Labour pledges a more equal society for LGBT people

LGBT manifesto promises to improve mental health services for young people

 

This evening Labour will launch their LGBT manifesto in Brighton. ‘A Better Future for Britain’s LGBT Community’ sets out a number of pledges aimed at tackling discrimination and providing better mental health and support services for LGBT people.

Angela Eagle, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, will say that the UK’s progress on lesbian and gay rights over the past 20 years is one of the Labour party’s proudest achievements, but that more still needs to be done.

In particular, Eagle will highlight disturbing figures showing that nearly a quarter of LGB people, and half of trans people, have attempted suicide. Half of young LGBT people say they have self harmed. This indicates that despite progress in equal marriage rights and an increased number of out public figures, something is still very wrong in our society.

Tonight Labour will pledge to prioritise access to mental health services for young people, including those who are being bullied because of their sexuality or gender identity. The new plans will also ensure that teachers are better equipped to identify problems early and link children to appropriate support services.

Angela Eagle, who was the UK’s first openly lesbian MP, will say:

“Too many LGBT young people are growing up scared and alone because they are bullied at school and don’t have sufficient support when their mental health suffers. In government Labour will finish the job we started and ensure every LGBT person has the chance to achieve their ambitions free from prejudice and discrimination.”

The five key pledges from the manifesto are:

Tackle discrimination in society and at work 

Including strengthening the law on LGBT hate crime, undertaking a review of gender identity law and policy and implementing ‘Turing’s Law’ (offering posthumous pardons to gay men convicted for homosexuality.)

Provide an education free from homophobia, biphobia and transphobia

Age-appropriate compulsory sex and relationship education will be introduced in all state-supported schools so that young people ‘learn to respect each other’s relationships’.

Lead on LGBT rights around the world

Including the appointment of the UK’s first international envoy on LGBT rights to promote respect on LGBT rights globally. A review will also be undertaken into the procedures for asylum seekers fleeing persecution for their sexuality or gender identity, to ensure the rules are being upheld.

Provide accessible and supportive health services

Creating equal access to mental health treatment including talking therapies, and working with the trans community to improve access to gender care services.

Ensure fairer and more diverse representation in public life

Including working to improve LGBT representation in parliament, and challenging narrow representations of LGBT people in all walks of public life.

Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter

38 Responses to “Labour pledges a more equal society for LGBT people”

  1. damon

    ”Provide an education free from homophobia, biphobia and transphobia”

    These terms a a bit stupid imo. You don’t have to be phobic to not think every last aspect or homosexuality is fantastic.

  2. Jack

    The suffix ‘-phobic’ has been misappropriated by the Left. For instance, someone who suffers from arachnophobia has an irrational fear of spiders. A person may disapprove of the act of homosexuality, possibly because it’s against their faith, without bring frightened of gay people. It’s an incorrect use of language, and the ironic aspect is that that those who coined it were attempting to create a homogenous label for people they oppose (those who don’t approve of homosexuality) whilst on the other hand trying to individualise those people they support.

  3. billericaydickie

    This is an article for the sake of writing articles. There is no discrimination against, whatever the current trendy description is at the moment, of anyone in this country. It is the destination of choice for just about everyone who can get in including Gay people who claim asylum.

  4. damon

    Yep, I agree with that. Maybe the best thing I could say about that kind of PC is that it has actually moved society forward. Even though it’s dishonest and annoying.
    You teach this to school kids and make it mainstream, and ten years later it’s had an effect.

    Its still bloody annoying though. All this gay equality stuff is quite unscrupulous, because it doesn’t allow people to cross examine it or say things that are contrary. You’ll just get called a hater.
    I’ve been in gay clubs and bars. There’s something definitely different about them. There must be, otherwise gay people wouldn’t frequent them. But what is it that’s different?
    What’s different about gay holiday towns like Provincetown Cape Cod, which is full of gay people and gay hotels, restaurants, saunas and all the rest? Why is it popular with gay people?
    When you’re on holiday in the Canary Islands and you see some of the gay hotels, or see the gay nightlife there.
    If you were to try to describe accurately what they were about, some PC equality person should tell you to stop because you were being homophobic.

  5. Leon Wolfeson

    No surprise you deny the rising tide of hate crime, and the routine discrimination which occurs.

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