LGBTQ+ Support

Discrimination, prejudice and intolerance not only remain a serious problem for many, especially for those among the LGBT+ community but seems to be growing, following the rise of social media ‘influencers’, the election of President Trump and the rise of fundamentalist beliefs which promote such prejudicial attitudes.

My Liberal Democrat parliamentary colleagues and I have long championed LGBT+ rights, standing firm against Section 28 in the year our party was established in its current form, advocating for equal rights through changes to criminal law, anti-discrimination legislation, police practices, and in 2012, I was delighted to support my Liberal Democrat colleagues who spearheaded the legalisation for same-sex marriage—a landmark achievement. These strides reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting fundamental human rights.

As your MP, I have consistently worked to support LGBT+ rights, both locally and nationally. From engaging with community organisations to amplify their voices, to advocating for inclusive policies in Parliament, I remain dedicated to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their identity, is treated with dignity and respect. I have also supported initiatives aimed at tackling discrimination and promoting equality, reflecting my belief in a fair and just society.

However, there is still much work to be done. Hate crimes based on sexuality have doubled in four years, according to the Home Office. This is simply unacceptable in a modern society. While the Criminal Justice Act 2003 provides harsher sentencing for crimes motivated by hostility towards disabled, gay, lesbian, and transgender people, it falls short compared to the provisions for racial or religious hatred. This disparity must be addressed.

We are committed to pushing for legal reforms that would classify hate crimes against disabled, gay, lesbian, and transgender people as aggravated offences, enabling stronger sentences for perpetrators. As Liberal Democrats, we will continue to fight against discrimination wherever we see it and work towards creating a society where such persecution cannot exist. Though we are in opposition and limited in the actions we can take directly, we will always uphold the values of individual and social justice, reject all prejudice and discrimination, and oppose all forms of entrenched privilege and inequality.

At our Liberal Democrat Spring Conference last month, members passed the Motion ‘Free To Be Who You Are’, the full document of which can be found following the link.