EQUALITY BILL PASSED IN PARLIAMENT – BEWARE THE EXEMPTIONS!
The Cutting Edge Consortium welcomes the passage of the Equality Bill through Parliament this week but regrets the exemptions for religious organisations that remain. We believe that the continuing exemptions in employment give a green light for further reactionary opposition to anti discrimination provisions on goods and services, and against progressive change on sex education for young people.
Against the Exemptions to the Employment Regulations
CEC has campaigned during the course of the Equality Bill against the prioritising of freedom of thought, conscience and religion over the human rights of LGBT people. We have issued regular briefing papers, held a public meeting in Parliament and lobbied MPs, Lords and Civil servants. We were very disappointed that the Government’s intending narrowing of the law on religious exemptions in employment was watered down and then defeated in the House of Lords.
It is clear that many LGBT people, including LGBT people of faith, who work for religious organisations, in faith schools, for charities with a ‘religious ethos’, and delivering public services in other parts of the third sector, will continue to live in fear of discrimination and prejudice at their workplace. CEC is dismayed that the Schools Standards and Framework Act has not been brought under the new law so as to give proper protection to teachers of all subjects in faith schools. It is also clear that many third sector organisations are openly flouting the law on equality as it currently exists.
For the Public Duty
The CEC welcomes the positive aspects of the Equality Bill, most notably the extension of the duty on public bodies to promote equality in sexual orientation. We will be campaigning to ensure that the regulations on this duty, which are due to be issued in coming months meet the aspirations of the many LGBT people who rely on public services.
Civil Partnerships in Religious Buildings
The CEC welcomes the passing of Lord Alli’s amendment to the Equality Bill that permits Civil Partnerships to take place in religious buildings. We congratulate the religious organisations who already support such ceremonies, namely the Unitarian Church, the Society of Friends and the Metropolitan Community Church and support the extension of this right in other religious denominations. We look forward to the promised consultation on the appropriate Regulations and future reform of the Marriage Law in the interests of equality.
For Compulsory Sex Education
The CEC regrets that the Governments provisions in the recent Children, Schools & Families Bill to bring in sex education as a compulsory part of the curriculum was removed in the negotiations with the Conservative Party at the final stages of the Parliamentary process. LGBT young people as well as their parents and families need accurate information on sex and sexuality if they are to begin to counter the homophobia and transphobia still prevalent in our society, and lead happy and healthy lives.
Future Battles
As the General Election draws nearer we must ensure that no concessions may be made to homophobia and transphobia in the guise of religious popularism. We regret the remarks of Chris Grayling, the Conservative Shadow Home Secretary that there is a case for religious exemptions to the provision of goods and services to LGBT people. We will be watching closely the Charity Commissions review of the case of Catholic Care Leeds that may allow religious fostering and adoption agencies to opt out of equality.
To contact the Cutting Edge Consortium you can email us on cuttingedgeconsortium1@googlemail.com
