Thank you very much for contacting me about the #CanThePlan campaign on the Welsh Government’s LGBTQ+ Action Plan.
As a general point, I am determined that everyone in the UK and Wales should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential regardless of their sex, gender identity, race, religion or disability. As part of this, I am absolutely committed to protecting women’s rights and freedoms while balancing them with LGBTQ+ equalities.
At a national level, the UK Government has stated that it is committed to hearing a wide range of opinions on this important topic. The recent public consultation on potential reform to the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, which indicated that existing legislation strikes the right balance between ensuring there are proper checks and balances in the system, as well as support for transgender people, is evidence of this. I am proud that the UK is a global leader in LGBTQ+ rights, and believe that protecting transgender people from discrimination does not require the rights of others to be removed.
I recognise that there have been concerns raised about the resources used by some schools when teaching these areas, so Welsh Government must therefore issue further guidance to make it clear that schools should ensure that any resources used to supplement learning do not undermine our fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Stonewall provides a wide range of resources for schools and as such, it should be for parents to raise the matter directly with the school if they consider a specific resource is not in line with the Government’s guidance.
