MP launches equality campaign

Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley has launched a campaign for transgender and non-binary equality.

It calls on the UK government to make a “clear and unequivocal” commitment to comprehensive legislative reforms.

The MP, who sits on the House of Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee, said that the UK government must “stop delaying” and pledge to reform the law to extend discrimination protections, improve gender recognition rights, and give Scotland greater equality powers.

Ms Crawley said: “There is still much more to do to ensure full legal equality for trans and non-binary people, and to tackle the unacceptable levels of prejudice and discrimination that they continue to face.

“The UK government must now stop the delays, and finally make a clear and unequivocal commitment to deliver comprehensive legislative reforms for trans and non-binary equality within the lifetime of this parliament.

“This must include updating the Equality Act 2010 to extend the protected characteristics – ensuring that all trans, non-binary, and intersex people are fully protected by antidiscrimination provisions, as well as devolving equality law to Scotland so that the Scottish Parliament has the full powers to equality.

“The UK government must also follow the lead of the Scottish Government by committing to reform gender recognition law to ensure that all trans and non-binary people are fully and more easily able to access their human right to legal gender recognition – in line with international best practice.

“LGBTI equality activists and organisations have called for these reforms for many years and now we need to see action – not just more warm words.”

The petition can be found at www. transequalitycampaign.co.uk. protect and extend LGBTI