Baroness Featherstone: ...Home Office Minister and Equalities Minister for two years under Theresa May. During that period, I was both the originator and architect of the same-sex marriage law, and I also produced the first transgender action plan in the United Kingdom. I worked extensively with both the LGB and T communities, as well as the religious communities. I have some issues with some of the religions,...
Baroness Featherstone: ...as being a Home Office Minister, I was the Minister for Equalities. There, as some of your Lordships will know, I was the originator and architect of the same-sex marriage Act. I produced the first transgender action plan in the whole world and then I was reshuffled to DfID where I spearheaded and introduced the Government’s work on FGM. However, the work I am perhaps most proud of is...
Baroness Featherstone: ...stand. The world is funny, because I became a Home Office Minister—who knew a Liberal Democrat could do that?—and Minister for Equalities. One of the first things I did was to produce the first transgender action plan in the whole world. I worked extensively with the community during that time. Although it was not implemented properly and we are now going to have a second one—which...
Lynne Featherstone: ...National Stalking Helpline run by Suzy Lamplugh Trust; the National Domestic Violence Helpline run jointly by Women's Aid and Refuge; Broken Rainbow, who offer help to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims; the Male Advice(and Enquiry)Line and the RESPECT helpline. We are currently giving careful consideration to future funding options and a decision will be announced in coming...
Lynne Featherstone: ...areas in which we are taking action. In particular, we are encouraging people who are victims of hate crime to report it in order to better focus resources to tackle its causes. In 2013-14, 555 transgender hate crimes were recorded by the police, an increase of 54% from 361 recorded in 2012-13. Since the action plan was launched, the Government has also amended section 146 of the...
Lynne Featherstone: ...human rights, which many hon. Members raised. In countries with generalised epidemics, HIV prevalence is consistently higher among key affected populations: men who have sex with men; sex workers; transgender people; prisoners; and people who inject drugs. Over the years, DFID has spearheaded support to HIV programmes for key populations. They have been and they will remain a key policy...
Lynne Featherstone: ...require that before providing direct support to Governments, we assess their shared commitment to respecting the human rights of citizens, including the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Where we have specific concerns about a government’s failure to protect its citizens’ rights we raise these at the highest levels of the government concerned. We may judge that...
Lynne Featherstone: Her Majesty's Government are committed to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people around the world are free to live their lives in a safe and just environment. We are concerned about the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill being considered by the Ugandan Parliament and have raised our concerns regularly at all levels of Government. We are in close contact with Ugandan...
Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 13 July 2012 In 'Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action', the first Government action plan for transgender equality, the Government committed to launching a Call for Evidence on the commitments detailed within the action plan. This will allow anyone with an interest in transgender equality to let the Government know their views and insights on the progress that is...
Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 13 July 2012 : “Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action”, the first action plan for transgender equality was published in December 2011 and placed in the House Library. It includes a range of largely non-legislative measures to improve the lives of transgender people in a number of areas of public policy, including hate crime, health, education and employment. A...
Lynne Featherstone: This Government are strongly committed to advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB&T) equality and to tackling discrimination and violence against LGB&T people whenever it occurs. In March 2011, the Government published “Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality: Moving Forward”. This action plan outlined an ambitious range of actions the Government will...
Lynne Featherstone: ...and Free Christian Churches. Discussions have been held and are ongoing with other organisations including those representing other faith groups, non-religious groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups. This consultation will not propose any changes to religious marriage. Same-sex couples will not be able, under these proposals, to have a marriage through a religious...
Lynne Featherstone: In December 2011, the Government published “Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action,” the first ever Government transgender equality action plan. This plan includes firm cross-Government commitments to be delivered throughout the lifetime of this Parliament. It outlines the actions Government will take to improve the lives of transgender people in all areas of public policy,...
Lynne Featherstone: ...crimes, and working with the police and other partners to encourage more victims to come forward. In line with this commitment, information on whether the offence was motivated by the victim being transgender will be collected via the Homicide Index from April 2012. Further information on Government plans relating to transgender equality can be found in the Home Office publication...
Lynne Featherstone: ...funding provided each year to the men’s advice line, which provides support and signposting services for male victims, and to Broken Rainbow, which provides support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims.
Lynne Featherstone: ...all to be able to play their full part will lead to a strong society which values all of its citizens. The UK has a record to be proud of in advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people but we must not be complacent. We know that challenges still exist and we need to take bolder actions to deal with these issues. Too many transgender people still face outdated...
Lynne Featherstone: ...the end of this Parliament. From now until the publication of the consultation we will be meeting with a wide range of people with an interest in this issue, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups and religious and non-religious organisations to help shape the formal consultation document. These discussions have been held on a confidential basis and we have not asked...
Lynne Featherstone: We take all bulling very seriously, including homophobic and transgender bullying. The Department of Health has issued new guidelines on bullying that are much more condensed and to the point. Also, Ofsted has now included behaviours in its inspection regime. The hon. Lady is right: this is an appalling form of hate crime, and we are dealing with it.
Lynne Featherstone: ...of the consultation myself and officials in the Government Equalities Office will be meeting with a wide range of people with an interest in this issue, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups and religious and non-religious organisations, to help shape the formal consultation document. These meetings are scheduled to take place over the coming weeks and are being held on a...
Lynne Featherstone: ...worldwide violence against women and girls, unless I find a multiplier for the work that I am doing. I have done so, and have developed numerous messages on women and on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. Travelling Ministers have agreed to take those messages to international meetings and raise them wherever they go. The issue at the moment is finding out who is going where...
