As Downing Street comes under fire for weakening its commitment to ban conversion practices, the Safe to Be Me event to be hosted in June has been canceled. Iain Anderson, the government’s LGBTQ + business adviser, said he was “completely shocked” by last week’s decision not to pursue illegal practices aimed at those who question their gender identity. He suggested that Downing Street appear to be “trying to put a wedge” between those who are gay or bisexual and those who are trans. Anderson said the Safe to Be Me conference should not take place, acknowledging: “Trust has been eroded.” He added that he had undertaken the consulting work “on the basis that there would be a policy for everyone in the LGBT community, but obviously this is not going to happen”. The move would be a further blow to Boris Johnson, who has faced a backlash from Tory lawmakers following last week’s decision not to seek a ban on “conversion therapy”. “It’s not a respectful conversation. “It has turned into an awakening war,” said Iain Anderson. Photo: Anthony Harvey / REX / Shutterstock Conservative MP Dehenna Davison has expressed frustration with the decision to cancel the LGBT + conference. “We have had such a tremendous opportunity to prove that the United Kingdom (and the Conservative Party) is a defender of freedom,” he wrote on Twitter. “As a Conservative member of the LGBT + community, it’s so wrong to get to this point.” A partial shift came hours later, but Downing Street only pledged to crack down on conversion practices for those who question their sexuality, not their gender. Anderson told ITV News: “Britain needs a strategy for trans people and I can not see a strategy right now. We have an ongoing tabloid discussion about people’s lives. It is not a respectful discussion. has turned into an awakening war. It has become a wedge… I was an LGBT business champion, not LGB or T, and that’s why I’m leaving. “I feel that what the government is doing is trying to create a wedge between LGB people and trans people. “I think it is the wrong approach and I disagree with politics.” Members of the trans community are disappointed with the decision, with some considering leaving the UK. “Every trans person I talk to, without exception, is incredibly discouraged,” said Katy Montgomerie, an activist and YouTuber who said she recently applied for a gender identity certificate “in case I need to leave the country”. He said: “People send me messages every day saying ‘I can not stop crying, can you give me some hope?’ Do I have to call a pub now to see if I can use the toilet? It is disgusting and there seems to be no end. “It is horrible to be told that you are a second-class citizen.” In his resignation letter, Anderson told Johnson that the conversion practices were disgusting and that it was “deeply damaging” that the government had informed trans people that they would be excluded from future legislation. The news came a day after Conservative Jamie Wallis became the first openly UK MP. Wallis said he was “bitterly disappointed” by the government’s withdrawal, saying “it can not be described as anything more than a broken promise.” Jennie Kermode, director and secretary of Trans Media Watch, said: “There was some hope around Jamie Wallis that was released last week and the possibility of more trans people in parliament, but the last few days have been extreme. “Trans people feel hurt, scared and threatened and some are talking about leaving the UK. “But we are also excited about the support we have received from the wider LGBT community and allies.” A senior government source said the issue had now turned into “complete chaos”. They said there was likely to be a “fight in the Commons” by those Tory lawmakers who might propose amendments to extend the ban. More organizations announced on Tuesday that they are leaving the Safe To Be Me conference. The Congress of Trade Unions said it was “deeply concerned” about the government’s decision, adding that it “shows that the government does not give priority to integration and security for all LGBT + people”. The Unison union said the government had taken an abusive turn and was “another attack on the rights of trans conservatives”. Government sources said the event was “inevitable” and should be canceled due to a lack of support from key stakeholders such as Stonewall.
