"Once published, the new code of practice will be sent to the equalities minister and could become law without a parliamentary debate. Organisations, including TransActual, Not A Phase and Galop, have said in an open letter that the updates deserve to face "full scrutiny" from MPs and the public before that is allowed to happen. "Parliament and the public are not expected to even gain sight of the code until after it has had ministerial approval, and MPs are expected to have no opportunity to debate or vote on this momentous change in parliament," the letter, published on Monday (1 September), read. "Changes of this scale by ministerial fiat sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the sovereignty of the House [of Commons]. We cannot let this happen in secret, behind closed doors.""
"The UK's equality watchdog proposed updates to its Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations, in April, shortly after the Supreme Court ruled on the definitions of "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act. Updates suggested by the EHRC would effectively exclude trans people from gendered spaces consistent with their gender identity, including toilets, changing rooms and even possibly book clubs. In some cases, transgender men and women could be barred from spaces consistent with their birth sex, too."
More than 80 LGBTQ+ organisations signed a joint letter calling on equalities minister Bridget Phillipson to allow a parliamentary debate on updates to the EHRC's single-sex code of practice. The EHRC proposed the updates in April after a Supreme Court ruling on definitions of "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act. The proposed changes would restrict transgender access to gendered spaces consistent with their gender identity and could also bar transgender people from spaces consistent with their birth sex. Once published, the code will be sent to the equalities minister and could become law without parliamentary debate. The groups demand full parliamentary scrutiny, meaningful debate and a free vote.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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