UK ranked second-worst in western Europe for LGBT+ laws
Beating only Italy in the ranking, the UK fell six places this year as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding transgender people and the Labour Government's subsequent response.
READ MORE: Graham Linehan pleads not guilty to harassment of transgender woman
Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO of the Equality Network, said: 'It is shameful that having been ranked best in Europe for LGBT+ laws ten years ago, we have fallen so far.
'For our treatment of trans people, after the Supreme Court ruling we are now known as one of the worst countries in the whole of Europe.
'The UK must do better.'
ILGA-Europe — the international human rights group behind the index rankings — noted that, while hate crime law in Scotland improved with the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, it had little effect on the UK's overall score.
Don Kennedy added: 'Scotland, when analysed separately, has in the past been considered progressive and a beacon of LGBTI+ equality and human rights.
'That seems to be quickly deteriorating – we ask the Scottish Government to act now and do everything they can to improve the lives of LGBTI+ people in Scotland and to not submit to growing anti-LGBGI+ narratives both globally and right here in Scotland.
'We call on the Scottish Government to lead, and to fight for a future Scotland that cares.'
READ MORE: Keir Starmer 'completely rejects' comparisons with Enoch Powell
The top five countries on the index — Malta, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark and Spain — almost double Britain's score, with theirs ranging from 78% to 89%.
The European transgender rights network (TGEU) said: 'Previously a frontrunner on equality, the UK now has a Supreme Court, Prime Minister, and equality body singing from the same hymn sheet as anti-trans campaigners.
'The UK Supreme Court's decision, which defined a 'woman' for the anti-discrimination law, has severely undermined legal certainty for trans people.'
You can click here for the full European Rainbow Index.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Anas Sarwar blasted after calling Benjamin Netanyahu 'war criminal'
The Scottish Greens said the Scottish Labour leader failed to "understand the devastating scale of death and destruction happening in Palestine", pointing towards Labour's "complicity" in the genocide. It comes after Sarwar said there is a "plausible case for genocide" committed by Israel, as he conceded that "there's still more" for the Labour Government to look at. READ MORE: Former Knesset speaker urges '1 million Jews' to file Israel war crimes complaint In an interview with the PA news agency, Sarwar said: 'The problem here is Benjamin Netanyahu, his Israel government, his illegal occupation, his lack of interest in peace and the fact that he clearly has no respect for international law, and gives no value to the sanctity of human life. 'He is a danger to his own population in Israel, but he's also a danger to the Palestinian population and a danger to the wider region in the Middle East.' He added: 'We all have to be resolute in saying that Netanyahu is a war criminal, he's not acting in the interests of peace. 'He's not a partner for peace, Hamas is a terrorist organisation that committed horrific acts on October 7 2023 – they aren't partners for peace.' Sarwar said that "there is a plausible case for genocide that the Israeli government has to answer and one day I believe will have to answer to the ICC and the ICJ". He added: 'But we have to urgently end the war – if we think just stopping talking to the Israeli government means that we end the war, I think that's a pretty naïve view of the situation right now." And when asked if he felt the UK Labour Government had done enough to end the genocide, Sarwar said it had done "a lot" but added: "I think there's still more we have to look at." Speaking to The National, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said Labour have spent the last year "actively collaborating in this devastating genocide" and have done "nothing" to end their complicity. Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater (Image: unknown) The Scottish Greens previously urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to expel Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely from the UK, after the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to escalate the genocide in Gaza. Slater told The National: 'If Anas Sarwar seriously thinks Labour is doing enough to end the genocide in Gaza then he clearly doesn't understand the devastating scale of death and destruction happening in Palestine. 'Weapons made in the UK are being used to destroy communities and end lives. What have Labour actually done to end their complicity? Nothing." READ MORE: Police Scotland 'on notice' for visit by JD Vance during UK holiday Slater said that instead of "taking action to end the genocide" in Gaza, Labour have 'hyped Israel's war criminal government on the international stage, sold arms to the IDF, and dangled the future of Palestine as a bargaining chip". "This isn't bold action to end the war, Labour and Starmer have spent the past year actively collaborating in this devastating genocide," she told The National. Slater added: 'Urging restraint is not enough, Labour's hypocrisy must end now! It's time to end arms sales, back international sanctions and boycott war criminals.' Meanwhile, the SNP said the Scottish Labour leader's words "mean nothing" unless Labour recognise Palestine and stop arms exports to Israel. SNP MSP Kevin Stewart – who previously lodged a motion calling on the UK Government to recognise Palestine – told The National: 'Anas Sarwar's words are all fine and well but mean nothing unless the UK Labour Government takes immediate action by recognising Palestine as a state and stopping all UK arms sales to Israel.' Last month, Sarwar said he backed the "immediate recognition" of the state of Palestine, ahead of the UK Government saying just days later that it planned to do so in September. Scottish Labour declined to comment further.
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Netanyahu ‘not a partner in peace', says Scottish Labour leader Sarwar
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is 'not a partner in peace' who will eventually have to answer to international courts over the crisis in Gaza, the leader of Scottish Labour has said. Anas Sarwar hit out at the Israeli premier as he announced plans to take over Gaza City in a new offensive. While Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the plans were 'wrong', Sarwar was much more strident, describing Netanyahu as a 'war criminal'. Following news of the offensive, the Scottish Greens urged the Prime Minister to expel the Israeli ambassador from the UK. But Sarwar said he did not want to 'get into stunts'. 'The problem here is Benjamin Netanyahu, his Israel government, his illegal occupation, his lack of interest in peace and the fact that he clearly has no respect for international law, and gives no value to the sanctity of human life,' he told the PA news agency. 'He is a danger to his own population in Israel, but he's also a danger to the Palestinian population and a danger to the wider region in the Middle East.' He added: 'We all have to be resolute in saying that Netanyahu is a war criminal, he's not acting in the interests of peace. 'He's not a partner for peace, Hamas is a terrorist organisation that committed horrific acts on October 7 2023 – they aren't partners for peace.' Diplomacy, the Scottish Labour leader said, had not yet worked in ending the conflict, but shutting off communications would not help matters. 'Diplomacy hasn't worked in terms of the war ending, because the war is still ongoing,' he said. 'There is a plausible case for genocide that the Israeli government has to answer and one day I believe will have to answer to the ICC and the ICJ. 'But we have to urgently end the war – if we think just stopping talking to the Israeli government means that we end the war, I think that's a pretty naive view of the situation right now.' The only person who the Israel Government would listen to, he said, would be US President Donald Trump, as he urged the international community to exert as much pressure as possible on the administration. Asked if he felt the UK Government had done enough to solve the issue, the Scottish Labour leader said it had done 'a lot', but added: 'I think there's still more we have to look at.' Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater said the UK Government has been an 'active participant' in what she described as a 'genocide' in Gaza. 'Urging restraint is not enough, the hypocrisy must end. The arms sales must stop and so must the military collaboration and political support that has gone with them. 'That must mean backing sanctions against Israeli forces and expelling the Israeli ambassador who has served as a mouthpiece for genocide. 'This has been a disgraceful chapter in UK foreign policy and has made the Prime Minister and his colleagues complicit in some of the worst war crimes of this century.' The UK Government has been contacted for comment. Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister John Swinney hit out at the announcement of the new offensive. 'The decision of the Israeli Government to seize control of Gaza City is completely and utterly unacceptable,' he said in a post on X. 'It will create even more human suffering for the Palestinian people and further escalate the conflict. 'The international community must stop Israel and secure a ceasefire.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer offers 'unwavering support' after Zelensky angrily rejects Trump peace plan
Mr Zelensky angrily ruled out suggestions Ukraine and Russia could "swap" territory - and said any deal drawn up without Ukraine's input would be a non-starter Keir Starmer offered Ukraine his "unwavering support" today - after Volodymyr Zelensky rejected some of Donald Trump's peace proposals, fearing a stitch up with Putin. The US President last night announced plans to meet Russia 's dictator in Alaska on Friday, following "highly productive" talks between Steve Witkoff, Trump's ambassador and Putin. But last night Trump suggested part of the deal would demand Ukraine give up land to Russia. Mr Zelensky angrily ruled that out - and said any deal drawn up without Ukraine's input would be a non-starter. "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," Mr Zelensky said. "Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace," he added. They will bring nothing. These are dead decisions; they will never work." Meanwhile, it's understood Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Vice President JD Vance will welcome European and US officials at a meeting at Chevening today to discuss the peace deal. Keir Starmer spoke to Volodymyr Zelensky this morning, and offered his "unwavering support." A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine this morning. 'They looked ahead to the meeting of National Security Advisers from Europe, Ukraine and the United States taking place today, hosted by the UK Foreign Secretary and US Vice President. 'They agreed this would be a vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace. 'Both leaders welcomed President Trump's desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war. 'The Prime Minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.' The row leaves European leaders at risk of angering Trump if they continue to stand squarely behind Ukraine. Earlier, Donald Trump said "land swaps" would be on the agenda at Friday's talks. "We're going to get some back, and we're going to get some switched," he said during a White House event. "There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both." Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was "ready, together with President Trump and with all our partners, to work for a real and, most importantly, lasting peace - a peace that will not fall apart because of Moscow's desires." Exasperated that Putin did not heed his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, Trump, almost two weeks ago, moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement. He said last week he would impose 25% tariffs on India, who continue to trade with Russia. But since the deadline's expiry last night no additional sanctions have been put into effect.
