British government is holding back Wales on LGBTQ+ rights, says Plaid Cymru politician -TGN

A Welsh politician has criticized Westminster’s monopoly on transferred LGBTQ+ rights, saying Wales cannot become the most LGBTQ-friendly country in Europe with “one hand tied behind its back”.

Plaid Cymru MS Sioned Williams was among those who discussed key LGBTQ+ rights issues including gender law reform, conversion therapy, hate crimes and the Wales LGBTQ+ Action Plan at the PinkNews summer reception in Cardiff on Wednesday night (July 5).

The reception, which took place at the Senedd, was the latest in a series of Pride events held in all four of the UK’s parliaments – the others being Westminster in London, Holyrood in Edinburgh and Stormont in Belfast.

The aim of the PinkNews Pride receptions was to bring together key politicians from all political parties in the UK to discuss current and emerging policies within the LGBTQ+ space, both regionally and nationally.

During her speech, Williams said that the pledges made by Plaid Cymru – the national political party in Wales that is being campaigned for Welsh independence – decentralized powers over LGBTQ+ issues are “vital”.

She also criticized the British government for “outrageously frustrating” Holyrood’s efforts to reform the gender recognition law.

“We have seen that in Scotland, although they have more autonomy to act than Wales in this area, the cross-party political census has been undemocratic and outrageously frustrated by Westminster,” Williams said.

“How can we ultimately strive to be the most LGBTQ+-friendly nation in Europe with one hand tied behind our backs by Westminster?”

Williams was joined at the event by Kate Hutchinson, a trustee at Pride Cymru, Welsh Conservative MS Dr. Altaf Hussain, Welsh Labor minister for education Jeremy Miles and PinkNews’ head of brand Alice Beverton-Palmer.

Her reference to Scotland’s groundbreaking gender reform, passed by Holyrood in December by an 86-39 majority, comes months after the UK government controversially blocked the legislation from gaining royal assent by using an Article 35 injunction. It was the first time in the history of decentralization that such a step was taken.

Then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon denounced the move as an attack on the decision-making of “our democratically elected Scottish Parliament”, while a Green MSP compared the situation to a “constitutional crisis” and warned Westminster’s actions could inadvertently lead to increased support for Scottish independence.

On justice and tackling anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, Williams sought more delegated powers, saying: “Plaid Cymru believes the only sustainable way to create an inclusive and safe criminal justice system for our LGBTQ+ community that works for Wales is to create a system here in Wales.”

Speaking to PinkNews after her speech, Williams said it is “absolutely illogical” that if Wales aspires to create the most LGBTQ-friendly nation in Europe, the resources to do so are reserved for Westminster.

At the event, a number of speakers focused specifically on Wales’ LGBTQ+ action plan, which was first published in 2018.

The plan includes a comprehensive set of government policies aimed at promoting LGBTQ+ rights and becoming the friendliest nation in Europe for the LGBTQ+ community, said Hannah Blythyn, the deputy minister for social partnership,

While most Welsh party representatives were united in their views on LGBTQ+ rights in Wales – including the rights and protection of transgender people – there was still some division, with Williams pointing out that “two thirds of our Senedd are for and behind the LGBTQ+ Action Plan”.

Many of the speakers acknowledged the progressive nature of the plan, while expressing concern about the Section 28 “ghost” rearing its head across the border in England.

The event’s host, Lisa Power, said that as a veteran of the original Section 28 legislation, she can understand why people fear elements of it resurfacing.

In recent months, activists have raised concerns about potential elements of the Conservatives’ trans guidance for schools and overhaul of sex and relationships education — which could send trans learners to live with their parents and prevent social transition, and could lead to LGBTQ+ content being removed from the curriculum.

Hussain opened his speech acknowledging that his party “doesn’t always get it right when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues” – Article 28 in particular – before going on to point out the “enormous strides” the Tories had made in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.

Hussain said Section 28 – introduced under Margaret Thatcher – was a “hateful piece of legislation” that “should never have been introduced by my party”. He added that being LGBTQ+ “is not a crime” or something to be “ashamed of”.

The conservative MS went on to say that being LGBTQ+ is not a reason for people to “mistreat you physically or verbally” and that “homophobia and transphobia have no place in our nation”.

Hussain’s comments come just days after Tory Home Secretary Suella Braverman launched a transphobic attack on Labor leader Keir Starmer in the House of Commons.

During Pride Month, it was also revealed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had made disparaging, anti-trans remarks at a meeting of the influential Committee from 1922 – the footage of which was shared exclusively with PinkNews.

In response, Labour’s Miles Hussain and the Conservative Party directly called out during his speech.

He said: “The increasing dog whistle policy of some of your colleagues in the front seat is a permanent rebuke to your words, I’m afraid.”

Miles went on to say that each side has things to learn and do, but parties must stand together for unity and “inclusion, not exclusion”.