Restoring Trans Rights

Motion as passed by Conference

Submitted by: LGBT+ Lib Dems 
Mover: Artie Khovanov 
Summation: Jennie Rigg

Conference notes with concern:

1. On 5 August 2026, the Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC’s) updated Code of Practice came into force, which:
   1. Bars trans people from facilities aligned with their lived gender and, in some cases, also those aligned with their assigned sex.
   2. Suggests ‘policing’ gender non-conforming people for how they look.
2. Between 2020 and 2025, recorded hate crimes against trans people increased by 50 per cent.
3. Support groups report increased harassment of gender nonconforming women in women’s facilities.
4. The Chair of the EHRC, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, was appointed by the Government against the advice of the Women and Equalities Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Conference believes:

1. Trans women are women, trans men are men, and everyone deserves to live in safety and with dignity.
2. The rights of women and of trans people are not in competition; both are essential to a fair society.
3. The Code of Practice is discriminatory and unworkable, and places an undue burden on service providers.

Conference reaffirms its commitment to reforming the Gender Recognition Act to remove the requirement for medical reports, end the spousal veto, and recognise non-binary people in law.

Conference calls for:

1. Parliament to appoint a dedicated cross-party committee to review how the law should better protect trans people’s rights, taking evidence from impacted groups, including trans people, and proposing amendments to legislation where necessary.
2. The EHRC to issue a new Code of Practice that is inclusive, workable and ensures everybody can safely access public facilities and providers are protected from legal risk.
3. The EHRC to monitor the impact of any Code of Practice it produces, and update it should evidence demonstrate that it is unworkable, harmful or discriminatory.
4. Future appointments of the EHRC Chair to be subject to a confirmatory vote by the Women and Equalities Committee.

Applicability: Federal