Equality Network https://www.equality-network.org/ Promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality & rights across Scotland Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:23:15 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Faith & LGBTQA+ Groups Share Support For New Government Bill To End Conversion Practices https://www.equality-network.org/faith-lgbtqa-groups-share-support-for-new-government-bill-to-end-conversion-practices/ Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:23:15 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=13811 Today (18/3/24) we hosted an event bringing together 10 diverse faith leaders, faith groups and LGBTQA+ Survivors of Conversion Practices to discuss the Scottish Government’s […]

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Today (18/3/24) we hosted an event bringing together 10 diverse faith leaders, faith groups and LGBTQA+ Survivors of Conversion Practices to discuss the Scottish Government’s new draft Bill and proposals to end conversion practices in Scotland.  

These groups came together to discuss the proposals and to share support for the community and finally seeing an end to these practices in Scotland.  

 The purpose of the event was to bring together faith leaders and survivors of conversion practices to have a sensitive, productive and informed discussion about the legislation being proposed by the Scottish Government to end conversion practices. 

Dr Rebecca Crowther, CEO of Equality Network chaired the event and the groups discussed key points relating to the legislation including; A trans inclusive ban on conversion practices, the inclusion of “suppression” in the definition of conversion practices, the civil aspects of proposals and the importance of awareness and work within communities. They also discussed ensuring that “consent” is not a defence and that there is clear protection of freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression – and the need for a Bill that will protect all in the community from the harm that conversion practices cause.  

Rebecca Crowther, CEO of Equality Network and member of The Expert Advisory Group on Ending Conversion Practices said,  

“Bringing together people of faith, LGBTQIA+ community members, survivors and people who may be at risk of experiencing conversion practices is so important.  Creating a space in which faith leaders, and LGBTQIA+ people of all faiths and none can openly and safely discuss the Scottish Government proposals has allowed for a meaningful and constructive dialogue to take place. Most importantly it has allowed people of faith to show clear and unwavering support for ending these practices once and for all in Scotland.” 

 “Conversion Practices are insidious, complex and deeply harmful – work with and within faith communities is absolutely imperative if we want to get this right for everyone, and to ensure no more LGBTQA+ people are harmed by these practices in Scotland.” 

Reverend Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches said,  

“The proactive stance taken by the Scottish Government on conversion practices is supported by Metropolitan Community Churches. As a denomination, we have campaigned against such practices around the world and welcome Scotland’s commitment to making sure every LGBTQIA+ person is able to live as themselves, fully and without fear.

“Conversion practices do terrible harm to individuals on two levels. Firstly, they can cause profound trauma and distress to the person on the receiving end of the attempts to change who they are. Secondly, they often drive these individuals from faith communities that they love, where they have friends and family. The faith community also suffers, as they lose those who would otherwise stay and be active participants.  

 “It is encouraging to see increasing numbers of faith communities recognising the breadth of human sexuality and gender identity – all reflecting God the Creator.” 

The Iona Community’s LGBTQ+ Network has spoken out about the dangers of conversion practices. Revd. Dr. Alex Clare-Young, moderator of the Iona Community’s LGBTQ+ Common Concern Network said,  

“As a trans, queer survivor of conversion practices in Scotland and as an ordained minister it gives me hope for the futures of faith communities and of LGBTQ+ people to be a part of respectful, open and rigorous conversations that enable transformation and justice.”

Useful links

  1. Link to Scottish Government consultation on ending conversion practices, open until April 2nd: https://consult.gov.scot/equality-and-human-rights/ending-conversion-practices/consultation/ and more on proposals here; https://www.gov.scot/publications/ending-conversion-practices-scotland-scottish-government-consultation/ 
  2. Link to our webpages about conversion practices: https://www.equality-network.org/cp

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The Equality Network appoints new Chief Executive https://www.equality-network.org/the-equality-network-appoints-new-chief-executive/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:00:26 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=13592 The Equality Network, a leading national LGBTI equality and campaign organisation in Scotland, has today appointed a new Chief Executive, Dr Rebecca Crowther. The organisation’s […]

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Photo of Dr Rebecca Crowther, new CEO of the Equality Network. Surround includes the Equality Network's logo and strapline: "Creating change together LGBT equality in Scotland"

The Equality Network, a leading national LGBTI equality and campaign organisation in Scotland, has today appointed a new Chief Executive, Dr Rebecca Crowther.

The organisation’s previous leader, Tim Hopkins, is retiring as CEO today after 27 years with the Equality Network and 14 years as its head. Following an open recruitment process over the past few months, the Equality Network’s Board has appointed Dr Crowther as CEO to take the organisation forward into the future. She was previously the Equality Network’s Policy Manager.

Rebecca Crowther said, “I am excited to lead Equality Network into the future. Equality Network has achieved so much, and we aim to achieve so much more. Our priority will remain, as it always has been, to improve the lives of LGBTI+ people all over Scotland, and to do that in collaboration with our community, our partners, and our allies.

“We have a lot of work to do and many challenges ahead – It is my job now to continue the powerful and positive work of Equality Network, and to support my team in achieving tangible, effective and progressive change.

“My number one priority is to ensure that we are stable, strengthened & galvanised and doing what we do best – effecting meaningful change based on evidence, need, and lived expertise. I will do this with the wellbeing of our staff and our community at the forefront of my mind.

“We are energised and we have clear priorities for action. We are developing a renewed strategy to deal with the current threats to the progressive realisation of equality and rights. I will do all I can internally, and in collaboration with our partners and the LGBTI+ community across Scotland, to build on our foundations, our strength and organisational sustainability, to ensure that Scotland moves towards the inclusive future we all deserve – ultimately, to create real and lasting change for the better.

“I thank Tim for his decades long commitment to the cause and for everything he has done for our community in Scotland over his lengthy career, and through his tireless campaigning and collaboration. We wish him a long and restful retirement, he more than deserves it!”

Robert MacBean, convener of the Equality Network’s Board, said, “’I want to thank Tim Hopkins for everything he has done for LGBTI+ equality over nearly three decades working for us and for a lifetime of activism on behalf of others. And I welcome Dr Rebecca Crowther as our new Chief Executive; she is an exceptional advocate who will be leading a great team.”

Tim Hopkins said, “It has been a huge privilege to work in the Equality Network for LGBTI equality in Scotland over recent decades, and to do that alongside wonderful colleagues both within the Equality Network and Scottish Trans, and with our many partners. I am sure that the Equality Network will go from strength to strength under Becky’s leadership, and it will continue to have my full support.”

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Letter in the National, 18th December 2023 https://www.equality-network.org/letter-in-the-national-18th-december-2023/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:12:20 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=13537 We had this letter in the National newspaper, on 18th December 2023: Joanna Cherry wrote in her column (Alister Jack’s gender reform block was no […]

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We had this letter in the National newspaper, on 18th December 2023:

Joanna Cherry wrote in her column (Alister Jack’s gender reform block was no attack on devolution, Dec 15) that parliamentary committees should hear evidence from all sides of the debate when considering a bill. I completely agree. That’s what the Equalities Committee did with the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, hearing from a wide range of witnesses, including supporters and opponents of the bill.

Alister Jack did not do that before vetoing the bill. Most of the submissions he considered were from opponents. In her judgement on the use of Section 35, Lady Haldane ruled that there was no obligation on Mr Jack to consider balanced evidence. She noted: “The time frame did not permit an extensive information gathering exercise as had been carried out by the Scottish Parliament before the introduction of the bill.”

Joanna Cherry wrote that Lady Haldane found that Jack’s decision was “perfectly rational”. Lady Haldane did not in fact use those words. She did however note of his decision: “Others may have reached a different conclusion on the same material. This is plainly a situation where another decision might have been made with equal propriety.”

The bar set here is low. To pass a bill requires taking a full range of evidence and then careful consideration and public debate on the range of possible responses. To veto the same bill requires neither of those things.

Liberal democracies around the world have introduced legislation similar to the GRR Bill. The Conservative UK Government under Theresa May committed to do so for England. It was the lurch to the right under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak that resulted in a change of policy, which has now been imposed here too.

Tim Hopkins

Director, Equality Network

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Letter in the National newspaper 12/12/2023 https://www.equality-network.org/letter-in-the-national-newspaper-12-12-2023/ Tue, 12 Dec 2023 15:54:48 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=13521 I am writing in response to Neale Hanvey’s column in Monday’s paper (LGB people are now facing a bigger threat than Section 28), as someone […]

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I am writing in response to Neale Hanvey’s column in Monday’s paper (LGB people are now facing a bigger threat than Section 28), as someone who has been campaigning for LGBT equality in Scotland since the 1980s. In 87/88 I was a member of the small group who organised the first campaign against section 28, including the Lark in the Park events that Neale Hanvey mentions.

The following year, I was one of a handful of gay men who set up Scotland’s ACT UP group to campaign against HIV discrimination. A couple of years after that, the late, great campaigner Derek Ogg and I successfully lobbied for the first step, since section 28, towards repeal of Scotland’s various anti-gay laws. I have been lucky to work with great people, then and in the decades since.

Mr Hanvey was not involved in running any of those campaigns. It is galling, therefore, to read his claim that the campaigns of those years have somehow been betrayed by trans equality campaigning now. The opposite is the case. Those of us who organised the campaigns of the 80s and 90s can see clearly that the lies told then about lesbians and gay men are being repeated now about trans people.

For example, Mr Hanvey claims that young lesbian and gay people are being pressured or manipulated into defining as trans instead. That is complete nonsense. It is a repeat of the 1990s lie that our campaigns to repeal Section 28 and equalise the gay age of consent at 16 were so that older gay men could “recruit” teenage boys and turn them gay.

The clear understanding that most LGB people have of the true nature of the anti-trans culture war is one reason why, for example, a recent poll found that 97% of lesbians under 25 support trans equality.

As an openly gay MP in the 2020s, Mr Hanvey has benefited from a ladder to equality built over decades, rung by rung, by generations of activists. It is disgraceful that now that he is reaching the top of that ladder, he is kicking down on the trans people who are still climbing it below him.

Tim Hopkins
Director, Equality Network

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Kinship, Family, and Support Networks report launch https://www.equality-network.org/kinship-family-and-support-networks-report-launch/ Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:14:48 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=13115 Kinship networks in the LGBTI+ community have long been considered ‘different’. We do not always abide by traditional notions of ‘family’, and collectively we have […]

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Kinship networks in the LGBTI+ community have long been considered ‘different’. We do not always abide by traditional notions of ‘family’, and collectively we have had to redefine what family means.

Throughout history, our community has taken on the responsibility of looking out for ourselves. Having been neglected by wider society, and subject to discrimination, we have forged strong and unbreakable kinship networks, supporting each other when the world at large has not. Many have been alienated or ostracised from their biological family, and some have separated themselves due to prejudice or fear. Some have ‘chosen’ their own families instead. For many, these support networks are a lifeline.

As society, and equalities, have progressed, LGBTI+ people have finally been afforded new and assisted ways in which to create families, but within policy and legislation in Scotland, our diverse families, support, and kinship networks continue not to be considered. We decided to find out how this impacts us, what can be changed to make our lives easier, and most importantly, what can be done to ensure our networks of support are fully recognised.

This report outlines our findings, and our related policy recommendations based on these, our knowledge of the LGBTI+ community, and the policy landscape of Scotland.

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Human rights and LGBTI+ experiences in Scotland today https://www.equality-network.org/human-rights-and-lgbti-experiences-in-scotland-today/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:00:25 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=13124 The post Human rights and LGBTI+ experiences in Scotland today appeared first on Equality Network.

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Come and work with us https://www.equality-network.org/come-and-work-with-us/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 14:13:35 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=13067 Come and join our team! We are currently recruiting for two great jobs: Full time Community Engagement and Development Coordinator Half time Communications Officer The […]

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Come and join our team!

We are currently recruiting for two great jobs:

  • Full time Community Engagement and Development Coordinator
  • Half time Communications Officer

The closing date for applications is Monday 31st July, and you can find all the details here.

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National LGBT+ organisations call on the FM candidates to continue with commitments to LGBT+ equality https://www.equality-network.org/national-lgbt-organisations-call-on-the-fm-candidates-to-continue-with-commitments-to-lgbt-equality/ Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:11:11 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=12916 National LGBT+ organisations in Scotland (Equality Network, Scottish Trans, LEAP Sports Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland and LGBT Health and Wellbeing) have written today […]

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National LGBT+ organisations in Scotland (Equality Network, Scottish Trans, LEAP Sports Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland and LGBT Health and Wellbeing) have written today to each of the candidates standing to be next First Minister, to ask that they commit to honouring existing Scottish Government commitments to improve LGBT+ people’s lives, and to continue progressing LGBT+ equality.

The letter asks candidates to confirm their support for five existing commitments of the Scottish Government:

  1. Honour the Scottish Government’s commitment to ban conversion practices through a bill introduced this year, to protect LGBT+ people from attempts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, which can cause great harm

 

  1. Keep the GRR Bill on the Parliament’s books, and commit to seeking the revocation of the section 35 order whether via the courts or by agreement with the next UK Government, to allow trans people access to a fairer and simpler process for legal recognition of who they truly are

 

  1. Honour the Scottish Government’s commitment to improve the health of LGBT+ people, through refreshing and improving the mental health strategy and work to prevent self-harm, and by continuing to fund transformation of NHS gender identity services for trans people, so that LGBT+ people in Scotland are able to live happy and healthy lives

 

  1. Show leadership on improving attitudes towards LGBT+ people, at a time when hate crime targeting people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is on the rise and public discourse, particularly around trans people, is increasingly polarised, to ensure Scotland is a safe and welcoming country for all

 

  1. Continue work on implementing LGBT-inclusive education, to ensure that young people can grow up knowing they will be accepted and supported for who they are, can see their families reflected and included in their learning, and to reduce LGBT+ young people’s experiences of bullying because of their sexual orientation or gender identity

 

Tim Hopkins, Director of Equality Network said:

“We appreciate that there will be many issues for the next First Minister to deal with. As LGBT+ organisations, our concern is that the existing commitments by the Scottish Government, which value and support Scotland’s LGBT+ people, will be continued by the new First Minister. Will the candidates confirm that, or is there a risk that those commitments will be dropped?”

Dr Rebecca Crowther, Policy Co-ordinator at Equality Network said:

“Scotland deserves a leader who will continue pushing for equality and human rights in all aspects of life. We need a leader who will do everything they can to ensure we are all free from harm and to be who we are. We must see our humanity and human rights reflected in legislation; they must challenge section 35, and deliver gender recognition reform, we must push for better accessible healthcare, tackle rising hate crime and, we must finally end harmful conversion practices that have devastating long term effects. We need a First Minister who has the strength of leadership, and the willing, to achieve all of this.”

Vic Valentine, Manager of Scottish Trans said:  

“While for now this might be a contest about who leads the SNP, ultimately whoever is successful will go on to lead the country. LGBT+ people are a part of Scotland’s communities, and trans people are your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours. It is absolutely vital that the future First Minister takes decisions in the interests of everyone, and rather than seeing protecting and improving trans people’s lives and rights as an optional add-on, understands that doing so is a small but important part of leading a Scotland in which everyone can thrive.”

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LGBTI Glossary https://www.equality-network.org/lgbti-glossary/ Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:50:41 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=12914 The post LGBTI Glossary appeared first on Equality Network.

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Scotland moves forward again as Gender Recognition Reform Bill passes https://www.equality-network.org/scotland-moves-forward-again-as-gender-recognition-reform-bill-passes/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 15:33:51 +0000 https://www.equality-network.org/?p=12908 22nd December 2022 Scotland is set to join 34 other countries and states around the world where trans men and women can change their legal […]

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22nd December 2022

Scotland is set to join 34 other countries and states around the world where trans men and women can change their legal gender by self-declaration.

Following months of detailed parliamentary scrutiny and debate, the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament today by 86 votes to 39.

We thank all MSPs who supported the bill, and those who engaged constructively on amendments to it.

There were more than 300 amendments proposed by MSPs. All the wrecking amendments were rejected, and the key principles of the bill remain:

  1. To move to a self-declaration system, removing the need for medical or other evidence
  2. To reduce the minimum age for gender recognition from 18 to 16
  3. To reduce the “living in the acquired gender” requirement before applying, from two years to three months (but see below)

The bill is not perfect. An amendment was agreed to raise the three month “living in the acquired gender” period to six months if the applicant is aged 16 or 17. There is an unnecessary (in our view) three month “reflection period” after application, before your gender recognition can come into effect. And the bill does nothing for non-binary people. But it is a big step forward.

The bill will not come into effect immediately. It typically takes more than a year for a bill to start to operate, because of the time it takes to set up new systems. In this case also, opponents of trans equality have threatened to try to block the bill via the courts. If they try that, they will fail (and will waste a lot of their money), but they might cause a delay.

The past few years, Scotland has felt like it has been going backwards. Trans people, and to some extent LGBT+ people more people generally, have been abused and vilified, on social media in particular, in a way not seen since the Parliament was debating repeal of section 28 in 2000. As in 2000, misconceptions and misinformation about what the gender recognition legislation will do have abounded.

As with section 28 repeal, we are sure that when the GRR Bill is brought into operation, people will see that the negative predictions about its effects were wrong, and it will have widespread support.

A heartfelt thank you from Scottish Trans and the Equality Network to everyone who has supported this bill, including the many thousands of people who emailed their MSPs to support it, and those who spoke out publicly.

After years of increasingly public prejudice against trans people, things have started to move forward. There is a lot more to do. There is a review ongoing to improve gender identity healthcare services. The Scottish Government have promised to implement various recommendations of their non-binary working group. And legislation to ban conversion practices targeted at sexual orientation or gender identity is being prepared for introduction in the Scottish Parliament before the end of 2023.

We’ll be working on all those things, and more.

Thank you for all your support for the Equality Network and Scottish Trans, and for LGBTI+ equality.

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