Peter Tatchell

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has claimed that a letter addressed to the Minister for Women & Equalities, Harriet Harman, has been ignored. The letter outlined LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) exclusion in the Equality Bill.

Mr Tatchell said:
"The government is ignoring all requests to explain why its Equality Bill explicitly denies lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people protection against harassment. Protection is offered on the grounds of race, gender and disability, but not on the grounds of sexual orientation or transgender identity. Why are we excluded? It is time Labour gave us an explanation.

"I wrote to the Minister for Women & Equalities, Harriet Harman, nearly two months ago. Despite reminders, she has failed to offer any answers. Her stonewalling is disrespectful and disappointing. It is an insult to the whole lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to refuse to explain why we are excluded from this legislation.

"These exclusions are not accidental omissions. They are explicitly written into the Equality Bill."

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