News story

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Equalities Minister Sajid Javid highlights the work the UK is doing in advancing LGB&T rights.

From:
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and The Rt Hon Sajid Javid
Published
17 May 2014
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
100 Parliament Street

Today marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), an important date that raises awareness about people around the world who have suffered from hate or prejudice because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Minister for Equalities Sajid Javid said:

Everyone should be treated fairly and with respect. This government will continue to actively promote equality here and abroad. I hope everyone will join me in raising their voices against discrimination wherever it occurs.

The International Lesbian and Gay association’s (ILGA) 2014 Rainbow Map ranked the UK number one in Europe for LGBT rights. Britain has been placed in the top spot for the last three years scoring 82% this year, an increase of 5% since 2013. The ILGA tracks the status and promotes the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people, publishing its rights map each year.

Here are just some of the things we’ve done to remove barriers and improve the lives of LGB&T people in the UK:

  • The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act received Royal Assent last year and the first marriages of same-sex couples took place on 29 March 2014
  • In December 2011, we changed the law to allow same-sex couples to register their civil partnership on religious premises on a permissive basis
  • We now recognise 75 overseas same sex partnerships as equivalent to UK civil partnerships, 50 more than when the Civil partnership Act 2004 was enacted
  • We have delivered our commitment to bring forward legislation to disregard consensual gay sex convictions, and those affected can now submit applications to the Home Office
  • We are supporting schools to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and launched a new project to understand the most effective ways to reduce this type of bullying and its impacts.
  • The College of Policing has published new operational guidance for police officers responding to all forms of hate crime, including homophobic and transphobic hate crimes

Updates to this page

Published 17 May 2014

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