There’s been a lot of talk of late in my corner of the blogosphere about how the Tory – LibDem coalition will just lead to the same old Tory policies we would have got with a Tory majority. In some cases, of course, that may well be proved true. But not, apparently, in every case.
There is an International Congress on Gender Identity and Human Rights taking place in Barcelona this week. People are gathering there from all over the world (including my friend Masen Davis from the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco). I’m not sure who is attending from the UK, but our government, in the person of Equalities Minster Lynne Featherstone (LibDem, Hornsey & Wood Green) has sent them a message. This is what she wrote:
The UK Government is totally committed to creating a society that is fair for everyone. We are committed to tackling prejudice and discrimination against transgender people at home and around the world.
The Government wishes the International Congress on Gender Identity and Human Rights every success when considering how to improve the rights of transgender individuals around the world and in tackling transphobia.
We need concerted government action to tear down barriers and help to build a fairer society for transgender people.
That such a message could be sent with a Conservative Prime Minister in No. 10 is quite miraculous. It might not have any practical effect, but it is worth it if only for the fury that it will cause amongst certain parts of the Tory party.
Nice to hear anyway.
I noticed in the long version of the manifesto that there was mention of no longer deporting people if they were in danger in their home countries due to their gender identification.
Which manifesto?
The thing where they put out their detailed plans… um… [flails around with search engine trying to remember how I found it before] …ah, here’s a copy (warning: large PDF). See page 18, under “Equalities”.