Welcoming the report released today (Thursday) by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “The discrimination and harassment faced by trans people, both in and out of the workplace, has no place in a modern society.
“The government must now invest properly in services for transgender people, if the report’s recommendations are to mean anything.
“The NHS must improve the way that it treats trans people. At the moment specialist health services are only available in limited parts of the country, which can cause real problems for trans people needing help and support.
“There needs to be a root and branch review of health service provision to ensure doctors are both trained and fully aware of the support needed by trans people.”
UNISON supports the recommendations for an overhaul of the legal and policy framework, including updating the Gender Recognition Act and the protection provided by the 2010 Equality Act.
UNISON believes that the government should take early action to ensure that legal recognition of gender is based on self-declaration rather than medical assessment, and that protection from discrimination in work is based on gender identity.
Notes to editors:
- All UNISON press releases can be found at unison.org.uk/news/media-centre/
- The report ‘Transgender Equality’ is published by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee on Thursday 14 January and is available at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39002.htm.
UNISON media contacts:
Alan Weaver: T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07939 143310