A Green perspective on LGBT issues

Gay-friendly policing and council equalities officers

Greens are campaigning for a better understanding by the authorities - including the police - of the needs of the LGBT community. Though some improvements have been made, the authorities in the Brighton and Hove area, past and present, have a poor track record of consulting with and meeting the needs of the LGBT community.

Employment Protection

The government, under pressure from the EU, introduced employment protection for LGB people. Trans people are already covered by the Sex Discrimination Act. Rather than implement this universally, the government caved in to pressure from the 'religious right', and allowed religious employers to be exempt from the legislation in employing people in certain posts. The Greens would give universal protection without any religious opt outs.

Civil partnership rights

Greens have been calling for equality in marriage rights for LGB people for many years and welcome civil partnerships as a step forward. Darren Johnson, out gay leader of the Greens on the GLA, instigated the London register in his very first speech. However Greens believe the government has missed an opportunity for a much more inclusive model of partnerships.

Education and LGBT policy

Thankfully, after a long struggle, the infamous Section 28 has been repealed, but Greens still see the need for further LGBT reform in education.  The party wants a positive duty on schools to educate for respect and understanding of LGBT people.

We are a party of action: following broken promises by the city council to issue guidance, the Green Party, in partnership with the NUT, Unison and local experts, published guidance for all education workers in the city. There is still work to be done: for example, New Labour’s Learning & Skills Act 2000 talks, in language as ambiguous as Section 28, about inappropriate teaching materials and the importance of marriage.

Older LGBT people

Older people are often dismissed as asexual beings. This is particularly offensive to older LGBT people who may have suffered a lifetime of prejudice and discrimination. Raising the profile of the needs of older LGBT people would also benefit the whole LGBT community, through developing community belief in our own future.