Time to press Jack

11.34.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Oct 2007

DELGA Chair Jen Yockney today urged LGBT and trans organisations to lobby Jack Straw to ensure transgender people gain similar protection from incitement to hatred to that proposed for lesbian, gay and bi people. Jen said, "If you're a member of such an organisation please press them to submit evidence; if you are directly involved please make sure your group tries to present the arguments as best and as quickly they can. It will be much harder to get legislative time separately for trans people's protection."

"Further, a broad approach must be sought to cover transgender and genderqueer people as well as the few thousand people who are deemed 'trans enough' by the Gender Recognition Act. Indeed such protections are perhaps even more pressingly needed by those who do not fit one of the simple male or female boxes."

"There is nothing stopping individuals contacting him too - but as he has asked for the views of outside organisations we should make sure he hears them."

In the Commons debate on the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill yesterday, 8th October, Jack Straw said: "I want to hear views from the House, and from outside organisations, on whether the offence (of incitement to hatred) could or should be extended to cover hatred against transgender and disabled people. I cannot give commitments until I have seen the arguments-this is a complicated area-but I am ready to consider amendments to that end if a case can be made."