A programme for trans inclusion

This was drafted with the Labour Party in mind. It would however be an equally good starting point for any UK political party.

I see this as a baseline programme. Nothing in here is new or radical. These are points for which there’s already overwhelming support with the LGBT community, and which people of good faith and a commitment to equalities should have few difficulties in signing up to. All manner of things could be added, and it’s not my intention to discourage anyone from asking for more !

Our Programme

1. Our Party is committed in its constitution to striving for fairness, equality and justice, and to protecting people from prejudice and discrimination. For all these reasons, we aspire to act as good allies to the trans community.
2. We refute any suggestion that this means that the Party is abandoning women. This programme has the complete support of thousands of women and men of all ranks within our Party who assert with one voice that that trans rights are human rights, and don’t substantially conflict with women’s rights. Our Party will always defend the Equalities legislation introduced by previous Labour governments, and will fight to ensure that the interests of women are safeguarded in any new legislation.
3. As a fundamental principle, when policy issues that affect trans people are under consideration, this Party will consult with appropriate LGBT and trans organisations and ensure that the concerns of the trans community are taken into account. While the locus of decision making power still rests with the Party leadership, the aim will be to get as much buy-in as possible from LGBT members to the policy agenda.
4. In any consultation, the Party’s door is open to groups that have legitimate concerns and issues to raise. This may on occasion include gender critical organisations. Fundamentally however, this Party believes that the values of gender critical organisations are incompatible with Party values, and with the values of a large part of the female population.
5. This Party will, working in collaboration with LGBT groups and representatives, adopt a code of conduct for transphobia. In line with our commitment to freedom of expression and our legal obligations, this won’t ban the expression of sincerely held beliefs. It will proscribe certain behaviours which are unacceptable within our Party. All allegations of breaches of this (and any other Code of Conduct) will be properly investigated, and those elected to public office won’t be exempt from any sanctions.
6. All Party MPs, Lords, councillors, and paid staff will be invited to trans awareness training, and we’ll set a timeframe in which all party units will get the opportunity to access training.
7. In our 2024 Election Manifesto, we will

(a) Promise to replace the current EHRC Board with a new Board of independently appointed Commissioners. Never again will we allow the EHRC to be used as a political weapon by any Party.

(b) Pledge our support for gender recognition reform, and our opposition to the use of a Section 35 order to block this in Scotland.

(c) Make clear our opposition to any amendment to the Equality Act.

(d) Promise to deliver a ban on conversion therapy including trans conversion therapy.

(e) Promise to consult on new transgender guidance for schools with a view to providing appropriate support to kids who are socially transitioning and minimising the risks of harm. We recognise that in some cases this will entail not informing parents.