Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch MP has received an invitation to meet with leading LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
The invitation, which comes from human rights organisation Peter Tatchell Foundation, is in response to reports that Badenoch has had little or no engagement with most LGBTQ+ organisations, despite claiming to have met “extensively’ with “numerous” LGBTQ+ groups.
“Badenoch’s lack of engagement is blamed for faltering government progress on LGBTQ+ rights and declining trust in the Government by many LGBTQ+ people,” said Peter Tatchell.
“Badenoch has reportedly never met the trans charity Mermaids but has met one-sidedly with trans-critical organisations. There has been a two-year hiatus in meetings with Britain’s leading LGBTQ+ group, Stonewall. The Minister should at least listen to a range of viewpoints. The safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ citizens should be the Minister’s goal,” added Mr Tatchell.
The foundation’s letter to Kemi Badenoch, signed by Peter Tatchell, states: “There is a majority consensus among LGBTQ+ people that the Government needs to do more to support trans people, tackle homophobic hate crimes and ban LGBTQ+ conversion practices.
“Regrettably, reported instances of homophobic and transphobic hate crime are on the rise, propelled by often inflammatory, divisive and intolerant rhetoric.
“Under successive Conservative governments, the UK’s ranking in the European LGBTQ+ rights league table has fallen from first to 17th place. This is very disturbing and merits urgent rectification. A similar decline in health or education would rightfully be deemed a national disgrace.
“By listening to the perspectives of a range of LGBTQ+ organisations, it will, I hope, help inform you and your policy making, as well as shape your input to the Conservative manifesto for the upcoming general election,” the invitation letter notes.