PLAID CYMRU MESSAGE TO LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

“There can be no free Wales until everyone is free” – Adam Price MS reaffirms support for LGBTQ+ community ahead of Pride Cymru

Ahead of Pride Cymru 2022, the Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price MS, has issued a personal message to the LGBTQ+ community, committing to the publication of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan.

This year’s Pride parade is set against the backdrop of increasing hatred against the LGBTQ+ community, in particular trans people who have been targeted and vilified in the press, and in the Tory leadership race.

In his message, Mr Price promises to continue to fight for the powers to legislate to improve the lives and protect the safety of trans people in Wales, condemns conversion practices, and pledges to work with the Welsh Government to seek to ban it in Wales.

The power to ban conversion practices is not currently devolved to Wales, and Welsh Government has previously announced it is seeking legal advice to determine the levers it has.

Plaid Cymru has long called for the power to legislate to improve the lives and protect the safety of trans people in Wales and believes that the Equality Act 2010 should be devolved to the Senedd.

Adam Price MS, the leader of Plaid Cymru said,

“Tackling all forms of injustice is an essential part of restructuring and rebuilding a fairer society and my party remains committed to promoting the rights of everyone in the LBGTQ+ community. Plaid Cymru will continue to fight for the equality act to be devolved so that Wales can finally tackle hate crime.

“The Tory leadership race has created a space for harmful conversations about the rights of trans people, and is contributing to the dangerous illusion that trans rights and women’s rights are somehow conflicting issues. Plaid Cymru’s constitution defends trans rights and we believe in the rights of trans people to live freely within their gender expression.

“The UK government, despite a commitment in their 2018 LGBT Action Plan, has failed to end conversion practices. I pledge to continue to fight for the necessary powers so that we in Wales can once and for all ban this deeply harmful practice.

“In the meantime, it’s important that we forge a different path for our nation, and the commitments outlined in the Cooperation Agreement between Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government are clear on our shared ambition to make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe.

“I wish everyone in the community a happy pride weekend. As we celebrate everyone’s individuality through the theme ‘Unique and United’ I pledge my support for the publication of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan in Wales and reconfirm my unequivocal support for the trans community. I stand in solidarity with them against transphobia. Wales should be for everyone, and there can be no free Wales until everyone is free.”