In April 2023 members of the LGBTIQA+ Greens joined in Stonewall’s complaint to the UN Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) against the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and its chair, Baroness Falkner, over trans issues. The aim of the complaint was to have the UK equality watchdog stripped of its high- level UN status.
As reported on this blog on 14th April, 130 influencial members of the GPEW sent a letter to Baroness Falkner regarding her advice to the government on the 2010 Equality Act.
They objected to her definition of sex as relating to biological sex and not gender identity. They described her desire to protect women on the grounds of their biological sex as ‘yet another attempt to dehumanise trans people’ and ‘would not stand for it’. They hoped that she would ‘reverse course and create guidance that protects trans people rather than simply ostracising them’.
GANHRI has rejected the evidence submitted by Stonewall and LGBTQ+ organisations due to inaccuracies. It also found staff complaints against Baroness Falkner to be flawed.
The accreditation committee has now re-confirmed that the EHRC continues to meet the highest standard. Vindicated, Lady Falkner has pledged to stand firm against trans activist organisations who have sought to unduly influence the EHRC’s legal advice.
Having failed to have the equality watchdog stripped of its UN status and Lady Falkner removed from her role, where do the LGBTIQA+ Greens and the GPEW now stand on the EHRC’s advice to the government about amending the Equality Act to make it explicit that ‘sex’ means biological sex ? And where is the apology to Lady Falkner?
Will this be yet another example of keeping a low profile and saying nothing, as with the NHS banning of puberty blockers and the Cass Review report recommendations, hoping it will all just go away and be forgotten?
The Green Light 