Issues

Partnerships
Gender Recognition
Education
Housing
Crime and disorder
Equalities and harassment
The future

Partnerships

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force in December 2005 and gives same sex partners the same legal rights as married heterosexual partners.

Before this law was passed, Swindon Councillors had supported moves for same sex and opposite sex couples to register their partnerships in October 2003. This scheme gave recognition to partners who could not marry, but did not provide legal rights and privileges enjoyed by opposite sex couples who marry.

For more information on who can register for the new legal partnerships, see our Civil Partnerships page.

Gender Recognition

We will monitor the fundamental human rights of the transgender community to enjoy recognition of acquired gender on birth certificates, passports and all aspects of legal documentation. We aim to see equality and fair treatment by Swindon Borough Council employees to the transgender community as a priority in all staff training. These issues will be an agenda item in 2005. There is further information about this subject here.

Education

Young lesbians and gay men and those unsure about their sexuality are often called names or bullied at school. Studies have shown that the suicide rate amongst such young people is high. LGBT Swindon seeks to encourage schools and governing bodies to have policies to protect its pupils against homophobic bullying. Read report here.

We will discuss a report from the Department of Education and Skills on this subject in January 2005.

Housing

LGBT Swindon will discuss housing rights of the lesbian and gay community at the May 2004 meeting.

Crime and disorder

The Council works closely with the Wiltshire Constabulary, the Safer Swindon Shop and other strategic partners to reduce crimes against transgender, lesbians and gay men.

We have joined forces with Wiltshire Police and University of Portsmouth to highlight the need for homophobic reporting in Swindon. more

Equalities and harassment

Swindon Borough Council is signed up to equalities policies for all who live, work and play in the Borough of Swindon. The LGBT coalition seeks to scrutinise Council policies and ensure a living and working environment free from homophobic harassment.

The future

LGBT Swindon celebrated its first years activity with a party at a Swindon gay bar in December 2003. Click here for the Annual Report. We welcome comments, contributions and proposals for discussion at future meetings.