It is with sadness and deep regret that LGBT Foundation is severing all ties with the EHRC.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released two statements today about two pieces of LGBTQ+ rights legislation in the UK; the proposed conversion therapy legislation in England and Wales, and the proposed GRA reform in Scotland.

These statements are extremely damaging and cannot be supported in any circumstances.

EHRC has ignored the experiences of trans and non-binary individuals who have undergone unnecessary trauma. They suggest that LGBTQ+ lives are up for debate and medical scrutiny. They disregard expert opinion and lived experience - a humiliating and dehumanising action against our community with real-world consequences.

EHRC should exist to regulate, promote, and uphold human rights, and we believe it is no longer fit for purpose. Our position from today is clear: EHRC can no longer call itself a true human rights organisation.

We will write an open letter to the Government Minister for Equalities Mike Freer MP to share our disappointment at today’s events. We join other organisations and colleagues in demanding a review of the EHRC’s accreditation as an A-status National Human Rights Institution. We will make this letter public.

We stand with our peers that are rightly horrified by today’s events and reassure the LGBTQ+ community that we will continue to fight for equality and justice in the UK.