Press & media

Trans* Jersey

Media links: Questionning the 2014 election candidates

Channel Island equality charity Liberate and affiliate group Trans*Jersey are asking those standing for election to the States of Jersey for their view on LGBTQ issues.

Liberate and Trans* Jersey have emailed all the candidates standing for election to the States of Jersey asking them to complete an online questionnaire about the most pressing issues affecting the island’s LGBTQ community.

The results of the questionnaire will be publicly available on the Liberate and Trans* Jersey websites (www.liberate.gg and transjersey.org). Candidates are asked to complete the questionnaire by 8 October 2014.

Jersey Co-ordinator for Liberate Vic Tanner Davy said:

“2015 is going to be a big year for Jersey’s LGBTQ population with the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation in September and debates on how to introduce marriage for same-sex couples. However, there are other issues that affect the LGBTQ population that have yet to be discussed in the States but are no less important to the approximately 10% of islanders who identify as LGBTQ. It is right that Liberate and Trans* Jersey, organisations that represents the LGBTQ community, ask candidates for their views on these issues, issues that are likely to be put before the States for debate in the next term, the term in which the candidates will serve, if elected.”

voting-paper-ballots

Candidates are being asked the following 10 questions:

  1. Which of the options for same-sex marriage being proposed by the Chief Minister’s consultation document of 20 August 2014 (Equal Marriage and Partnership) would have your support?
  2. Would you support the opening up of civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples?
  3. Which of the options for equalising adultery as a cause for dissolving a marriage being proposed by the Chief Minister’s consultation document of 20 August 2014 (Equal Marriage and Partnership) would have your support?
  4. Apart from religious organisations that are exempt, are there any other businesses or service providers that would have your support to have the right, in certain circumstances, to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation?
  5. Apart from religious organisations that are exempt, are there any other businesses or service providers that would have your support to have the right, in certain circumstances, to discriminate on the grounds of gender reassignment?
  6. Would you support the introduction of the use of the internationally recognised X marker by the passport office and registry office to denote someone whose gender is self-determined as neither M nor F? (For example, in the case of a child born with an intersex condition or “DSD” whose parents did not wish to register their child’s gender as M or F until later in life.)
  7. Would you support the removal of the restrictions on adoption by same-sex couples? At present, same-sex couples cannot apply to adopt jointly. However, one partner may submit an application supported by the other. In other words, single parents may adopt but same-sex couples in a civil partnership may not.
  8. Would you support compulsory, age-appropriate, LGBTQ-inclusive Sex and Relationship Education in all schools?
  9. Would you support the removal of the restrictions on blood donation by homosexual men? At present, homosexual men may not donate blood if they have had sexual contact in the last 12 months. There is no exception for homosexual men in committed monogamous partnerships.
  10. Would you support revising the Gender Recognition (Jersey) Law 2010 to remove the requirement for a gender recognition certificate from an approved jurisdiction to be presented and replace the process with a system by which a transgender individual self-reports their transition to the Royal Court (in much the same way that a change of name by deed poll is self-reported and passed through the Royal Court)?

For candidates standing for election, the questions can be accessed here: Link to candidate survey

To find out more about the candidates who are standing in your parish or district, go to vote.je where a full list of candidates can be found. Election day is 15 October so don’t forget to vote!

Trans* Jersey

Media links: Trans* Jersey welcomes equal marriage consultation

Pink News: Friday 29 August 2014

BBC Radio Jersey: Sunday 31 August 2014 (timecode: 02.09)

Channel Island equality charity Liberate and affiliate group Trans*Jersey welcome the States of Jersey’s consultation on equal marriage and partnership.

Jersey’s Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, launched a public consultation on equal marriage and partnership on 20 August 2014 that will run until 22 October 2014.

Following their meeting on 29 July 2014 with Senator Gorst, Liberate and Trans* Jersey are pleased with the results of the first stakeholder meetings and the options for equal marriage in Jersey arising from those initial discussions being put forward by the Chief Minister.

Jersey Co-ordinator for Liberate Vic Tanner Davy said:

“The options being offered to the public are ones that Liberate and Trans* Jersey supports and we have already responded positively to the suggestion that Jersey introduce same-sex civil marriage and same-sex religious marriage. Although truly equal marriage would be represented by the Union Civile, we have moved away from that position because of the disturbance that its introduction would cause to the long-standing relationship of the Church of England to the Crown and the State, something that would necessitate a much bigger and longer constitutional debate.

“We are also supportive of the proposal to open up civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. In the interests of equality, this is the only fair thing to do. It is something that the UK has not done and for Jersey to be considering this option shows how committed the Chief Minister and his department are to ensuring we get this right as an island.”

The consultation document also addresses the question of whether adultery as grounds for divorce in a marriage should be removed or redefined to ensure that same-sex couples are treated equally. The current legal position is that an opposite-sex marriage can be ended by adultery but a same-sex civil partnership cannot.

“On the question of adultery, we would like to see adultery as grounds for divorce in a marriage removed because that would equalise the grounds on which a marriage or civil partnership can be dissolved. In so doing, it would no longer relegate the sexual congress of same-sex couples to something less than that of opposite-sex couples.

“Adultery is just as emotionally damaging to same-sex relationships as it is to opposite-sex relationships but it can be covered in law by citing the grounds for divorce/dissolution as “unreasonable behaviour”. We feel that all marriages and civil partnerships would be protected from sexual infidelity via this route and, therefore, removing adultery is appropriate in the interests of equality.”

Liberate congratulates the Chief Minister and his department on the sensitivity with which they have worded the consultation and the research they have undertaken, in a very short period of time, in order to produce a comprehensive document that covers all the main permutations for equal marriage and partnerships. The consultation paper is balanced and, as far as possible, gives equal weight to the considerations of both the LGBTQ community and those religious groups who feel they cannot solemnise same-sex marriages in their place of worship.

Martin Gavet, Chairman of Liberate, said:

“Liberate is an inclusive group and we welcome members regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, gender identity or sexual orientation. It is, therefore, very important to us that religious groups have a means to opt-out of performing same-sex marriages and their freedom of religious belief is maintained. The options put forward by the consultation paper make it clear that places of worship will be able to opt-out in line with the position of their organisation. Having said that, we also hope that in time religious organisations, which currently oppose same-sex unions, will grow in their understanding of LGBTQ issues and the spiritual needs of some of the LGBTQ community.”

Trans* Jersey

Media links: Liberate Jersey group formed

Jersey Evening Post: Friday 22 August 2014

Channel Television: Friday 22 August 2014

BBC Radio Jersey: Friday 22 August 2014

Channel 103fm: Friday 22 Augusts 2014

Channel Island equality charity Liberate is pleased to announce that its Jersey branch is now up and running.

The Jersey branch of Liberate held its first meeting on 19 August 2014. Amongst other issues, the meeting discussed the forthcoming draft of the sex discrimination law, the equal marriage and partnership consultation that was launched on 20 August 2014 and the need for a social focus for LGBTQ people in Jersey since the closure of the island’s last gay nightspot a number of years ago.

Liberate was formed in February 2014 in Guernsey and it was always the intention that there should also be a Jersey branch of the charity. Liberate Chairman, Martin Gavet, is thrilled that the charity is now truly pan-island.

“We are delighted at the news that a Jersey branch of Liberate has been established. In the short time since Liberate was founded in February 2014, we have achieved a lot for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) communities within the Channel Islands.

“We have already met with both Chief Ministers in Guernsey and Jersey about reform of laws and policies to ensure that our islands treat everyone fairly and equally under the law in dignity and rights. We are committed to uniting communities across the islands, and are an inclusive and apolitical charity.

“We do not discriminate on grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, disability or belief. It is great that Jersey now has formed a branch of Liberate to help to support the LGBTQ community in our sister-isle. This is a shining example of how the islands can work together on important issues affecting Channel Islanders’ daily lives”.

Co-ordinator for Liberate’s Jersey group, Vic Tanner Davy, said:

“We are looking forward to working with the committee in Guernsey on issues that affect both islands, such as the provision of LGBTQ care in old age, and educational programmes that can be delivered in schools in Jersey and Guernsey. LGBTQ rights have come a long way but there is still work to do as demonstrated by the two big political consultations that are happening currently that directly affect our community.

“We also want to provide support to those who may be questioning their sexuality and one of the ways to do that is to create a safe social space. To start to grow that initiative, we are planning a social event on 20 September 2014 at Ce Soir to try to bring back some of the community spirit that used to exist when Cosmopolitan was a social hub where people who were just coming out could go and feel safe.

“There are a lot of positive things happening for LGBTQ people in the islands at the moment from Jersey Pride to the equal marriage and partnership consultation that was launched today. It feels like the right moment for Jersey and Guernsey’s LGBTQ communities to work together to support these initiatives and to make the change happen that we want to see.”

Details of the Ce Soir event can be found on Facebook.

Liberate Jersey can be contacted at hello@liberate.gg

Trans* Jersey

Media links: Meeting with the Chief Minister

Jersey Evening Post: Tuesday 29 July 2014:
072914Channel Island equality charity Liberate will be meeting two senior Jersey politicians tomorrow, Tuesday 29 July 2014, with affiliate group Trans*Jersey.

The first meeting will be held with Social Security Minister, Senator Francis Le Gresley, over Jersey’s new Discrimination Law and provisions relating to sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

The second meeting with Jersey’s Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, follows the recent debate when the States of Jersey Assembly voted 24 to 18 in favour of a proposition by Home Minister Ian Le Marquand to delay an in principle decision on equal marriage in Jersey. Instead the Assembly agreed to a round of public consultation on the subject which will end in December.

The move provoked strong public reaction and anger from islanders, who recently voted 81% in favour of equal marriage in a poll carried out by the Jersey Evening Post.

The meeting is part of an initial round of meetings with interested stakeholder groups as part of the public consultation on Equal Marriage.

Chair of Liberate Martin Gavet said:

“We welcome the opportunity to meet with both Senator Francis Le Gresley and Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst, on these important matters.

“For far too long Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning people in all our Channel Islands have been treated as second class citizens and we see these meetings as a sign that Jersey is committed to ensuring that it becomes a fair and equal society.

“These are issues that transcend politics. Politics has a vital role to play in protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. Legislation will help to enshrine those values of a caring and compassionate society. Values that acknowledge that everyone is born free and equal in both dignity and rights.

“It will define how we as individuals are expected to treat each other, no matter what someone’s gender is, their gender identity, their sexual orientation, race, disability or belief. Discrimination breeds intolerance and hatred. We hope that soon there will be no hiding place for such attitudes which only serve to divide families, damage the fabric of our society and destroy lives.”

Liberate-Chief-Min
Above (left to right): Pippa McCathie, Support Director (Liberate); Ellie Jones, Vice-Chair (Liberate); Martin Gavet, Chair (Liberate) and Vic Tanner Davy founder of Trans*Jersey, standing outside Jersey’s Cyril Le Marquand House after meeting with Jersey Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst.

Campaigners for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights met with Jersey’s Chief Minister Ian Gorst yesterday over proposals to introduce same-sex marriage.

Liberate, a Guernsey-based registered charity which represents the Channel Islands LGBTQ community described the meeting as constructive, well-researched and informed.

Liberate gave a video presentation to the meeting, which included representatives from other groups working with Jersey’s LGBTQ community, including Trans*Jersey which also gave a presentation.

During the recent States of Jersey debate on a proposition on Equal Marriage there had been considerable discussion around the “unintended consequences” of introducing equal marriage.

“Our video obviously struck a chord with those present at the meeting, especially Senator Gorst and his colleagues” said Martin Gavet, Chair of Liberate.

“It highlighted the consequences of not introducing equal marriage, and continuing to allow discriminatory laws and policies in Jersey society. It had a clear message that discriminatory laws and practices damage the very fabric of our society and family life. Such laws and practices, effectively say to citizens that prejudice, intolerance and hate towards others is acceptable.

“What society needs to wake up to is that this has a hugely damaging effect especially in respect of areas such as mental health and wellbeing. LGBTQ people are known to be twice at risk of anxiety, depression, substance misuse, self harm and suicide. Gay teens have recently been shown to be 6-9 times more likely to attempt to take their own life. Why? Because of the feelings of isolation, bullying, harassment, etc.

“This costs us in terms of emergency, acute, mental health care, policing, education and the welfare state. However this is just the financial cost to society. The tragedy is that families have disowned their own children just for being LGBTQ, and lives have been lost and will continue to be lost in our islands due to such prejudice.

“So long as we have laws that discriminate, we will find it harder to challenge prejudice as not all of us will be treated fairly and equally in dignity and rights.

“Above all this is about allowing two people who love each other the right to show that ultimate commitment – giving them the right to marry. The fact that we as a community have had to fight so hard for this right clearly shows to our decision makers how much we value and respect the institution of marriage”.

The meeting discussed models of equal marriage and civil unions in other jurisdictions including, England and Wales, Scotland, and South Africa. It is the first of several meetings and it is anticipated that the public consultation process may finish before Jersey’s elections in October.

Earlier in the day Liberate and Trans*Jersey also met with Senator Le Gresley, Social Security Minister over the introduction of the Discrimination Law and the inclusion of provisions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Trans* Jersey

Press release: 8 July 2014

Trans* Jersey is very disappointed by the decision of the States of Jersey to vote in favour of Senator Ian Le Marquand’s amendment to require the Chief Minister consult on any change in the law to allow same-sex marriage in Jersey.

gay-marriage-ukTrans* Jersey’s founder, Vic Tanner Davy, said: “We recognise that, as an issue, this is not a high priority for the majority of States members personally. As a result, it was clear that a number of States members had not done their homework and felt ill-prepared to vote on the matter. This was demonstrated most clearly by those concerned about the ‘unintended consequences’ of allowing equal marriage. Anyone who has studied the issue in detail will know that there are no ‘unintended consequences’ to equal marriage. We know that, once States members have had a chance to do their research over the summer, any concerns they may have will be put to bed and equal marriage will go forward.

“Today was a wake-up call to States members that they need to do their homework and come back to the chamber in full possession of the facts about why the island’s LGBT community needs this legislation. This is not a proposition that is going to go away and it is one on which members need to be clear where they stand as it will be an election issue in the autumn.”