MPs mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia
MPs from 8 political parties expressed strong support for LGBT+ rights by signing an Early Day Motion tabled by the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights Chair, Crispin Blunt MP, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia and to reaffirm the importance of the UK’s support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex people globally.
Crispin Blunt MP noted that ‘despite seeing many signs of progress in LGBT+ equality over the last year in some parts of the world, there have also been attempts to roll back the human rights of LGBT+ people in others, in particular now during the global coronavirus pandemic. We remain concerned for example about reports of unlawful arrest of LGBT+ people and misuse of emergency powers in Uganda, the threat to legal gender recognition in Hungary, and the scapegoating of LGBT+ communities. The UK, as co-chair of the Equal Rights Coalition with Argentina, and as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, has a crucial role to play in supporting LGBT+ rights, people and civil society organisations globally. So too, does the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights as we continue to connect MPs and Peers in the UK with their counterparts across the world as part of our Ambassadors project.’
Vice-chair of the APPG and country ambassador for Ukraine Stewart McDonald MP added that ‘we know that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on groups that are already facing marginalisation, including LGBT+ people both in the UK and across the world, and therefore now is the time to ensure that LGBT+ people do not get left behind in the response to COVID-19. As APPG country ambassador to Ukraine I am continuing to work closely with Ukrainian LGBT+ activists to support the fight for LGBT+ rights across the region’.
The full text of the EDM can be found below:
International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia 2020
EDM #475
Tabled 13 May 2020
2019-21 Session
That this House notes that 17 May is the annual International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia to highlight the violence and discrimination that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex communities and other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) continue to face; further notes with concern that the covid-19 pandemic is increasing inequalities for many marginalised groups globally, including LGBT+ people particularly in the areas of access to healthcare, housing, employment as well as misuse of emergency powers and increase in hate crime and domestic abuse for those in lockdown; celebrates civil society defending LGBT+ rights around the world, including in the jurisdictions where LGBT+ identities remain criminalised; commends the UK’s role as co-chair of the intergovernmental Equal Rights Coalition which advocates for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people; maintains the importance of the UK’s role in promoting and protecting LGBT+ rights globally; and calls on the Government to continue to advance and uphold the rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.
