Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Equal Rights for LGBT People: International Promotion

Wednesday 21 October 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK continues to be recognised globally for LGBT rights
  • Government announced 3.2 million funding for Commonwealth LGBT rights
  • Concerns raised about 18-week wait for gender identity clinics

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Crispin Blunt Con
Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from the UK's ongoing efforts to promote LGBT+ equality globally and concerns about maintaining its standing in international rankings.

Question

What steps is she taking to maintain the UK's international promotion of equal rights for LGBT+ people, considering recent funding announcements and global recognition?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The UK continues to be recognised as one of the most progressive countries globally for LGBT rights. The Government recently announced £3.2 million of new funding to help Commonwealth Governments and civil society to repeal outdated discriminatory laws against LGBT people. We work closely with the Council of Europe and the UN, in addition to co-chairing the Equal Rights Coalition, and we remain committed to delivering an ambitious international LGBT conference.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about maintaining UK's standing in international rankings was not directly addressed.

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Q2 Crispin Blunt Con
Women & Equalities
Context

Concerns are raised about the UK's commitment to delivering equality for LGBT+ people, specifically regarding the lack of amendments to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 leading to delays in accessing services.

Question

Given the decision not to amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 will inevitably see the United Kingdom fall significantly in the tables of those countries committed to delivering equality for LGBT+ people, what actions will she and her Department take to address this by committing to an 18-week waiting time for gender identity clinics and development services for children as per Dr Hilary Cass's review?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We have noted my hon. Friend's concerns about the Government's decision, and we assure him that the UK has a strong record on LGBT rights. The wait for gender identity clinics has been very long, and the Government are looking at that issue. I will not make a specific commitment at the Dispatch Box, but I recognise the concern that has been raised. We will continue to do what we can to speed things up.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about committing to an 18-week waiting time was avoided.

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