After their landslide victory, we take a look at some of Labour’s key policies that affect the queer community
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
In a landslide victory, the UK now has a Labour government after 14 years of the Conservatives. At the time of writing, Labour has secured 411 votes, compared to the 120 votes for the Conservative Party.
But what does this mean for LGBTQIA rights in the UK today?
Conversion practices
Labour has a long history of advocating for a ban on so-called conversion “therapy”, and has previously committed to introducing a trans-inclusive ban. It is likely that Labour will introduce an effective, trans-inclusive conversion practices ban, but it is unclear when this will come into effect.
Trans rights
The Labour Party have said that they will “modernise, simplify and reform” the Gender Recognition Act which will make it easier for trans people to change their legal gender “for all purposes”.
In a letter to PinkNews, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We will remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance, while retaining the need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a specialist doctor, enabling access to the healthcare pathway for those who need it. Nearly a quarter of trans people don’t know how to access transition-related healthcare.”
While he also stated in that letter that he wanted to remove “the toxicity” surrounding the current debate about trans+ youth’s access to healthcare, on 2 July Starmer told The Times that trans women do not have the right to use women-only spaces, even if they have a gender recognition certificate (GRC). He continued: “That’s why I’ve always said biological women’s spaces need to be protected.”
Hate crime
Labour’s manifesto commits to equal treatment of all hate crimes, including those targeting LGBTQIA communities, and upholding the Equality Act with its single-sex exemptions. However, Labour has not clarified the full implementation of these recommendations and could support segregating trans patients in the NHS based on public statements by the Shadow Secretary of State for Health Wes Streeting.
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