The new 2007 executive has taken over the Liberal Democrat lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality group DELGA. New Chair, Jen Yockney, brings a wealth of LGBT activism experience to the role, not least in having been editor of Bi Community News magazine for the last five years.
DELGA is kicking off the new year by encouraging our members to get more involved in the Liberal Democrats' policy making process at the first stage - the policy making groups connected to the party's Federal Policy Committee (FPC). The deadline for nominations for this is 22 January, so those interested need to act soon.
The January 2007 DELGA newsletter has been published and sent to our members. With features on Stephen Williams' YouTube video about homophobic bullying, and John Barrett's EDM marking World AIDS Day, it also introduces the new DELGA executive team and has a thorough Lib Dem LGBT news round up of events since the October newsletter.
The government must not renege on its promise for equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, the Liberal Democrats have warned ahead of an important debate tomorrow in the House of Lords. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) ensure that people in Northern Ireland will be protected against discriminatory practice based on someone's sexual orientation in their everyday lives, specifically with regards to the provision of goods and services.
The Conservatives have been attacked by the Liberal Democrats for voting against measures designed to end unfair discrimination based on sexual orientation. In Tuesday night's vote on the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland), 41 Tory Peers, including 10 front-bench spokespeople, voted against the key legislation. No Liberal Democrat Peers voted against the Act.
In Tuesday's House of Lords debate on equality in provision of goods and services, the Lib Dems were well forceful and united. Lord Lester, Lord Avebury, and Baroness Harris all argued for the legislation to be enacted, while former party leader Lord (Paddy) Ashdown also intervened to challenge Lord (Norman) Tebbit's defence of legally-endorsed bigotry. The Lib Dems were also by far the best represented major party, with only a quarter of Conservative and half of Labour peers present, two-thirds of the Lib Dem members of the Lords attended.