Live now - Lizz Truss oral evidence to WESC: The role of the GEO: embedding equalities across Government

[FindTheTruth]

parliamentlive.tv/event/index/e426820b-d147-4dc7-adf0-a1e21bfe6bb4

My aim is not to make this a specialised conversation amongst a few groups

Well done Liz 👏

'I look at the point of view, every person in this country deserves fair treatment and every person deserves opportunity and if we try too much to say "it's about this group or that group" we're missing that broader picture'

I think watching that was pretty informative. No doubt lots of undercurrents and subtexts going on, and I think Truss was making it quite clear that the govt weren't going to be bullied into pandering to Stonewall law.

MP Alexandra Davies-Jones (Welsh Labour Party) QUESTION:

'Last week this committee heard quite damning testimony from former members of the LGBT advisory panel, who told us that you had created a hostile environment for LGBTQ people since your appointment. How do you respond to that?'

Liz Truss - ANSWER

'The LGBT panel were appointed by the previous government and they were appointed on a time limited basis until the end of March this year. And of course we're grateful for the contribution they made, but I think there were fundamental disagreements, namely members of the panel supported self-id for gender recognition certificates. I very strongly feel that there need to be checks and balances. The issue here is a fundamental difference of opinion on that issue'

MP Alexandra Davies-Jones (Welsh Labour Party) QUESTION:
Given that difference of opinion, does this government intend to honour the commitments made in the LGBT action plan in 2018?'

Liz Truss - ANSWER
We've set out our plan for LGBT advancement for rights. I talked earlier about the LGBT international conference, that will be the first one the UK has ever held on the theme of "Safe to be me", showing our global leadership on the issue. We're also in the Queens speech announce that we will be legislating to ban conversion therapy in this country. We're also working with business to make sure there is good support for LGBT people in business, particularly small business. those are the priorities as I've set them out'. I will be appointing an LGBT panel in due course to support those priorities.'

A LOT of very angry men on twitter, bemoaning the rolling back of trans rights....They know they've lost and self ID will never happen. Thank you Liz!

@jeaux90

I loved her on LBC yesterday "women have vaginas Nick" she absolutely rocks.

Did Truss say that?!

Fabulous!

the former LGBT advisory panel were a disgrace

@FindTheTruth

MP Alexandra Davies-Jones (Welsh Labour Party) QUESTION: Given that difference of opinion, does this government intend to honour the commitments made in the LGBT action plan in 2018?'

Liz Truss - ANSWER
We've set out our plan for LGBT advancement for rights. I talked earlier about the LGBT international conference, that will be the first one the UK has ever held on the theme of "Safe to be me", showing our global leadership on the issue. We're also in the Queens speech announce that we will be legislating to ban conversion therapy in this country. We're also working with business to make sure there is good support for LGBT people in business, particularly small business. those are the priorities as I've set them out'. I will be appointing an LGBT panel in due course to support those priorities.'

Safe to be me

That sounds very much like Stonewall's new catchphrase right?
With copying the EHRC branding and this...

Wow! She is really setting out her stall here, stating equal rights for all and no single group is going to be given special attention. I love that she’s taking no shit from anyone.

We've set out our plan for LGBT advancement for rights. I talked earlier about the LGBT international conference, that will be the first one the UK has ever held on the theme of "Safe to be me", showing our global leadership on the issue. We're also in the Queens speech announce that we will be legislating to ban conversion therapy in this country.

Sounds almost as if the conversion therapy ban is being offered as a sop for the trans lobby. If it is, I hope they word it very carefully to avoid banning the gold standard watchful waiting approach to child gender dysphoria.

The new Stonewall strap line is 'Free to Be'. I agree that this is very close to 'Safe to be me'. This along with the logo looking identical to the EHRC is v strange. I am surprised they are allowed a logo that is so similar.

During the interview on LBC yesterday there was a caller who rang in about converstion therapy and trans stuff, Liz Truss is definitely on this.

A LOT of very angry men on twitter, bemoaning the rolling back of trans rights

Love to know what these rights are they claim are being rolled back. They have NO right to be in female sports or any other space where the equality act exemptions are upheld.

Sounds almost as if the conversion therapy ban is being offered as a sop for the trans lobby. If it is, I hope they word it very carefully to avoid banning the gold standard watchful waiting approach to child gender dysphoria.

I think this could backfire on Stonewall, actually. There's a very strong case one could make that 'transitioning' children is a form of conversion therapy. Staff at the Tavi said as much.

Sounds almost as if the conversion therapy ban is being offered as a sop for the trans lobby. If it is, I hope they word it very carefully to avoid banning the gold standard watchful waiting approach to child gender dysphoria.

I think this could backfire on Stonewall, actually. There's a very strong case one could make that 'transitioning' children is a form of conversion therapy. Staff at the Tavi said as much.

Two v important and linked points.

In the consultation that the government have outlined re conversion therapy - we ALL need to make this clear.

The medicalisation of children who present with gender dysphoria - many of whom are children who will grow up to be gay/lesbian, as advocated by SW IS conversion therapy.

I don’t think the consultation is open yet??!!

And of course we're grateful for the contribution they made, but I think there were fundamental disagreements, namely members of the panel supported self-id for gender recognition certificates. I very strongly feel that there need to be checks and balances. The issue here is a fundamental difference of opinion on that issue'

Wow - that’s bloody amazing!! She really couldn’t be clearer. Thank you Liz

'Free to Be' or 'Safe to be me', I hope the LGBT conference is a space for agreeing that same sex attraction is not hateful AKA lesbians and gay men being called bigots and de-platformed for saying as much.

I didn't listen to all of this, will try and catch up later, I left just after the Welsh Labour Party MP and her the former LGBT Group damning testimony which I thought Liz Truss dealt with exceptionally well, you could see the wind had gone out of the sails of Alexandra Davies-Jones.

Some things that stood out and I noted was Liz Truss continually mentioned women and girls, a committee being set up seems to have an all female membership, but the one thing that really caught my attention was Liz Truss continually referenced race, sex, disability and sexual orientation as protected characteristics and I never once heard gender reassignment nor the made up gender identity. From what I heard today I am cautiously optimistic as to where Liz's priorities lie.

@happydappy2

A LOT of very angry men on twitter, bemoaning the rolling back of trans rights....They know they've lost and self ID will never happen. Thank you Liz!

Who in particular?

You could extend your search into Scotland since you are so close to the border - Edinburgh for example

wrong thread sorry

I don’t think the consultation is open yet??!!

Don't know, but there is the ongoing petition for starters:

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/582083

Don't know, but there is the ongoing petition for starters

Thanks signed

It's not just angry men on twitter. Liz Truss is really getting under the skin of other progressives. Last night on Radio 4 a programme speaking favourably about Foucault made sure to have a go at her:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000wcd4

I don’t think the consultation is open yet??!!

@NecessaryScene1 it's September according to this.

https://twitter.com/markerjparker/status/1397221455373508621?s=21

@happydappy2

A LOT of very angry men on twitter, bemoaning the rolling back of trans rights....They know they've lost and self ID will never happen. Thank you Liz!

I’ve also noticed a lot of support from men for LGB Alliance and their view that homosexuality is what is says on the tin : same sex attracted.

The tide is a turning.