International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
19 May 2014 11:34 AM
Equalities Minister Sajid Javid highlights the
work the UK is doing in advancing LGB&T
rights.
Yesterday marked International Day Against
Homophobia and Transphobia(IDAHOT), an important date that raises awareness
about people around the world who have suffered from hate or prejudice because
of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Minister for Equalities Sajid Javid
said:
Everyone should be treated fairly and with respect. This
government will continue to actively promote equality here and abroad. I hope
everyone will join me in raising their voices against discrimination wherever
it occurs.
The
International Lesbian and Gay association’s (ILGA) 2014 Rainbow Mapranked the UK number one in Europe for LGBT rights.
Britain has been placed in the top spot for the last three years scoring 82%
this year, an increase of 5% since 2013. The ILGA tracks the status and
promotes the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people, publishing its
rights map each year.
Here are just some of the things we’ve done to
remove barriers and improve the lives of LGB&T people in the
UK:
- The
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act received Royal Assent last year and the first
marriages of same-sex couples took place on 29 March 2014
- In
December 2011, we changed the law to allow same-sex couples to register their
civil partnership on religious premises on a permissive basis
- We
now recognise 75 overseas same sex partnerships as equivalent to UK civil
partnerships, 50 more than when the Civil partnership Act 2004 was
enacted
- We
have delivered our commitment to bring forward legislation to disregard
consensual gay sex convictions, and those affected can now submit applications
to the Home Office
- We
are supporting schools to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying
and launched a new
project to understand the most effective ways to reduce this type of
bullying and its impacts.
- The
College of Policing has published new operational guidance for
police officers responding to all forms of hate crime, including homophobic and
transphobic hate crimes