Ask 1. Nothing about us without us

Our ask:

Commit to not creating or voting on laws and policies that directly affect the LGBTQ+ community without first engaging with us—either through consultation with LGBTQ+ individuals or with representative organisations such as Liberate.

Ask 2. Fair laws and equal rights

Guernsey has made real progress over the past 10–15 years, and we are proud of that. But LGBTQ+ people and families still face unfair treatment. Everyone deserves the same legal rights, no matter who they are or who they love.

Our asks:

• Equal Family Rights:
 Continue the work already agreed by the States to allow same-sex couples to be recognised on their children’s birth certificates. Although agreed in 2020, it has not been prioritised. We ask that you help complete this vital piece of social policy. For context, this has been law in England for over a decade.
• Protection from Discrimination:
 Please support the remaining phases of the anti-discrimination legislation, especially those protecting people from discrimination based on age, sex, and gender identity. While trans people currently have some protection in the workplace, they are not protected in other areas whilst accessing goods or services. That must change. Intersex people also need to be protected in law from discrimination.
• No Room for Hate: 
Please support the introduction of hate crime legislation in Guernsey. Police currently lack the tools to respond properly to hate-based violence and harassment an therefore people are reluctant to report them. These laws also send a clear public message: it is not acceptable to be abused or harassed simply for being yourself.
• A Ban on ‘Conversion Therapy’:
We ask that you support a full ban on conversion practices in Guernsey, if the UK introduce one and should a policy letter be brought forward during your term. These practices aim to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity and are deeply harmful. We want to see a proper ban with enforcement measures and support for survivors.

We’re not asking for special treatment—just fairness. We invite you to read up on LGBTQ+ but especially trans issues using independent sources like the NHS or World Health Organisation, and we are here to help if you would like to ask any questions. We pledge to provide tools and information on respectful language to help you engage in these important conversations to avoid polarising debates that only damage the local trans people, young and old, who live amongst us.
 We also ask that you pledge to meet with trans community members before debating any policies affecting them.

Ask 3. Education should be fair and inclusive

To build a fairer future, we need to start with what young people learn in schools.

Our asks:

• Tackling LGBTQ+ bullying:
 We ask that you support stronger anti-bullying rules when bullying is aimed at minority groups, and better training for teachers so they can address LGBTQ+ bullying quickly and effectively. No one should feel unsafe in school for being who they are.
• LGBTQ+ inclusive education:
 We would like LGBTQ+ topics—such as identities, relationships, families, and history—to be taught in an age-appropriate, honest, and respectful way. Everyone should see themselves reflected in the curriculum.
• Respect for trans children and their families:
 The current ‘Interim Policy Directive and Guidelines – GENDER IDENTITY’ makes it almost impossible for trans students to live comfortably at school. It takes away a parents right to allow their child to do something as simple as using a preferred name at school—unless they follow a medical or legal process. We believe families, not the Education Department, should make these decisions. We also believe that this policy breaks international Human Rights legislation that we are signed up to. When Liberate raised these concerns we were later asked not to deliver the PSHCE LGBTQ+ lessons that we had run successfully for over seven years. As a result, LGBTQ+ visibility appears to have been almost entirely removed from the States education system. Teachers now fear discussing LGBTQ+ topics—and it feels like we are sliding backwards into a “Section 28” era, we need you to pledge not let that happen to another germination of LGBTQ+ young people. What was Section 28?
• Support for LGBTQ+ young people:
 We ask for safe spaces in schools, visibility for LGBTQ+ youth groups, and support systems that don’t risk students being ‘outed’ if they reach out for help (if they do not feel comfortable discussing their identity with their parents there may be a reason for that and they need to be able to discuss this in confidence with a teacher ).

An in-depth analysis of 2022 Children and Young People’s Survey showed that compared to their none LGBTQ+ counterparts: LGBTQIA_…_Cis_non-LGBTQIA_Year 10

• LGBTQ+ students were over 3x more likely to have been insulted or shouted at in the past year.
• A quarter fewer LGBTQ+ students said they enjoyed PE.
• Only 13% of LGBTQ+ pupils had high self-esteem, compared to 36% of non-LGBTQ+ pupils.
• They were 2x more likely to have been bullied at or near school in the past 12 months.
• 40% of LGBTQ+ pupils felt their school didn’t care about their happiness (vs 27% of non-LGBTQ+).
• They were nearly 3x more likely to feel afraid of going to school because of bullying.
  You can help turn these figures around by committing to these asks.

Ask 4. Fair and supportive healthcare for everyone

We would like you to support the fantastic progress already made by Health & Social Care Committee in LGBTQ+ inclusive healthcare. LGBTQ+ people deserve the same care and access to health services as everyone else.

Our asks:

• Sexual health services:
 Continue to ensure that sexual health care—like HIV prevention and treatment—is easily accessible, free, safe, and LGBTQ+ inclusive.
• Training for healthcare staff:
 Continue the ongoing training that has been introduced in recent years which helps doctors and nurses better understand LGBTQ+ needs, from mental health concerns to respectful language and inclusive care.
• Better care for trans+ people:
 Support the continuation and improvement of healthcare access for trans and non-binary people. People should not have to wait years for a first appointment to a Gender Identity Clinic. Massive steps have been achieved towards this and we need to continue developing these pathways.

Ask 5. Increase support and representation for LGBTQ+ people

We want LGBTQ+ people to feel seen, heard, and valued in Guernsey’s political and public life.

Our asks:

• Be Visible and Vocal in Your Support:
 We’d love to see more LGBTQ+ people running for office—but we also ask that you show your support as an ally. Include LGBTQ+ voices in decision-making spaces and actively invite consultation when shaping policies.
• Support Channel Islands Pride:
 Channel Islands Pride is the biggest free community event in Guernsey (outside of large scale Liberation Day events). A University of Staffordshire study found that CI Pride 2024 brought in an estimated £1.25 million to the island’s economy—about half of what the cruise ship industry generated in the same year! Channel Islands Pride 2024 – Economic Impact Report

This event should be celebrated and properly funded by the States—not just because it’s joyful and inclusive, but because it brings in tourism and boosts the local economy. LGBTQ+ tourism was identified by the States as a target demographic. https://guernseytrademedia.com/media/pt2fv5vw/2022-niche-audiences.pdf