Labour expresses support for ‘This is Me!’ rally
On Saturday at the Labour Party Central Council a motion in support of the campaign by Trans activist group ‘This Is Me!’ was passed unanimously.
The motion, tabled by Party Vice-Chair Sinead Ahern called for “The Labour Party in solidarity with the trans community in Ireland fighting for adequate health care and express our support for the ‘This Is Me!’ Rally taking place today.”
The motion comes ahead of the planned protest outside Leinster House on Sunday between 2pm and 5pm.
Co-chair of Labour LGBT, Aoife Leahy welcomed the decision by the Central Council and said:
“Labour in and out of government has been a strong supporter of the LGBT community over the last four decades. First in the eighties with the inclusion of sexual orientation in the ‘Incitement To Hatred Act’ and as recently as 2015 with the Gender Recognition Act, which was one of the most advanced pieces of legislation in the world for Trans legal recognition, and more recently in 2018, on foot of a private members bill by Senator Ged Nash, the State Apology issued by the government on behalf of the state to recognise the harm caused to those convicted under the laws with criminalised homosexuality up until 1993.”
James Joy, the other co-chair of Labour LGBT, said:
“The situation regarding access to proper healthcare for trans people in Ireland must be addressed. The Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, has failed the Trans community despite making promises to deliver the healthcare this vulnerable community requires.”