Following the political upheaval in the wake of the EU Referendum outcome, Schools OUT UK CEO Tony Fenwick has joined the signatories to a statement calling for all the rights the UK has gained for LGBT people to be preserved, whether gained as a result of EU membership or not. Describing LGBT leaders as ‘resilient’, the statement goes on to demand that all politicians agree to the preservation of our hard-won freedoms and to advance equalities legislation.
Written by Paul Roberts – CEO of the LGBT Consortium – and agreed by thirty two charities and voluntary LGBT support groups, the statement calls upon politicians to assert the commitment to:
Protect the Equality Act;
Tackle homo/bi/transphobia;
Remain bound by the European Convention on Human Rights;
Defend the Human Rights Act;
Retain equalities as a key function across the UK’s Governments;
Maintain continued engagement with LGBT communities;
Respond to the Inquiry into Transgender Equality and take action;
Equality in Equal Marriage;
Advocate for LGBT rights internationally; and
Address cross-cutting community issues.
Tony Fenwick said, “We have seen a disturbing upsurge in hate crime since Friday the 24th and the struggle against bigotry and intolerance is a struggle for us all. A lot of our equalities legislation has been won through the European Union and a lot had been won by our campaigns within the UK as an independent state. Whatever happens in the future we have to ensure that no politician uses the current upheaval as an opportunity to turn the clock back.”
To read the statement go here