In an exchange of letters human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has accused Maria Eagle, deputy Minister for Women, of misleading the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

The Deputy Minister's letter stated that the Government is clear that no one should suffer harassment because of their sexual orientation, and if someone feels they are being harassed they could bring a claim under the Equality Bill's discrimination provisions. It went on to say that the Government consulted on the inclusion of an additional, specific harassment clause, but no one could produce any evidence of this being necessary because of the protections already in place.

It also claimed that The Equality Bill has widened the definition of gender reassignment, so that transsexual people will now be protected in the gender that they permanently identify with, regardless of whether they are under medical supervision. In addition, the Bill extends protection to those who are discriminated against because they are thought of as transsexual. No one put forward evidence of the need to go further than this during the consultation.

And, according to Ms Eagle, schools are required to teach sex and relationship education in an appropriate and fair way - there is no exemption for faith schools.

Mr Tatchell said:
"It is very disappointing and disturbing to see the deputy Minister for Women and Equality, Maria Eagle MP, misleading the LGBT community over the Equality Bill. Her response to our concerns is woefully inadequate, She has made claims that do not stack up.

"The Equality Bill explicilty excludes protection against harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Contrary to Ms Eagle's assertions, this means that a LGBT person will not be able to bring an anti-harassment claim on these grounds under the Equality Bill. Harassment is different from discrimination and it requires separate legislative provision, as the government has recognised by giving explicit protection against harassment to women, black and disabled people, but not to LGBTs.

"The government only consulted Stonewall, which does not provide hands-on assistance to individual victims of homophobic harassment. It did not consult the two LGBT groups who advise and assist the majority of cases of homophobic harassment, Galop and OutRage! Our practical experience shows that homophobic and transphobic harassment is widespread and is often perpetrated by bigoted neighbours on LGBT tenants and residents. Galop has many examples of this harassment and could have provided it to the government. Labour ministers ignored and sidelined Galop in its one-sided consultation process."

"The Equality Bill only offers protection to those who have had, or who plan to have, gender reassignmment surgery. It doesn't protect gender variant or intersex people, nor people who identify and live as trans but who have decided to not have surgery. The claim that no one put forward evidence of the need for a wider definition is untrue. The Equality Network in Scotland made this point but its recommendations were arrogantly ignored by government ministers.

"In April, Schools Secretary Ed Balls accepted proposals in a review by Sir Alasdair Macdonald. These proposals exempt religious schools from the government's plan to tackle homophobic prejudice. They will be allowed to teach sex and relationship education in accordance with their own religious values and ethos, which often include the belief that gay people are sinners, unnatural, immoral and inferior human beings."

For more information about Peter Tatchell view:
www.petertatchell.net