Agenda item

Motion by Councillor Sally Povolotsky

Transgender and non-binary people face significant disadvantage in society, vulnerable to violence, isolation, homelessness, and lack of access to suitable healthcare provision.

 

Council believes that:

 

1.    All UK law should clearly recognise that trans rights are human rights.

 

2.    Transgender and non-binary people deserve respect and autonomy.

 

3.    It’s therefore our duty as community leaders who seek to create an open and tolerant society to speak out against transphobia and discrimination in all its forms.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

1.    Ensure that all Council services, both directly provided and through partners, are fully accessible, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.

 

2.    State publicly that trans rights are human rights and affirm the legal rights of all protected groups under the 2010 equality act.

 

 

3.    To work with healthcare providers to remove barriers transgender and non-binary people face when accessing medical care.

 

4.    Work to provide at least one gender inclusive bathroom (accessible) where possible in every public building owned or operated by the Council.

 

5. Ensure that the Council’s constitution, policies, forms, and all internal and external communications are;

 

a.    Reducing the amount of gender information collected unless absolutely necessary,

 

b.    Respecting the pronouns individuals use for themselves,

 

c.     Providing opportunities for self-identification beyond the binary “man” and “woman”.

 

6.Encourage and support a network of informal LGBTQIA+ allies across officers and councillors.

 

7. Support and embrace the development of a LGBTQIA+ guidance within OCC for employees and contractors.”

 

 

Minutes:

Cllr Sally Povolotsky moved and Cllr Duncan Haywood seconded the following motion:-

 

Transgender and non-binary people face significant disadvantage in society, vulnerable to violence, isolation, homelessness, and lack of access to suitable healthcare provision.

 

Council believes that:

 

1.    All UK law should clearly recognise that trans rights are human rights.

 

2.    Transgender and non-binary people deserve respect and autonomy.

 

3.    It’s therefore our duty as community leaders who seek to create an open and tolerant society to speak out against transphobia and discrimination in all its forms.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

1.    Ensure that all Council services, both directly provided and through partners, are fully accessible, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.

 

2.    State publicly that trans rights are human rights and affirm the legal rights of all protected groups under the 2010 equality act.

 

 

3.    To work with healthcare providers to remove barriers transgender and non-binary people face when accessing medical care.

 

4.    Work to provide at least one gender inclusive bathroom (accessible) where possible in every public building owned or operated by the Council.

 

5. Ensure that the Council’s constitution, policies, forms, and all internal and external communications are;

 

a.    Reducing the amount of gender information collected unless absolutely necessary,

 

b.    Respecting the pronouns individuals use for themselves,

 

c.    Providing opportunities for self-identification beyond the binary “man” and “woman”.

 

6.Encourage and support a network of informal LGBTQIA+ allies across officers and councillors.

 

7. Support and embrace the development of a LGBTQIA+ guidance within OCC for employees and contractors.”

 

 

Councillor Eddie Reeves moved and Councillor Kieron Mallon seconded the following amendment to the Motion as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below

 

“Transgender and non-binary people face significant disadvantage in society and can be vulnerable to violence, isolation, homelessness, and lack of suitable healthcare provision.

 

Council believes that:

 

1.     TheUK leads the world inrecognising that trans and other important minorityrights are human rights.

 

2.    Transgender and non-binary people deserve respect.

 

3.    It is our duty as community leaders to speak out against transphobia, misogyny and all forms of discrimination.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

1.   Ensure that all Council services are fully compliant with the Equality Act 2010, regardless of residents’ identity.

 

2.   State publicly that trans and women’s rights are human rights and affirm the legal rights of all protected groups under the Equality Act 2010.

 

3.   To work with healthcare providers to remove barriers transgender and non-binary people face when accessing medical care.

 

4.   Work to provide at least one gender inclusive and one women’s only bathroom where possible in every public building owned or operated by the Council.

 

5.   Ensure that the Council’s constitution, policies, forms, and all internal and external communications seek to;

 

a.    Reduce the amount of gender information collected unless absolutely necessary,

 

b.   Respect the pronouns individuals use for themselves without requiring that they be declared,

 

c.   Provide opportunities for self-identification beyond the binary “man” and “woman”, whilst respecting those who prefer to do so

 

6.Encourage and support a network of informal LGBTQIA+ allies across officers and councillors.

 

7. Support and embrace the development of a LGBTQIA+ guidance within OCC for employees and contractors.”

 

Following debate, the amendment by Councillor Eddie Reeves was put to the vote and was lost by 33 votes to 21

 

The substantive motion was carried with 36 votes in favour, 17 abstentions and no votes against.

 

Following receiving advice from the Monitoring Officer that under Council Procedure Rule 13.5.1.the Motion was an executive function, Council referred the Motion to Cabinet for consideration.

 

RESOLVED (by 33 votes to 21):-

 

Transgender and non-binary people face significant disadvantage in society, vulnerable to violence, isolation, homelessness, and lack of access to suitable healthcare provision.

 

Council believes that:

 

4.    All UK law should clearly recognise that trans rights are human rights.

 

5.    Transgender and non-binary people deserve respect and autonomy.

 

6.    It’s therefore our duty as community leaders who seek to create an open and tolerant society to speak out against transphobia and discrimination in all its forms.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

5.    Ensure that all Council services, both directly provided and through partners, are fully accessible, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.

 

6.    State publicly that trans rights are human rights and affirm the legal rights of all protected groups under the 2010 equality act.

 

 

7.    To work with healthcare providers to remove barriers transgender and non-binary people face when accessing medical care.

 

8.    Work to provide at least one gender inclusive bathroom (accessible) where possible in every public building owned or operated by the Council.

 

5. Ensure that the Council’s constitution, policies, forms, and all internal and external communications are;

 

d.    Reducing the amount of gender information collected unless absolutely necessary,

 

e.    Respecting the pronouns individuals use for themselves,

 

f.     Providing opportunities for self-identification beyond the binary “man” and “woman”.

 

6.Encourage and support a network of informal LGBTQIA+ allies across officers and councillors.

 

7. Support and embrace the development of a LGBTQIA+ guidance within OCC for employees and contractors.”