Starmer: "trans-inclusive" conversion therapy ban, "modernise" the GRA, all hate crime to be aggravated offences as part of making every child "proud and confident"

[ResisterRex]

Exclusive in Diva, following a reception at a LGBT+ Labour event in Parliament on 29 Jan:

https://diva-magazine.com/2024/01/29/exclusive-keir-starmer-lgbtqia-rights/

"“We’ll strengthen the law, so every category of hate crime is treated as an aggravated offence,” Starmer said. “We’ll cut NHS waiting lists for LGBT+ people waiting for urgent physical and mental health care. We’ll modernise the Gender Recognition Act. We’ll implement a full, trans-inclusive, ban on all forms of conversion therapy. We fully support the view that conversion therapy is psychologically damaging abuse.”

“We are committed to a decade of national renewal and will work with all the organisations in this room tonight so every child can feel proud and confident in who they are, to stand up for LGBT+ rights at home and abroad and to get Britain’s future back.”

The mention of children is unclear but must have a background to the full speech? LGBT Labour hasn't tweeted about it but others have. Rayner and Dodds also in attendance.

https://x.com/djrm94/status/1752057964767101041?s=46&t=WHoOZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

https://x.com/stevenatkins/status/1752256944843162016?s=46&t=WHoOZZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

x.com/anuox/status/1752094930074325420?s=46&t=WHoOZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

'Conflict of interest' is a phrase I intend to share a lot with anyone who wants my vote.

And the fact that it's been exploited by people who should be held thoroughly accountable and knew damned well that they were doing wrong.

He hasn't said he backs affirmative therapy

Anything BUT affirmative therapy is seen as conversion therapy when it comes to trans.

And oh, look, the Tories have been planning a ban on conversion therapy for 5 years.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sunak-conversion-therapy-ban-kings-speech-b2442647.html

Its almost like they are incompetent and then dropped it to play culture wars before the GE. 🤔

.

The SDP party are also solid on women's rights and they are standing in way more places than the communists. Candidates so far here:

https://sdp.org.uk/general-election-candidates/

Obviously there are the Tories, Reform and even UKIP in a few places if you are right leaning. Alba who are pro indy and pro women will be standing in Scotland.

However the thing to do is to quiz all the local candidates - turn up the heat before you vote. You might find a rebel in other parties, and asking questions, also increases pressure. We need to cause maximum trouble in the run up to the election.

Lots of trans people think he's a transphobe, just look at the twitter comments on the links. That makes me think he's taking a good compromise line. I'd be very surprised to see him banning all therapy apart from affirmative therapy. I think he's more likely to ban non accredited charlatans of all sorts. Which is a good thing!
Anyway there is always a lot of posters with a crystal ball on here so no doubt I'll get shouted down shortly

Or they listened to people's concerns?

And 'culture.wars'? - give me a break 🙄

I have no doubt, that they're still sane and not desperate to destroy women's equality, rights and child safeguarding is the one card they still hold.

But they have at least realised that the bill is a trojan horse mess, and sat on it and kicked it around the long grass when any other party would have galloped it through. Right now I have the choice of a government who are madly and enthusiastically insane, or a government who are dragging feet a bit on their path to insanity.

Someone give me a sane left party to vote for and I'll be there. With enthusiasm. But until that day, I will have to settle for the least dangerous of a bunch of absolute dregs.

Yep you're right.

You have an excellent point.

Hmm. Do the Conservatives"listen to peoples concerns" when they trial new ways of distributing benefits that result in people dying? Or when they carry put a budget against advice, that hikes interest rates and puts people into poverty? Or when they go for the hardest possible brexit, that puts people put of business? Or when they cut budgets to councils, hospitals, social services, so that people can't get help and die as a result?

Or do they "listen to people's concerns" when there is political hay to be made at no risk of actually having to do anything?

Culture wars or caring government? Who can tell.

I'm not sure that this bit means what people are fearing:

"We’ll cut NHS waiting lists for LGBT+ people waiting for urgent physical and mental health care"

I totally understand why people are interpreting it with the worst possible meaning given the worrying statements around it.

But I think this isn't a prioritising T+ or LGB above everyone else. I think he's just saying 'We're going to cut NHS waiting lists for everyone waiting for urgent physical and mental health care which will benefit [mail merge error] people (special interest group the people in front of him care about).'

Not saying it makes up for the rest of what he's said or blaming folk up thread for thinking he said something else totally batshit, but I do think this is the most likely situation.

By all means give it a try.

Will mention thst back in 2017/18/19,
I regularly emailed various labour bods with different issues I thought of or found here and the farms.

Not one single reply. I gave up and I ain't trying again.
Still if you do email and one day all this comes to a shuddering stop, you and I can hold up our hands when labour inevitably say 'we didnt know, no one told us of the issues'

Fukuraptor

That's the problem though isn't it, we all have to speculate and fill in the gaps because Labour's position is so unclear

What does he mean by cutting waiting lists for LGBT people (let's be honest he means T)
What does he mean when he talks about conversation therapy
What does he mean by single sex

And it goes on....... we shouldn't have to double guess what the leader of the opposition means, especially if he wants our votes.

Fine, but I just can't imagine this man as PM. Who knows what his policies are if he changes them according to audience?

There is only one thing that I don't believe from Labour and that is anything that they say. They are trying to elevate strategic ambiguity into an art form. They are now so averse to enunciating a clear policy that they have scrapped the Clear Desk Policy.

It's weak as piss, Labour. Everyone can see how little conviction you have. Which means nobody trusts you.

Come out clearly one way or the other, or lose everyone. Nobody wil vote for the Dither Party.

What does he mean by cutting waiting lists for LGBT people (let's be honest he means T)
I wouldn't be sure about that. There is a very strong correlation between depression in teenagers and struggling with sexuality, plus the link between autism and gender questioning in girls. At the moment it is nigh on impossible to get mental health support for teenagers/young people so he could be referring to that (given his comments about wanting all children to be proud to be themselves).

It is possible to see a narrative that he wants to provide support gender questioning children so they don't transition unnecessarily and instead grow up to be confident, gay adults.

I was wondering when a squirrel playing a banjo was going to turn up, lol.

There is only one thing that I don't believe from Labour and that is anything that they say.

Yep.

If Standing for Women do manage to put Kellie-Kay Keen on the ballot papers for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer’s seat) what difference do we think it will make?

I looked into this, this isn't really news though. Kemi Badenoch explained it quite clearly, no one wants any kind of conversion therapy, even for trans people despite what I read on here (I'd hope) But it has to be approached in a nuanced way so any therapist can help any distressed or confused person work out their true feelings without being threatened with arrest for attempted conversion therapy. Which is why it was left out of the Kings Speech.

I do feel that if Kemi is involved, she will protect the best interests of women and girls. Unlike David 'Dinosaurs' Lammy or Lisa 'TWAW' Nandy. God, they terrify me. It's just the complete obduracy-they are clearly both bright people. So how on earth can they square their public statements with what they must know in their heart of hearts to be reality? And they surely don't need to, that Labour landslide will surely happen despite their gender views which are likely to alienate far more worried mums than endear them to Gen Z? So why not grow a fucking backbone and speak what we all know to be true?

Hey... That squirrel identifies as Billy Bragg!

Don't they all.

Who knows, but we will get to watch him squirm! A LOT