Back in May the European arm of ILGA published their annual Rainbow Map, which ranks countries according to how safe they are for LGBTQ+ citizens in Europe. This year Spain took the top spot, which last year was held by Malta. Shockingly the UK fell to 22nd place.
It is not good for the UK to be languishing in 22nd place, when just over 10 years ago we were number 1 on the rainbow map. As a proud member of the LGBTQ community I am very concerned about the UK’s fall in the rankings and am beginning to think that the UK, is heading in the direction of not being a safe place for the LGBTQ community.
The key reasons I think this are:
- Homophobia / Biphobia / Transphobia is on the rise
- Transgender rights are slowly being erased, and Transgendered people are being told that they have to use the bathroom corresponding to the sex they were born as, rather than the one they feel comfortable in
- Conversion therapy / practices have not been banned
- Some local councils, particularly those run by the Reform Party are forcing the councils they control etc to stop support pride and pride marches etc.
It’s tine that the UK started to ensure that
- LGBTQ+ rights are protected
- that conversion therapy is banned
- that transgendered people are shouted to use the bathroom of their choice, not one that they have been told they have to use.
- Educates people that homophobia / bi phobia / transphobia is wrong.
- Not go back to being a country where being a member of the LGBTQ+ community means you have to hide the fact you are a part of it for fear of being attacked etc.
It concerns me that some political parties, such as Reform are telling the councils they run, not to
- Support local pride events and marches
- Stop displaying pride flags
- Promote pride month, , LGBTQ+ books etc, in libraries
This is wrong, and local councillors, whilst entitled to their opinions should not be able to order councils to cease involvement in pride marches etc. as I am beginning to wonder, if some of the councillors making the decision have anti LGBT+ views, and therefore think that perhaps they hould not be allowed to let those views inform their role as a councillor, and if needs be abstain from any vote on the issue, as they might not vote in am impartial way. I think if libraries want to show their support for pride, it should be the libraries choice choice rather than the choice of their local councillors, and the same goes for attendance at pride marches.
I think that the government needs to make it clear to all councils, that the Progress Pride flag, and any other LGBTQ flags etc. such as the transgender pride flag can be flown, and that the Reform party's policy of only allowing the Union Jack, Flag of St George and the councils flag to be flown is not acceptable, not compatible with life in modern Britain.
So if you are able to please show your support for LGBTQ+ rights by:
- Attending a local pride event, if you can
- Writing to your local councillors and MP, asking them to show support for LGBTQ+ rights
- If you are an ally to the community, let your LGBTQ+ friends and work colleagues know you support them.
The more support the LGBTQ+ community get, the stronger its voice will be, we want the world to know we are here and will not be marginalised or have our hard fought rights taken away from us. Pride is protest and pride marches are needed more than ever today