Green Party Leader Mal O’Hara welcomed today’s announcement from the Equality Commission, calling it “a constructive step forward that offers much-needed legal clarity for employers, service providers, and public authorities.”
Mal said, “We understand that some may feel uneasy about the Commission’s proposed pathway, but it’s important to emphasise that this is not about questioning the existence of trans people. Rather, it is about addressing the legal complexities unique to Northern Ireland. Despite some clumsy language, as the Chief Commissioner has made clear: ‘Discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment is unlawful.’”
“The Supreme Court judgment failed to resolve the uncertainty surrounding Northern Ireland’s distinct legislative position, including our exclusion from the Equality Act, the implications of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, and our statutory duties under Section 75. The Equality Commission has now taken the initiative where the courts have not.”
Mal concluded, “Whatever unfolds in the months ahead, the Green Party will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with trans and non-binary people, just as we always have. We also hope that today’s announcement will deter those within the main unionist parties who use culture war rhetoric to distract from their failures on health, housing, and public services.”
ENDS
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