Consortium is working in partnership with other LGBT+ Groups to ensure that LGBT+ people and communities get the information they need to have their voices heard in the upcoming general election.
General Election Result Statement: A message from Consortium CEO, Paul Roberts.
As we enter a new period of Parliament, Consortium, representing a broad and diverse range of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans + voluntary and community organisations across the UK, calls upon our new Government to stay firmly committed to LGBT+ equality. The existing LGBT Action Plan must continue to serve as the building blocks for engaging with our communities. The 75 actions contained within it offered a vision to help improve the lives of LGBT+ people, and the work already started on its implementation must remain at the heart of our new Government’s work. Support from Westminster must also be given to ensure that all parts of the UK have parity of opportunity.
Our communities continue to face disproportionate discrimination and marginalisation across well evidenced areas, including mental health, education, community safety and the workplace to name a few. The 360+ Members of Consortium work tirelessly every day to ensure every LGBT+ person can live a safe, fulfilling and prosperous life free from that discrimination. They work with the most vulnerable LGBT+ people and we urge the Government to continue working in partnership with our communities to tackle these issues head on.
We offer our expertise and community knowledge to ensure those diverse LGBT+ voices are heard across all Government departments and are afforded the opportunities to be consulted, listened to and actively supported to make the LGBT+ voluntary and community sectors sustainable and strong.
The snap General Election is taking place across the UK on Thursday 12th December 2019.
This is a pivotal election (yes this gets said every time but this time it really is!) and we are keen to ensure LGBT+ people have their say. In order for this to happen, firstly we need to ensure every LGBT+ eligible to vote is registered. In 2017, 11 million people who were eligible to vote didn't and we think this is shocking.
We teamed up with the LGBT Foundation and Stonewall to encourage LGBT+ organisations across the country to do a Voter Registration Drive to ensure that as many LGBT+ people can have their say in the election.
LGBT+ Voices
Given the political differences across the UK, with many key issues devolved, rather than produce a manifesto of our own we have decided to promote those of our Members. We are working closely across the UK to ensure as much synergy as possible, whilst also ensuring organisations in their localities can drill down into issues which matter most to them. Below you will find details of resources that have been shared with us.
The Chief Officers of the LGBT Foundation, Stonewall, Equality Network, Rainbow Project and Consortium are keeping in close contact with each other throughout the campaign so at a national level we are ready to come together when needed and ensure our communities aren't used as a target for any political effort. We are all agreed that we want to use this election not only as an opportunity to highlight the important needs of our diverse communities but to also focus on two key messages of: Unity in/with our communities; and Rejecting the division so many are trying to reinforce.
We really are stronger together and Consortium is proud to be working with Members to be as coordinated as possible.
LGBT+ Election Resources
Stonewall have launched their election manifesto, which can be downloaded here.
They are focusing on five key messages:
- Create strong communities, where all LGBT people are safe and accepted
- Protect and extend LGBT Rights
- Ensure that every LGBT child and young person can flourish
- Improve health and social care services for LGBT people
- Ensure that the UK actively supports LGBT right around the world
The LGBT Foundation have also launched their own manifesto, which can be downloaded here.
There are 10 key points to their manifesto:
- Commit to the full implementation of the current LGBT Action Plan
- Fully implement sexual orientation monitoring and trans status monitoring across all government bodies
- Commit to the roll-out of timely, local and appropriate Trans Health Services nationally
- Support the national roll-out of Pride in Practice, LGBT Foundation's quality assurance and social prescribing programme
- Reform the Gender Recognition Act, including the introduction of legal recognition for non-binary people
- Fully support, and fund, schools to implement LGBT inclusive sex and relationshops education
- Legislate for tougher action on LGBT phobic hate crime
- Take action on the health inequalities faced by LGBT people
- Address the poor treatment of LGBT people seeking asylum and refuge
Ireland, UK and The Islands LGBT+ Youth Work Network
IUKI LGBT+ Youth Workers Network have launched their manifesto providing candidates with a succinct set of 12 commitments to unite in the fight against LGBTphobia across our Islands.
- Reinvestment in youth service provision, and specifically in LGBT+ youth work provision
- Invest in LGBT+ led Non-Governmental Organisations
- Support LGBT+ quality assurance framework that ensures inclusive schools
- Commit to strong and clear guidance for all English schools to actively implement inclusive RSE
- In Northern Ireland, implement mandatory LGBT+ affirming RSE curriculum
- Commit to mandatory LGBT+ inclusion training for all CAMHS staff, mental health support staff in schools, social workers and all front-line NHS staff
- Fund training for public facing British Transport staff to support and sensitively take reports of hate crimes
- Review of hate crime legislation to ensure it is fit for purpose
- Introduce legislation to recognise non-binary identities, and reform the GRA
- Invest in current Gender Identity Services to reduce waiting times
- Commit to produce LGBT+ inclusive best practice guidance for Government Departments and commissioners
- Fully incorporate the UN Convention on Rights of the Child and strengthened implementation of the Equality Act 2010
We will signpost to other resources as we become aware of them.