Dear Bill, 

Thank you very much for reaching out to me on this important issue and for your patience in awaiting a response. 

I understand that the past few weeks have been a time of worry and anxiety for many people who are part of the trans community, as well as for the many allies of people who are trans, non binary, queer, gender non-conforming or who come under any category of person who may now be left feel uncertain about what the Supreme Courts ruling means for their day-to-day reality. I want to personally apologise for any upset that this ruling may have caused you. 

As your Labour MP I want to reassure you of the importance that the Government places on ensuring the safety of all citizens, to go about their lives in peace, treated with the respect and equal treatment that we should all see as our right. Our government acknowledges that the trans community specifically has been singled out as a group in a way that is at best unconstructive and at worst cruel and callous and we take these matters extremely seriously.  

It is the Labour Party that is fighting to ensure that all hate crimes are met with equal punishment, and we will continue pushing to ensure that anti-trans hatred is treated as an aggravated offence in law, in the same way that racially or religiously motivated hate crimes are. 

Labour is also clear on the fact that conversion therapy is abuse and we will honour our pledge to outlaw this practice in a manner that is trans-inclusive. 

I appreciate that there are clarifications which people will be very eager to seek with regards to the ways in which the Supreme Court's findings will be implemented. It is my understanding that the EHRC is aiming to provide the updated Code of Practice to the UK Government by the end of June for ministerial approval.

In the meantime, I encourage you to reach out to me if there is anything I can do by means of signposting to useful resources. I know that there will be constituents who want to speak out on this matter and I would be very happy to offer any suggestions as to places where you can share your views meaningfully as part of the dialogue moving forward. I would encourage you to use your voice to inform the next steps wherever possible. 

As my constituent I want you to know that I care deeply about the LGBTQIA+ community and ensuring that everyone lives in an equal, fair and safe society. 

Thank you very much for taking the time to contact me and please do not hesitate to reach out should you have further comments or questions. 

Kind regards,

 
Claire

Claire Hughes AS / MP