Huntingdonshire Green Party (HGP) notes the January 2022 Council of Europe report on anti-LGBTI abuse, which names the United Kingdom in particular (alongside Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Turkey) for its “extensive and often virulent attacks on the rights of LGBTI people”. The report also states that the UK hosts increasing voicing of so-called “gender-critical” ideology, which the report describes as “deeply damaging to LGBTI people, while also harming women’s and children’s rights and social cohesion”.
HGP also note that the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) has set out a clear Trans Rights policy in RR530-538 (The Green Party | Responsibilities & Rights).
“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, and attempts to incite hatred through discourse are counter to Green values and have no place in our party.
Resolution
We will continue to make Huntingdonshire Green Party a welcoming and safe place for all, including trans and non-binary people.
We will encourage our members to attend training on intersectional equalities, in collaboration with GPEW and in consultation with LGBTIQA+ Greens.
We will continue to oppose all forms of 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 forms. This means ensuring that:
- All members are held properly accountable for their deeds and words. Everyone should have an opportunity to reflect and learn, but repeated bigoted behaviour must result in expulsion from the party.
- GPEW’s Code of Conduct is reformed and streamlined, with new processes given appropriate support and investment, so that the Party can deal quickly and decisively with cases of bigotry.
- All spokespeople and elected/appointed committee members are held to a particularly high standard and do not bring the party into disrepute.
- Trans and non-binary voices are centred in the above reforms and liberation groups are given the opportunity to collaborate in the implementation of these reforms.
