensuring an evidence-based built lives here face a bureaucratic and approach is used to assess uncaring system. Green MP Caroline claims. Lucas has led the way fighting against a crash out Brexit and the betrayal of EU migrants.

78% of asylum claims that included a reference to sexual orientation were refused in 2017

2 LGBTIQA+ Rights are Human Rights Education Intersex rights

Combatting discrimination against Intersex people face prejudice and LGBTIQA+ people needs to start in discrimination because of our narrow school. Children need to be taught that societal attitudes towards sex and tolerance and acceptance are a vital gender. Intersex people deserve part of our society. autonomy over their own bodies and freedom from childhood medical The protests against inclusive interventions that they have no choice education have been heartbreaking. over. Young LGBTIQA+ people deserve to learn what healthy relationships look The recent treatment of the athlete like, that being who they are is okay Caster Semenya has exposed the and that families come in all sizes. intersexphobia in society and the policing of intersex people’s bodies. Without inclusive education we won’t be able to tackle bullying in schools or The Green Party would: poor mental health for LGBTIQA+ > seek to protect intersex minors people. from medical interventions that could be delayed until they are old The Green Party would: enough to decide for themselves. > guarantee mandatory sex, sexual health > provide appropriate training to all and relationships education – age NHS staff to ensure that intersex appropriate and LGBTIQA+ inclusive – individuals and their families do not in all schools from primary level face negative or prejudiced onwards. treatment. > require every school to have an anti- bullying programme that explicitly combats homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying. > ensure all teachers and education staff are trained to provide an LGBTIQA+ inclusive education and to look after LGBTIQA+ pupils’ well-being.

LGBTIQA+ Greens Manifesto 2019 3 Trans and non-binary rights The Green Party would: > improve access to medical services Trans and non-binary rights have been and gender identity clinics, under attack in the last few years. Just particularly for trans and non-binary as more people have the courage to young people. share their authentic selves, a number > remove the spousal veto so that of commentators have begun to vilify married trans people can acquire trans people. their gender recognition certificate without having to obtain permission Trans and non-binary people are let from their spouse. down by the status quo. The Equality > strengthen hate crime legislation Act and the Marriage Equality Act failed and public education to tackle to address the legal inequalities they harassment and abuse of trans and face. non-binary people, especially women. Giving the partners of trans people the > update the Gender Recognition Act legal right to veto their legal gender to allow trans and non-binary recognition is an abomination. The people to get legal recognition current bureaucratic process of gender through self declaration. recognition is overly long and overly > change the law so a X gender medicalised. We should follow best marker would be added to practice and adopt the processes seen passports for non-binary and in Ireland and Malta. intersex people who wish to use it.

4 LGBTIQA+ Rights are Human Rights International relations Asexual and aromantic rights

In too many places in the world Asexual and aromantic people are often LGBTIQA+ rights are at a standstill or misunderstood and face ignorance that moving backwards. The election of puts them at risk of discrimination and various authoritarians has seen sexual violence. The Green Party LGBTIQA+ people face harassment, recognises that asexuality and abuse and even state backed aromanticism are part of the diverse executions. range of human experience.

The UK must be a global leader and The Green Party would: have the courage to challenge > reject any stigmatising of asexual wrongdoing by other leaders. For too and aromantic people. long we’ve made excuses or ignored > aim to include details about the actions of other world leaders. asexuality and aromanticism in general education curricula so that The Green Party would push for asexual and aromantic people can global action on LGBTIQA+ rights by: flourish in society. > challenging criminalisation, > provide protection against discrimination and violence against discrimination and harassment for LGBTIQA+ people in other countries asexual and aromantic people. and working in solidarity with campaigners there. > pressing the Commonwealth to grant accredited status to a Commonwealth LGBTIQA+ association and to urge all member states to end the criminalisation of and to protect LGBTIQA+ citizens against discrimination and hate crime.

LGBTIQA+ Greens co-chair Benali Hamdache speaking at the protest against Brunei’s death penalty for homosexuality

LGBTIQA+ Greens Manifesto 2019 5 Health The Green Party would: > Increase funding for sexual health services Cuts to the NHS and sexual health > ensure PrEP - a daily pill which services disproportionately impact prevents HIV infection - is provided LGBTIQA+ people, who have greater by NHS England without delay. need of these services and the cuts > ensure a proper parity of esteem for have threatened dedicated services. mental health and physical health services - with funding to make Indeed there are glaring health that happen. inequalities for LGBTIQA+ people, who > address long wait times and a are more likely to have mental health shortage of gender identity clinics problems and specific types of cancer - around the UK through increased but health services are ill equipped to funding. provide the bespoke services needed. > push for consultation on reducing the 12-month blood donation Local council cuts have particularly deferral period for men who have devastated sexual health services. sex with men. Funding has been cut by a quarter and > take a public health approach to as a result we’re seeing people being dealing with drugs and addiction. turned away and skyrocketing sexually > work with Public Health England to transmitted infection rates. develop a 5 year plan for health campaigns targeted at LGBTIQA+ Finally the rise of chemsex has deeply people impacted parts of our community. > ensure medical schools better Dangerous and toxic drugs like crystal embed the needs of our community meth and GHB have caused injury and in their learning tragedy. A public health approach to drug use is vital and legalisation would better help us educate and better manage addiction.

6 LGBTIQA+ Rights are Human Rights Public safety and the law The Green Party would: > finally ban the harmful “conversion therapy” Keeping LGBTIQA+ people safe and > End the spousal veto, which forces ending discrimination in the law should married trans people to seek be the goal of any government. The permission from their spouse for Green Party wants to see more done. their legal gender recognition > apologise to the 50,000–100,000 The law pardoned the people convicted of consenting thousands of men who had been adult same-gender sexual relations criminalised for sodomy. However many under anti-sodomy laws that have campaigners still want to see an official now been repealed. apology from the government and we > better advertise and improve the support that call. scope of the pardoning system for people who were convicted of More must be done to make marriage consenting adult same-gender truly equal. Loopholes still exist that sexual relations disadvantage trans and same gender > ensure hate crimes based on sexual partners. orientation, gender identity or disability are treated equally to those based on race and faith.

In the last five years, homophobic hate crime has almost doubled and transphobic hate crime has more than trebled

LGBTIQA+ Greens Manifesto 2019 7 Economy Sport

Cuts to public services and a wholesale Whether on or off the pitch, too many attack on the welfare state have left LGBTIQA+ experience discrimination many LGBTIQA+ people vulnerable. while enjoying sport. No one should Young LGBTIQA+ people make up a have to listen to offensive chants and quarter of the young homeless comments, or feel unable to take part in population. This government has a sport because of fear of devastated the financial and social discrimination. Almost half of LGBTIQA+ support so many of our community people have witnessed homophobia or need. transphobia in sport – that isn’t good enough. The Green Party would: > take a Housing First approach to The Green Party would encourage all homelessness - giving homeless sports communities to recognise and people an unqualified right to get protect the rights of LGBTIQA+ people. housing. > Increase funding for domestic The Green Party would: violence services, sexual health > Ensure all staff working with sports services, community pride events clubs and at grounds are trained to and homelessness services look after LGBTIQA+ pupils’ > end the overly punitive and harmful wellbeing while also identifying and approach to granting benefits - ending discrimination. replacing it with a system of > Make sure sports governing bodies Universal Basic Income that gives take action to end homophobia, everyone confidence they will get biphobia and transphobia. sufficient support when they need > Support campaigns to end abuse it, including disabled people against LGBTIQA+ people in sport.

8 LGBTIQA+ Rights are Human Rights facebook.com/TheGreenParty facebook.com/LGBTIQAGreens

@TheGreenParty @LGBTIQAGreens www.greenparty.org.uk lgbtiqa.greenparty.org.uk

LGBTIQA+ LGBTIQA.GREENPARTY.ORG.UK Greens Promoted by Denis Walker for LGBTIQA+ Greens, both at Green Party of England and Wales, The Biscuit Factory, Unit 215 J Block, 100 Clements Road, London, SE16 4DG.