Decision details

RESOLVED:

This Council believes in equity of opportunity and that human rights are the bedrock of our society. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. We believe in the dignity of all people, and their right to respect and equity of opportunity. We value the strength that comes with difference and the positive contribution diversity brings to our community. Our aspiration is for Hackney to be a safe, welcoming, and an inclusive borough for everyone, no matter their gender identity or gender expression.

This Council notes:

·  The rise in reports of violent attacks and hate crime against LGBTQIA+ people, with hate crime against trans people having quadrupled in the last 5 years.

·  The Tory Government has fallen far short of its promise to reform the Gender Recognition Action (GRA), despite the consultation yielding overwhelming support for change, the results mean the process will not be de-medicalised, the spousal veto will remain, and legal recognition for non-binary individuals will not be extended.

·  The concerning rise in transphobia in the UK, from individuals, politicians and the media, as well as the increasing severity of the threats faced by the trans community.

·  That transgender and non-binary people may require specific support to access services without facing discrimination. All council services must be equipped to welcome and provide appropriate service and good customer care to suit transgender and non-binary people.

·  Data on gender identity was gathered in the 2020 Census for the first time. More than 1% said their gender is different to their sex registered at birth. Hackney also has the highest number and the highest proportion of usual residents who described a nonbinary+ gender identity out of any of the 34 London boroughs.

·  That there are transgender and non-binary people in Hackney of all ages, and that the need for better understanding and acceptance of what it means to be transgender or non-binary is an intergenerational issue.

·  That transgender and non-binary people may face intersecting struggles due to factors like their race, religion, disability, socio-economic background, or sexuality.

·  Hackney Council has a proud and recognised history of working to achieve equality of opportunity both within the Town Hall and across the borough, whilst supporting groups and organisations to deliver essential services, projects and events.

·  The vital work done by groups in Hackney to support local trans and nonbinary people, as well as the wider LGBTQIA+ community. Including, but not limited to, Project Indigo, Rainbow Mind, ELOP, Proud Hackney (the Council’s LGBTQIA+ staff network), Pride in Education, Dalston Superstore, Shelter, Live Through This, St Paul's West Hackney, London Friend, Positive East, Mouth That Roars, Volunteer Centre Hackney, Rio Cinema, Queer China Collective.

·  The London Borough of Hackney first flew the Progress rainbow flag to mark LGBTQIA+  History Month, in February 2019, and the Intersex Inclusive Pride flag for LGBTQIA+  history month in February 2023.

·  That the London Borough of Hackney has marked the Trans Day of Remembrance since 2021.

·  That Hackney Council has taken the following recent work to support the LGBTQIA+  community: ensuring Mx is included on the data standards, and our standard equality monitoring form has, since 2011, included “Male, Female, Prefer to use my own term.”

·  That despite positive initiatives there is always more to do to ensure we are a genuinely supportive, inclusive and welcoming borough. The Council will seek to better support transgender and non-binary people to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives. 

·  The Council has an inclusive language guide to ensure council forms and documents are trans and non-binary inclusive where possible.

This Council therefore resolves:

·  To state publicly that trans rights are human rights and affirm the legal rights of all protected groups under the Equality Act 2010.

·  To do more to shift the culture of the Council overall by working with LGBTQIA+ groups to encourage training for councillors and council staff to raise awareness of the difficulties transgender and non-binary people face and of the support councillors could offer to this community.

·  To continue supporting and celebrating the work of Proud Hackney, the Council’s LGBTQIA+ staff network.

·  To request that the Mayor agrees to publicly acknowledge International Trans Day of Visibility (March 31st).

·  To encourage council staff and councillors to consider important gestures that make it clear transgender and non-binary people are welcome.

·  To consider the particular needs of transgender and non-binary people who are at high risk of facing homelessness when implementing the Council’s existing homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.

·  To work with partner organisations to ensure transgender and non-binary people are not discriminated against whilst accessing homelessness services.

·  To ask the London Borough of Hackney Health in Hackney Commission to consider the barriers which transgender and non-binary people face when accessing medical care and to find ways of reducing them.

·  To review with a view to improving signposting to support services for transgender and non-binary people within Council communications.

·  To ask the Chief Executive to ensure all staff are supported in bringing their authentic selves to the workplace.

Proposed by: Cllr Clare Potter

Seconded by: Cllr Zoë Garbett