Leading LGBT+ charity Stonewall has announced its withdrawal from the UK Government's Safe To Be Me LGBT+ Conference.
The charity, along with 80 other LGBT+ organisations, said it has pulled out due to the Government's "failure to protect trans people" in it's conversion therapy plan.
In a new statement released today, the charity condemned the Prime Minister's new plan for conversion therapy, which is not transgender inclusive. At the moment, it is reported that only gay conversion therapy will be banned.
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"This is a decision we take with a heavy heart. As the UK’s first global LGBT+ conference, Safe To Be Me should be a moment for redoubling efforts globally to improve LGBTQ+ people’s rights and experiences. This is why we have worked hard with government and civil society organisations over the last few months to try to make the conference work," their statement read.
"Due to the Prime Minister’s broken promise on protecting trans people from the harms of Conversion Therapy, we regret that we are withdrawing Stonewall’s support for the UK Government’s Safe To Be Me conference. We will only be able to participate if the Prime Minister reverts to his promise for a trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy.
"However, last week’s leaked plans, which revealed Number 10 planned to scrap the conversion therapy ban, have left us with no choice but to withdraw our support. That the Prime Minister would so casually walk away from four years of promises to the LGBTQ+ community is appalling, and we cannot in good conscience back Safe To Be Me at a time when our community’s trust in the UK Government is shattered. It is apparent that trans people have once again been sacrificed for political gain.
"Trans people are no less worth of respect, care and protection than cis lesbian, gay and bi people. If the UK Government cannot stand behind and respect all LGBTQ+ people’s fundamental human rights, it should not be convening an LGBTQ+ rights conference on the global stage."
The conference is set to take place in June 2022, with countries all over the world heading to London to attend. Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, said in a statement : "I want everyone to be able to live their life free from prejudice, malice, or violence, regardless of their background or who they choose to love. People should be judged on the basis of their individual character and talents alone, and we want to ensure that this message is heard around the world. This conference will take aim at the prejudices LGBT people still face, and look at the collective action we can take to tackle those injustices alongside our international friends and partners."
