SNP Manifesto 2019: what it means for LGBTI people

❤️🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland values tolerance, Scotland values diversity, Scotland values respect, and above all, Scotland values love. #Pride #GlasgowPride pic.twitter.com/pbitGTRQjm

— The SNP (@theSNP) July 14, 2018

Here are just some of the ways SNP MPs will stand up for LGBTI equality at Westminster, or you can read our full LGBTI manifesto here.

Devolve equality law

While Scotland is in the UK, SNP MPs will continue to demand the full devolution of equality, employment and immigration powers so that the Scottish Parliament has the powers to protect LGBTI equality and make Scotland a fairer and more equal place to live.

Discrimination protections

While equality law remains reserved to Westminster, SNP MPs will press the UK government to take action so that all LGBTI people are fully protected from discrimination and harassment, including multiple discrimination.

Gender recognition

The SNP government was the first in the UK to commit to reforming gender recognition law to secure equality and human rights for trans people. A draft Gender Recognition (Scotland) Bill will be published by the end of the year, with a consultation on the detail of the legislation.

SNP MPs will press for Westminster to recognise in reserved areas any changes to the law in Scotland, and press for the same actions to be taken at Westminster.

Non-binary recognition

SNP MPs will press the UK government to allow non-binary people to record their gender as “X” on passports and all other UK-wide records and identity documents. The SNP government is also establishing a non-binary working group to consider changes to procedures and practice in Scotland.

Turing Law

The SNP government introduced the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act 2018, the UK’s most extensive Turing Law, with a public apology by the First Minister on behalf of the country.

SNP MPs will continue to press the UK government to extend the scope of its legislation – so that it also covers all the old discriminatory offences and provides an automatic pardon to gay and bisexual men who are still alive.

🏳️‍🌈 @NicolaSturgeon apologises for the hurt and harm caused by historic homophobic laws. pic.twitter.com/QaDprYWJeX

— The SNP (@theSNP) November 7, 2017

Intersex equality

SNP MPs will press for intersex people and organisations to be fully consulted on changes to the law and policy to introduce effective protections for intersex people’s human rights.

PrEP

Scotland was the first UK nation to approve the provision of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by the NHS to prevent HIV. SNP MPs will continue to support efforts to improve the availability of PrEP on the NHS in the rest of the UK too.

Protecting human rights

SNP MPs will oppose any attempt by the UK government to roll-back equality and human rights, including attempts to scrap the Human Rights Act, withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or waterdown the Equality Act. We will demand human rights protections are maintained at least in line with evolving European standards.

LGBTI conversion therapy

The SNP opposes LGBTI conversion therapy practices, which are discriminatory and proven to have a harmful effect on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTI people. SNP MPs will press the UK government to reform laws and regulations, which are reserved to Westminster, to ban and prevent the practice of LGBTI conversion therapy.

Asylum

While Asylum remains reserved to Westminster, SNP MPs will press for reforms to ensure that people forced to flee persecution because they are LGBTI have access to asylum in the UK, are not held in arbitrary detention, and are treated in a fair manner with dignity and respect.

International rights

The SNP will continue to champion the advancement of LGBTI equality and human rights around the world. While foreign affairs remain reserved to Westminster, SNP MPs will continue to press for the establishment of a special envoy to promote the rights of LGBTI people, and to make LGBTI equality an integral part of UK foreign policy.