UK government adviser resigns amid hostility to LGBT + people

A British government adviser on equality announced this Wednesday on the ITV channel to resign in the face of the hostile environment which prevailed there against LGBT + people also wishing to warn about conversion therapy.

Jayne Ozanne explained in an interview on ITV, Unfortunately, I do not believe that this Conservative government has the best for the LGBT community at heart.

This eminent lesbian and Christian figure, who has belonged since its creation in 2019 to the group that advises the government on equality claims to have observed a growing lack of engagement" on LGBT + issues.

Denouncing a Trumpesque mode of operation, she criticizes in particular certain ministers for having taken decisions "frankly contrary to (their) advice rather listening to the evangelicals of the right and those who want to bring us back.

She said, I don't believe they understand LGBT people, especially trans people. I am increasingly concerned about what appears to be a hostile environment for LGBT people in this administration. I was shocked by the ignorance"of certain ministers on this experienced by certain minorities, in particular among young people.

In the line of sight above all, the Secretary of State for Equality Kemi Badenoch and the Minister to whom she depends, Liz Truss.

Ozanne said, they are known within the community as' ministers of Inequality I do not think they understand LGBT people particularly trans people.

The adviser cited as a trigger the turn that took on Monday in parliament the debate on conversion therapies, which claim to transform often in the name of faith, a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. They are still allowed in the UK, although a group of 24 Tory LGBT + MPs are trying to make them illegal. Badenoch refused on Monday to use the term ban.

Ozanne said, I am resigning now to call on the Prime Minister (Boris Johnson), who I think is a friend of the LGBT + community, to take action and understand that the proposals made on conversion therapy do not have the confidence of LGBT nor that many religious leaders who also called for a ban.

In 2018, Theresa May's government unveiled an action plan against discrimination which included the introduction of a law to ban conversion therapy, which has since remained a dead letter.