8 December 2011
The launch of the action plan has been reported on the Home Office
website and by the
BBC. Lynne Featherstone MP, Minister for Equalities, has said: “I am proud to announce the first government strategy to tackle the specific barriers facing transgender people. Like everyone else, transgender people have the right to be accepted, to live their lives free of harassment, and to be free to achieve any ambition they choose.”
The action plan includes a range of commitments from Government departments including:
- the Department for Education
- the Learning and Skills Improvement Service;
- the Cabinet Office;
- Job Centre Plus;
- the Department for Work and Pensions;
- Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;
- the Department of Health;
- the Identity and Passport Service;
- the Government Equalities Office;
- the Information Commissioner’s Office;
- the Ministry of Justice;
- the Home Office;
- the Department for Communities and Local Government;
- the Department for Transport;
- the Foreign & Commonwealth Office; and
- the UK Border Agency.
With regard to employment, the action plan emphasises the importance of equality of opportunity and states that the Government “is committed to ending discrimination in the workplace wherever and whenever it occurs”.
Solicitors in Leigh Day & Co’s
employment and discrimination team have experience of advising and acting for people who have suffered from less favourable treatment because of their gender identity.
With regard to healthcare, the action plan sets out a timetable for publishing clear guidance to healthcare professionals on the treatment available to trans people, emphasises the need for decisions on the availability of treatment to be fair, transparent, accountable, evidence-based and consider the needs of trans people and identifies a review of the delays accessing treatment.
Solicitors in Leigh Day and Co’s
human rights department have successfully taken action on behalf of trans people being denied access to treatment while in prison.
If you have been discriminated against or harassed because of your gender identity and would like more information on whether we could assist you, please contact us on
020 7650 1200.
Information was correct at time of publishing. See terms and conditions for further details.