LGBT+
Liberal Democrats

Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and Honorary President of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, has today stated that she is pansexual and in a relationship with a woman, Rosy Cobb.

Dave Page, Chair of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, said "We didn't know that Layla was pansexual when we made her our Honorary President for 2020 - we just knew she was committed to supporting and defending our community. Now we know she's a part of it and we couldn't be happier for her.

Following the civil partership of Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan today, LGBT+ Liberal Democrats welcome the introduction of mixed-sex civil partnerships in England and Wales.

Chair of LGBT+ Lib Dems, Dave Page, said:

"The Liberal Democrats sought to introduce civil partnerships for all couples in 2002 through Lord Lester's Private Members Bill. That Bill was withdrawn at the request of the Government of the day, who watered it down as a separate institution for same-sex couples only in 2004. When the Liberal Democrats introduced Same-Sex Marriage in 2013, we sought to make Civil Partnerships open to mixed-sex couples too, but these amendments were not successful.

Today we stand together as a global community to mark World AIDS Day.

AIDS is a global health challenge and there are currently more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK.

As a nation, we have made great strides in minimising the physical, psychological and societal impact of HIV. And thanks to the hard work of researchers, our understanding of HIV has grown significantly.

The Liberal Democrats have announced that they will implement reform of the Gender Recognition Act as a priority, after the Conservative Government failed to bring forward measures despite promises to do so.

Under the plans, to be included in the Liberal Democrat manifesto, the Act will be amended to make the gender recognition process simpler and fairer, by:

On Bi Visibility Day, our exec member Holly writes:

Our culture presumes everyone is either heterosexual or homosexual. But like most binaries, this misses out a lot of people (as Lib Dems, we're probably all sick of being treated like we're either "Tories really" or "Labour really"). This is one reason 23 September is celebrated as Bi Visibility Day.

During the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth, members of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrat Executive met with Dr Phillip Lee MP, Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP, and Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael MP. Also present in a personal capacity was our former Chair, Jennie Rigg.

We raised our concerns, those of LGBT+ communities and the party membership on how the events of the last few weeks were dealt with by the parliamentary party. We expressed the hurt felt by LGBT+ communities about the alienating history of experience with the medical and political establishments. The use of appropriate language was also discussed.

LGBT+ Lib Dems will be at Federal Autumn Conference 2019. Here are the events we are organising:

Panel Discussion: LGBT+? Are you getting the services you need?

LGBT+ Liberal Democrats is the party's constitutionally recognised, democratically elected body for LGBT+ people. Our first aim as an organisation is "to ensure that the policies of the party and the actions of its members are compatible with the needs of sexual and gender minorities".

Over the years, "Plus" has kept the Lib Dems at the forefront of the fight for LGBT+ liberation. During my time on the Executive alone, we've made sure the party has the right policy on blood donations based on Science not Stigma; on supporting LGBT+ asylum seekers from countries which would imprison, torture or kill them; on reform of the Gender Recognition Act to remove bureaucratic gatekeeping; to make HIV prevention drugs available on the NHS; and of course on Same-Sex Marriage. We've helped local parties run presences at Pride events around the UK, supported candidates in General Elections, and engaged with the LGBT+ press.

Unfortunately, LGBT+ Liberal Democrats were not informed of Phillip Lee's defection before it had happened. Given our party both welcomes immigrants and supports making PrEP available on the NHS throughout the UK, we are very troubled by his previous public voting record and views on same-sex marriage, HIV and providing drugs for conditions he views as lifestyle choices.

The Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference is to debate delivering equal marriage - five years after same-sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales thanks to Liberal Democrats in the coalition government.

The policy motion calls for the repeal of the 'spousal veto' and for same-sex marriage to be introduced in Northern Ireland.