What MSPs must now do to restore LGBTQIA+ people’s trust in politics
Ending abhorrent conversion practices would help LGBTQIA+ people feel like politicians were trying to make their lives better, not worse
Like many voters describing their experience of this Scottish election, LGBTQIA+ people are scunnered. The pre-election period was a time of huge uncertainty about what the outcome might mean for our equality and human rights over the next five years. This wasn’t helped by some candidates and parties using our identities and experiences – particularly trans and non-binary people’s – for political-point scoring.
Fortunately, the majority of MSPs were elected to Holyrood based on party manifestos which included commitments to advance LGBTQIA+ equality and human rights. It is also cause for celebration that the first two trans MSPs have been elected. Now when trans issues are debated in the chamber, trans people themselves will be able to participate in these discussions about their lives.
The challenge, however, for all MSPs is now to deliver on their commitments and make the improvements to the lives of LGBTQIA+ people that they said they would. This includes ending conversion practices, an abhorrent practice that seeks to change and/or suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
These practices should have no place in Scotland. Regardless of where an MSP falls on the political spectrum, we hope they build cross-party consensus and work together to ensure any legislation that is brought forward is comprehensive and is fit to protect LGBTQIA+ people from irreversible harm.
Dignity and respect
This election of many new MSPs is an opportunity for a reset. Parliament should, quite rightly, be a setting for forthright and frank debate, challenging policy proposals and holding the new Scottish Government to account. However, elected members should treat each other, and those they engage with, with dignity and respect. Even those that they disagree with.
Officials should also respect the humanity of those who find themselves at the centre of issues debated, including the LGBTQIA+ community. This is reflective of healthy democracy. When that happens, everyone in Scotland benefits.
We exist in every community across the length and breadth of the country and, like many others in society, continue to experience inequality, including poor access to healthcare, poor living standards and not being able to access the vital services we need.
READ MORE: Labour government reveals talks with SNP ministers over 'trans-inclusive' conversion therapy ban
Homelessness and discrimination
Because of who we are or who we love, we face additional challenges to our daily lives. We will wait 80-plus years to access trans healthcare in the West of Scotland, based on the current capacity of the Sandyford Gender Identity Clinic to offer first appointments.
We are at higher risk of homelessness due to being rejected by our family. We experience poor mental health and wellbeing, often as a direct result of discrimination or because strained services are not quite sure how to care for us in a way that meets our needs.
Every new MSP will have LGBTQIA+ constituents. It is incumbent on them to make concrete, positive changes to this status quo. It is our hope that, in five years’ time, come the next Scottish Parliament election, LGBTQIA+ people will be able to look back, no longer scunnered, but reassured that our lives were made better, not worse, by our elected representatives.
MSPs need to show leadership in this area to restore our community’s trust that politics can, at its best, be a vehicle for positive change.
Christopher Clannachan, policy and campaigns coordinator, Equality Network
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