The Real Alternative for the LGBT community

Written by Paul Elgood and published in GScene Magazine on Fri 1st Apr 2005

The Liberal Democrats have provided effective opposition to Labour over the past eight years. On gay adoption, repeal of Section 28, transgender issues and civil partnership rights, the Lib Dems have been firm in their support for a change in the law. The parliamentary party and regionally elected representatives have been at the forefront of campaigns such as to ensure the police are more responsive to the needs of the LGBT community, and that reports of homophobic hate crime are taken seriously. Our party leader, Charles Kennedy MP frequently refers to the struggle for gay equality and the manifesto for the coming general election will outline the progress we still need to make to ensure an equal society for all.

Locally, we continue to lead the debate on a range of issues facing our community. From the introduction of the Partnership Register, backing improvements to community safety, getting council funding for Pride and other LGBT community groups, through to improving council-community relations, the Liberal Democrats in this city have made a positive and meaningful contribution which has helped to bring about change. And unlike others, who just talk about it, we have got things done. We have made sure that our community's issues are on the council's agenda and being dealt with properly.

Since Tony Blair came to power and whilst we can acknowledge that progress has been made over the past eight years, we have been badly let down by Labour. Let us not forget that the repeal of Section 28 took them nearly six years, and outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the workplace only came on to the statute books thanks to the European Union. And if you work for a religious organisation, Labour negotiated an exemption to the legislation so you can still be sacked because you are gay! More recently, it has been a struggle to get the government to accept that the Civil Partnerships Bill should include provision for full pension rights, and the government still has a long way to go in addressing the problem of homophobic bullying in schools.

Meanwhile, we must never forget that Michael Howard introduced Section 28, and in a cabinet which resisted equalisation of the age of consent, denied gay people basic human rights for eighteen years (as well as introducing poll tax) and now thinks we should vote for him. A large proportion of the Tory MPs recently voted against the repeal of Section 28, civil partnership rights and gay adoption.

For us the key issues for the coming election will be focused around the themes of freedom, fairness and trust and will include proposals for an Equality Act, which will outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. Contrary to popular belief, it is still perfectly legal to discriminate against a gay person in the provision of services, something this legislation would outlaw. We must also never forget that improvements need to be made for safer sex education. Action must be taken to remedy any inadequacies in the provision of HIV services and with it upgrade the standard of treatment and care. We must also resolve the under-funding and under-staffing of sexually-transmitted infection (STI) clinics.

Liberal Democrats offer a real alternative at this election - make sure that you use your vote wisely.

Councillor Paul Elgood is the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hove & Portslade. Find out more at www.brighton-hovelibdems.org.uk. He can be contacted at paul.elgood@brighton-hove.gov.uk.