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Global LGBT rights conference in jeopardy after U.K. stiffs trans rights

Global LGBT rights conference in jeopardy after U.K. stiffs trans rights

The United Kingdom still hopes to host a global conference in June to promote LGBT rights worldwide, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson has put the conference in jeopardy by turning a cold shoulder to trans people.

U.K.. Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

The Safe To Be Me: A Global Equality Conference is scheduled in London from June 27 through 29, marking the 50th anniversary of the first London Pride.

But the fate of the conference was thrown into uncertainty today by a boycott that erupted after Prime Minister Boris Johnson decided to proceed with a long-promised plan to ban so-called “conversion therapy” but without including trans people in that protection.

For weeks, Johnson has been embroiled in disputes over the rights and status of trans citizens. Last month, The Guardian quoted him saying that “we must recognise when people want to make a transition in their lives that they should be treated with the maximum possible generosity and respect”. But he added that “when it comes to distinguishing between man and woman, the basic facts of biology remain overwhelmingly important”.

Safe To Be Me conference logo

Johnson had decided to abandon plans for a ban on “conversion therapy”, a harmful procedure that seeks to change people’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Typical effects of this kind of “therapy” include depression, anxiety, self-hatred and attempts at suicide.

After Johnson’s decision became public, LGBTQ activists protested. Johnson changed course again. A government spokesperson announced late last week  that the planned legislation would proceed after all, but would exclude trans people. The proposed ban would apply only to conversion therapy targeting LGB people.

In response, at least 100 LGBT activist groups canceled plans to take part in the conference.

Baronness Berridge (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Long before Johnson put the conference in jeopardy, Elizabeth Rose Berridge (Baroness Berridge), the U.K. minister for women, declared about the event:

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“The conference will bring together countries, international civil society and businesses to improve the rights and freedoms of LGBT people around the world. We will address three key challenges: supporting decriminalisation and legislative reform to advance equality and legal protections for LGBT people globally, tackling violence and discrimination, and improving access to public services.”

Elizabeth Truss, minister for women and equalities, explained the goal of the conference: to bring together states and civil society to improve LGBT+ inclusion globally.

She listed three “challenges” facing the conference:

  • Supporting decriminalisation and legislative reform to advance equality and legal protections for LGBT people globally.
  • Tackling violence and discrimination.
  • Improving access to public services.

She could have listed a fourth challenge:

  • Boris Johnson.
View Comment (1)
  • they are more important issues like helping people with disability,rather than to fund trans operations .
    GAY PEOPLE MAKE IT MORE OF AN ISSUE ,AND THET LOVE ANYTHING THAT IS THEATRICAL AND DRAWS aTTENTION TO THEIR EGOS.perhaps it is time to focus on other issues which are more important in society .perhaps some gay people behave in a way where they are misunderstood .MOST DWECENT PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOT PROBLEMS WITH GAY PEOPLE there is a lot of perverts inhumane people who judge others by their ignorant morons attitude .since they can not offer others anything of interest those idiots make strange judgement s based on luck of knowledge and pure stupidity,

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