Consortium

for stronger lgbt+ communities

Paul Roberts

Interim Evaluation of the LGBT+ Futures: Equity Fund

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We are really pleased to be publishing the Interim Evaluation into the LGBT+ Futures: Equity Fund, which is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. The programme has also been supported by Comic Relief and Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Our evaluators Civil Society Consulting CIC (CSC) explored the application process, identified the key strengths and weaknesses, and evaluated how the programme can be enhanced. This interim report will help Consortium and its Community Partners to shape the next phase of the programme, and to explore what comes next one this programme comes to its conclusion at the end of the year.

Paul Roberts, Chief Executive at Consortium said, “We are so grateful to the applicants, to our Community Panelists, our Community Collaborators and our grantees for engaging with this interim  evaluation. We are absolutely delighted that is showing a participative grant process, with those most affected by the issues we want to fund being in the driving seat for decision-making, works and can reach diverse and intersectional LGBT+ organisations. The successes highlighted really are testament to the co-production values that drive this programme. This is just the beginning and we will use this data to drive our ambitions for a sustainable LGBT+ Fund that brings new long-term funding for LGBT+ organisations, particularly those grassroots and targeted community organisations who find it more difficult to secure funds.”

Consortium will continue to work with our funding partners, our evaluators and all our community partners as we work towards the wider evaluation which will be published towards the end of 2023.

LGBT+ Futures: Faith Fund Opens

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We are delighted to announce the LGBT+ Futures: Faith Fund is now open for applications. Thanks to the generosity of an individual Donor, and the success of our previous Intersections Fund, we have secured a funding pot of £20,000 that is available for non-profit groups, organisations and project that led by and for LGBT+ people of faith.

There is a total pot of £20,000 available, which will be distributed as community grants in denominations of £500, £1,000 and £2,000.
Our Community Panel will decide on the award amount, taking into consideration a geographical spread of awards, the size of the organisation, cross section of faith organisations in the awards and the priority needs of applicants.

This funding is ringfenced for LGBT+ faith-led organisations doing work specifically with LGBT+ faith communities. To be eligible, the primary purpose of your organisation or group must be to support LGBT+ faith communities—this may be focussed on one faith or be multi-faith.

To read the guidance and then apply please go to the LGBT+ Futures: Faith Fund page.

 

UK Government Intervention on GRR(S) Bill Statement

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A resounding call must be heard by our trans communities this morning—we stand with you, now and always.

On the day the UK Government decided to intervene in the resoundingly passed Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, we will not let the culture war the UK Government wishes to stoke get in the way of what we will achieve—fair treatment of trans people across the UK.

Scotland has led the way for the UK when it comes to advancing trans equality. Trans communities are one of the most marginalised in our society today. The Scottish Government overwhelmingly passed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill after extensive consultation. Now the UK Government claims it must intervene because it has the potential to conflict with other Reserved Legislation, namely the Equality Act. To misunderstand what this new Legislation would achieve is egregious and simply a mechanism for political point scoring.

Last week, we saw a collective outcry from LGBT+, Trans and Ally organisations on news that the UK Government might intervene. Now they have done just this, our collective resolve will not falter.

Every LGBT+ person, every ally, wants every trans person to be able to live their life in safety as their true self. Just as we want every woman to be safe and free from abuse and discrimination. We do not believe these two things are in conflict, or ever have been. Trans people don’t want any more rights than anyone else, they just want equal treatment.

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill is a simple Bill. No trans person has ever needed a Gender Recognition Certificate to be able to access the services that they need, and that will remain the case with this legislation.

We continue to urge the Prime Minister, the Scottish Secretary, and the entire Cabinet to recognise that trans people and communities must be protected and be valued citizens—not just through words, but through real and positive action.

The Scottish Parliament has sent a clear message of commitment to this through the GRR(S) Bill, with amendments being accepted by different Parties which created legislation that is strong and fair. We urge them all the listen to Women’s organisations across the country who understand that there is no conflict here, and who have been providing safe services for all women for many years, just as we urge them to listen to and respect our own communities.

Consortium will continue to help dispel the misinformation about trans people and communities and keep lines of communication open with UK Government, and others, on this. Together we can break down the factual inaccuracies and move towards a fairer and more equal society.

Trans Equality Organisation Welcomes Passing of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

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Scottish Trans, the trans equality project of LGBTI equality and human rights charity the Equality Network, has welcomed that MSPs have voted, by 86 votes to 39, to pass the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in the final vote today. The result continues Scotland’s progress to become an inclusive country that recognises its people in all their diversity.

All the parties in the Scottish Parliament except the Conservatives committed to improve gender recognition law in their 2016 and 2021 Holyrood manifestos. The Scottish Government consulted publicly on the proposals in 2017, then published the bill and consulted again in 2019.

The Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee consulted again in the spring and summer of this year, and heard oral evidence on the bill from 39 witnesses. Those included supporters and opponents of the legislation, and experts in matters raised about it, such as equality law, women’s services, young people, sport and prisons, and religious representatives. They also heard from the leader of the Irish Seanad, about experience with similar legislation passed there some years ago.

The Committee recommended that the Parliament approve the principles of the bill.

Over 300 amendments were then considered at stages 2 and 3 of the bill, and more than 80 of them, from MSPs of different parties, were agreed upon to address matters that had been raised in relation to the bill.

Vic Valentine, Manager of Scottish Trans, said

“Trans people across Scotland today will be feeling pleased and relieved that this Bill has passed, after many years of difficult public debate that has often felt like people are talking about us, and not to us. The law that has passed today will mean that at important moments in their lives, like when starting a job or giving notice to be married, trans men and women will be able to show a birth certificate that reflects who they are. We all want to be able to live true to ourselves, and by voting for these simple but important changes to the existing process for trans people to be legally recognised, MSPs will improve trans men and women’s lives, by allowing them to live with the dignity and recognition that everyone deserves.”

Tim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network, said:

“We thank MSPs, from all parties, who supported this bill, and those who engaged constructively on amendments. This result follows others where the Scottish Parliament has carefully considered the evidence and then legislated for fairness and equality. The repeal of section 28 in 2000, and equal marriage in 2014, were passed by the Parliament with some fears and misunderstandings expressed at the time about the consequences. It quickly became clear in both cases that the negative consequences that some had predicted did not materialise, and now a very large majority support those changes. We are sure that the same will happen with this legislation.”

The bill amends the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which is the law that allows trans people to update the sex recorded on their birth certificate, to reflect how they live their lives, and provide them with legal recognition of who they are.

Whilst world-leading when passed, the 2004 law is now widely considered by trans people and equalities and human rights organisations as imposing a process that is difficult, demeaning, and falls well below international human rights standards.

The bill makes important changes to the law, that significantly improve the current process that trans people in Scotland must use to update their birth certificate. This includes moving to a process of statutory self-declaration for legal gender recognition, removing the need for a psychiatric diagnosis of gender dysphoria and other intrusive medical evidence reports about choices a person has made about their medical transition, reducing the age at which people can apply from 18 to 16 in line with wider Scots law on legal capacity, and reducing the time someone must have been permanently living in their gender before they can apply to update the sex on their birth certificate, from two years to three months (six months for 16 and 17 year olds).

Overwhelming support for Gender Recognition reform from every corner of Scotland

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More than sixty LGBT+ organisations from around Scotland have written today to MSPs in support of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. 1,500 postcards calling for reform will be delivered to Parliament tomorrow and, as of this morning, 33,255 emails in support of reform have been sent to MSPs at Scottish Parliament.

Supporters of the Bill will also be gathering outside the Scottish Parliament at 10am on Tuesday ahead of the first of two days of debate before the final vote on Wednesday, in order to send a colourful, positive message from trans people, friends, families, communities and allies in support of reforming the Gender Recognition Act.

The letter to MSPs is signed by a wide variety of LGBT+ groups from Dumfries to Shetland. It says:

“This week, the Scottish Parliament has a historic opportunity to continue Scotland’s journey towards full social and legal equality, for all LGBT+ people, by passing a new law which will remove bureaucratic and dehumanising barriers to legal gender recognition for trans men and women.

“As an LGBT+ community we have seen the repeal of Section 28, protection from discrimination, and equal marriage as some of the key steps forward in a country that respects all who live here, no matter who they love or who they are. In this journey we have learned that we are stronger when we are united.”

The signatories call on MSPs to reject amendments that would undermine the core principles of the bill:

  • That gender recognition should be based on a statutory declaration that the person is living in their transitioned gender and intends to do so permanently
  • That the minimum age should be 16, with support and advice signposted and available for 16 and 17 year olds
  • That the effects of obtaining gender recognition should remain unchanged from those in place since 2005

Dr Rebecca Crowther, Policy Coordinator at the Equality Network said,

“This letter reaffirms what many of us already knew, that the vast majority of LGBT+ people support reforming the Gender Recognition Act and this bill proposed by the Scottish Government. LGBT+ people have seen huge steps forward to their rights in two decades, and we urge MSPs to continue to make progress forward by backing the Bill.”

Heidi Vistisen, Policy Manager for LEAP Sports Scotland said,

”This legislation will not only reduce the barriers for trans people to get legal gender recognition, it will also further enable them to live their full authentic lives. We are pleased to see so many organisations and sports groups show their unwavering support for the inclusion of trans people, and hope members of the Scottish Parliament will listen to the many voices asking them to also show their support.”

Sand Owsnett, chair of Highland Pride said:

“Highland Pride will always support and advocate for trans equality because everyone has the right to be themselves. The current gender recognition process is outdated, dehumanising and excludes many trans people. The proposed reforms would not only bring Scotland closer to international best practice, but also uphold trans people’s human rights.”

Kath Pierce, founder and co-editor of Somewhere for Us magazine said:

“Our organisation exists to champion the lives of our diverse LGBTQ+ communities across Scotland. This bill champions our trans family and supports them to live their authentic lives, just as so many of us already have the freedom to.”

Consortium statement on cancellation of the International LGBT Conference

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Consortium's inclusive logo with colourful triangles in the colours of the inclusive LGBT+ flag colours

The implications of the International LGBT conference being cancelled are solely at the doorstep of Number 10. LGBT+ organisations in the UK were left with no choice but to withdraw any support in order to stand in solidarity and partnership with our trans siblings and communities. Our Government needs to take this as an opportunity to take a step back and consider where it gets its information on our communities from.

We are as one today as we always have been. Trans rights are not secondary to anyone else’s. Trans rights are human rights, pure and simple.

This is a sad day but one where we must begin to change the narrative and look to build a country where every person can feel safe and live a life with dignity and respect. We will continue to look to talk to Government in partnership with our sector on how we can achieve that one step at a time. We will also support our members working internationally, and those looking to make international LGBT+ connections, so together in solidarity we can progress LGBT+ rights worldwide.

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