The following motion received overwhelming support from members of Brighton & Hove Green Party at a recent meeting.
Context
We note the ONS report on Gender Identity in the 2021 Census, which shows that Brighton & Hove has one of the highest percentages of Trans & Non-Binary residents in the UK, with nearly double the national average.
We also note the Council of Europe resolution on anti-LGBTI abuse published in January 2022 which:
- condemned: “with particular force the extensive and often virulent attacks on the rights of LGBTI people that have been occurring for several years in, among other countries, Hungary, Poland, the Russian Federation, Turkey and the United Kingdom.”
- also condemned “the highly prejudicial anti-gender, gender-critical and anti-trans narratives which reduce the fight for the equality of LGBTI people to what these movements deliberately mis-characterise as “gender ideology” or “LGBTI ideology”.”
- further noted that “Such narratives deny the very existence of LGBTI people, dehumanise them, and often falsely portray their rights as being in conflict with women’s and children’s rights, or societal and family values in general. All of these are deeply damaging to LGBTI people, while also harming women’s and children’s rights and social cohesion.”
- and “deplores the fact that such discourse is leading to stagnation and even backsliding in progress towards LGBTI equality, sexual and reproductive rights and women’s and children’s rights – and in so doing, it poses a direct challenge to democracy and the rule of law.”
We also note that the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) has set out a clear Trans Rights policy: “The Green Party recognises that trans men are men, trans women are women, and that non-binary identities exist and are valid. We shall respect transgender and non-binary people’s identities as real. The Green Party shall include, and push for further acceptance of, transgender and non-binary people within all areas of society.” (RR530)
Recent events within the GPEW, including recent conferences, have laid bare the transphobia that exists within our party. The consequences of such negative behaviour are clear: many trans, non-binary, and ally members have either taken a step back from being actively involved in the party or resigned their memberships entirely as a direct result of these events.
We wish to reaffirm that all forms of bigotry, including transphobia, are counter to Green values – whether expressed outright, through dog-whistles, or under the guise of ‘debate’ and ‘reasonable concerns’ – and have no place in our party.
Resolution
We will continue to make Brighton and Hove Green Party a welcoming and safe place for all, including trans and non-binary people.
We will continue to oppose all forms of dog-whistling and bigotry, including transphobia, as there can be no environmental justice without social and economic justice.
We urge the Leadership, Executive, Regional Council and membership of the Green Party of England and Wales to take a strong stance against transphobia in all its forms.