Every day, people face a risk of being the victim of a hate crime. Because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability. And its getting worse.
We must treat these offences with the seriousness they deserve. The Crime and Policing Bill is going through Parliament.
Rachel Taylor MP has tabled amendment NC122 to do just that. Making hate crimes against people because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability an aggravated offence.
Please email your MP and ask them to sign NC122 of the The Crime and Policing Bill.
Click here to find your MP.
Copy this text into your email:
Dear [MP’s name].
I am very concerned about the rising levels of abuse people face of being the victim of a hate crime, because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.
We must treat these offences with the seriousness they deserve.
I understand The Crime and Policing Bill is going through Parliament. Rachel Taylor MP has tabled amendment NC122, making hate crimes against people because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability an aggravated offence.
Please support and sign NC122.
Many thanks
[you]
Mail it – and share this post with everyone! Thank you!
We are running a national campaign to ask everyone to write a letter (not an email) and send it to your local MP.
Why written? Because the letter sits in the MP’s inTray and can’t be ignored, because it comes from constituent – you. It won’t go away.
A hard copy letter haunts the corner of your MP’s assistant’s desk. It is the letter that the assistant picks up and says to your MP ‘You really do need to read this. We need to know how to respond.’
Yes that means some extra effort and the stamp, but it works better than an email that gets a routine robo-answer and is instantly forgotten.
If we want to impact the discussions that are currently being had about us – but without us – then trans people and trans allies – our parents, partners, children, friends, neighbours and colleagues – need to send a paper letter that will haunt their desks.
Here is some excellent advice on how to do that from Professor Stephen Whittle. And he knows a thing or two about this, having campaigned for our community decades.
You DO NOT need to give your name or address (although it is certainly preferred), but you must tell your MP that you are their constituent. You can mark your letter “Private and Confidential”.
The start of the letter is a short paragraph to say how saddened you are to see the proposed interim guidance from the EHRC, as if it ever comes into force, it will have a substantial negative impact on the lives of every trans person in the UK.
Refer to the fact that there is considerable FOI data proving that there are no issues in hospitals, toilets, or changing rooms, and this evidence is available on Translucent’s website (translucent.org.uk).
If you have to type your letter because your writing is illegible, but don’t have a printer at home or work, various places will print it for you at a very low cost.
Your local library or local Copy shop will usually copy and print on the spot for you at a very low price. High street stores that will copy and print include Ryman’s and Max Speilmans. Telephone them and ask in advance to save any wasted journeys.
To find out who your MP is, here is a link: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
In addition to your letter to your MP, you can also send in letters to several ministers of state who have power over equality, health and justice.
Right Honourable Bridget Phillipson MP
Minister for Women and Equalities
20 Great Smith St
London SW1P 3BT
Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP
Minister for Health and Social Care
39 Victoria St
London SW1H 0EU
Baroness Jacqui Smith of Malvern
Minister for Women and Equalities
The House of Lords
London SW1A 0AA
Sarah Owen MP
Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee
The House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Joint Committee on Human Rights
Houses of Parliament
London SW1A 0AA
Baroness Kishwar Falkner of Margravine
Chair at Equality and Human Rights Commission
Arndale House
The Arndale Centre
Manchester M4 3AQ
We are not going to influence MPs with just one letter. This is a long campaign that wil roll on for as long as needed. Once you have sent your first letter and told us that you have by emailing us here: campaigns@translucent.org.uk, we will contact you directly and support you with the full programme.
We know this means some extra effort on your part, for which we are most grateful because every action you do helps our collective goal of recovering our lost rights.
To recognize and reward you for your help, we will give you a certificate and real gifts for 10 and more mailings, and 5 or more replies from people (not just your MP!) to whom you send the letter.
This is really important. We need all the allies we can get. This petition is about making their voices known – that they stand with us and for us. If you do anything, do this.