In a statement Monday, the charity Stonewall said it was withdrawing its support for the Safe to Be Me conference because of “breaking the prime minister’s promise to protect trans people from the harms of conversion therapy”. He added that he would be able to attend the event “if the prime minister reiterates his promise of a comprehensive ban on conversion therapy”. The statement continued: “Trans people deserve no less respect, care and protection than cis lesbians, homosexuals and bisexuals. “If the UK government can not stand back and respect the fundamental human rights of all LGBTQ + people, it should not convene a conference on LGBTQ + rights on the world stage.” The statement is supported by more than 80 LGBT charities and organizations across the UK, including the LGBT Foundation, Mermaids and the Scottish Trans Alliance. Twenty-three charities and organizations for HIV, including the Terrence Higgins Trust, have also confirmed that they will not be attending the conference. The Terrence Higgins Trust said: “The government’s decision to exclude trans people from the ban on conversion therapy is completely unacceptable. “Trans rights are human rights – progress without or to the detriment of trans people is not progress. We are united and we will not be separated “. In a statement Monday, the government defended its move and insisted it did more work to ban trans conversion practices. He said the delay was due to the fact that he had concerns about “side effects”, especially for people under the age of 18. But some Tory lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction. Alicia Kearns, a Rutland and Melton MP, said: “To say that this is wrong is derogatory. He bows to those who invent divisions among LGBT communities, to those who spread the worst stories about our trans friends. What makes trans people deserve to be mistreated? This is the [question] to any person who supports this decision “. The boycott comes in response to two embarrassing upheavals by the government. On Thursday, ITV received a leak from a Downing Street newsletter entitled Conversion Therapy Handling Plan, which stated that Boris Johnson had agreed not to pass legislation banning conversion practices, despite the government promising to outlawed them four years ago. However, after a furious reaction from conservative ministers and militants, the prime minister took a second turn, saying the ban would eventually be included in the queen’s speech in May. However, the legislation will only include a ban on gay conversion practices and not trans conversion practices. On Monday, the Liberal Democrats accused the government of “fragmenting our country’s reputation” for LGBT + rights, when it should “lead the world.” The government is announcing Safe to Be Me, due in June, as the UK’s first global LGBT conference, saying it will focus on “legislative reform, tackling violence and discrimination and ensuring equal access to public services”. for LGBT people. The fact that the conference, which has been described by the government as “targeting the prejudices that LGBT people still face”, is facing a boycott, is particularly troubling for the Conservative Party. Contact the Government Equality Office for comment.
