Annual General Meeting - May 2023
May 9, 2023
2:30 - 3:30pm
Room C, 1 Parliament St
Minutes
Present
Angela Eagle MP
Elliot Colburn MP
David Mundell MP
Crispin Blunt MP
Stephen Doughty MP
Christina Rees MP
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Sir Peter Bottomley MP
Baroness Barker
Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord Lucas
Nicole Treanor (APPG LGBT+ Secretariat)
Meg Reed (Office of Angela Eagle MP)
Apologies
Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green
Baroness Wilcox of Newport
Lord Hebert of South Downs
Lord Smith of Finsbury
Approval of Last AGM’s minutes
The minutes of the last AGM were approved without amendment.
Election of Officers
The group unanimously re-elected Elliot Colburn MP and Dame Angela Eagle MP as Co-Chairs of the group.
Elliot Colburn proposed the following block of officers, thereafter agreed upon by the group:
Deputy Chairs
Baroness Barker
Rt Hon David Mundell MP
John Nicholson MP
Treasurer
Lord Collins of Highbury
Vice Chairs
Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green
Lord Gilbert of Panteg
Lord Smith of Finsbury
Lord Herbert of South Downs
Baroness Wilcox of Newport
Peter Gibson MP
Hannah Bardell MP
Dan Carden MP
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Christina Rees MP
Income and Expenditure Statement
Co-Chair Elliot Colburn MP presented the Income and Expenditure Statement to the APPG, which was then approved by the group.
Chair’s Report
The Co-Chairs thanked Kaleidoscope Trust as Secretariat of the APPG.
Co-Chairs Elliot Colburn and Angela Eagle presented a report detailing the group’s key priorities and programme of work over the last year. Despite structural changes such as the group adopting both new Co-Chairs and a new Coordinator, the APPG has continued to advocate for LGBT+ rights on a domestic and international scale.
Highlights included sending Co-Chair Elliot Colburn to the Czech Parliament to advocate for equal marriage, and hosting The Commonwealth Equality Network for a parliamentary event with LGBT+ activists from Fiji, Namibia, Kenya and Jamaica.
The Co-Chairs reflected on the need to support people on the ground in regions such as Ghana and Uganda where LGBT+ rights are under grave attack, as well as recent cuts to international funding which have disproportionately fallen on LGBT+ people and organisations across the globe. The Co-Chars will continue to work with the Foreign Office on these issues.
On the domestic front, the group reflected on how we are yet to see a Draft Bill banning conversion practices. The Officers of the group have written a public letter to the Secretary of State regarding this issue, but are yet to hear back.
Crispin Blunt MP raised the Parliamentary Liaison Scheme and his partnered country which is Lebanon. He requested financial support from the APPG to travel to Beirut in pursuit of LGBT+ work. The Co-Chairs agreed to discuss and follow up after the meeting.
David Mundell MP sign-posted the CPA UK conference taking place in Ghana in late September and the possibility of liaising with the APPG.
Baroness Barker raised that recent anti-LGBT sentiment has been expressed by public officials in Japan, and whether the UK’s Special Envoy on LGBT+ Rights could make a statement in the lead up to the next G7 Summit.
The Chairs reflected on geopolitical forces across the world using anti-human rights campaigns targeting the LGBT+ community to drive wedges in our society and the need to continue working together to counteract this within the UK. Elliot Colburn MP thanked the group for all of their work in contributing to LGBT+ rights and encouraged the group to keep supporting the mission in any way they can. He then called the meeting to a close.
Extraordinary General Meeting - May 2022
Annual General Meeting
May 24, 2022
5 pm
Committee Room 13
Minutes
Present
Baroness Barker
Dame Angela Eagle MP
Elliot Colburn MP
Hannah Bardell MP
Baroness Hunt
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
Nia Griffiths MP
Kirsten Oswald MP
Luke Pollard MP
Alex Sobel MP
Charlotte Nichols MP
Lord Herbert
Lord Paddick
Baroness Wilcox
Lord Cashman
Lord Collins
Lord Lucas
Chris Bryant MP
Hannah Bardell MP
Stephen Doughty MP
Gary Sambrook MP
Niamh McCourt (Assistant to Stephen Farry MP)
Harry Prance (APPG LGBT+ Secretariat)
Apologies
Peter Gibson MP
Rt Hon David Mundell MP
Dame Angela Eagle MP
Election of Officers
Baroness Barker nominated Angela Eagle and Elliot Colburn as Co-Chairs. That nomination was seconded by all present. Angela Eagle and Elliot Colburn were unanimously elected.
AOB
Elliot Colburn thanked all present for their support. Announced that a meeting would be held as soon as possible to discuss the future work plan of the group. He also highlighted that the petitions debate on a trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy would now be held on Monday 13th June.
Annual General Meeting - March 2022
Annual General Meeting
March 29, 2022
4-5 pm
Room T PCH
Minutes
Present
Baroness Barker
David Mundell MP
Peter Gibson MP
Dan Carden MP
Stephen Doughty MP
Lord Herbert of South Downs
Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord Cashman
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Harry Prance (APPG LGBT+ Secretariat)
Tarsilo Onuluk (Office of Crispin Blunt MP)
Niamh McCourt (Office of Stephen Farry MP)
Aliyah Davies (Office of Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP)
Ollie Entwhistle (Cabinet Office)
Apologies
Baroness Goudie
Dame Angela Eagle MP
Baroness Wilcox of Newport
Bell Ribeiro Addy MP
Luke Pollard MP
Kerry McCarthy MP
The Rt Hon. Ben Bradshaw MP
Approval of Last AGM’s minutes
The minutes of last AGM’s meeting were approved without amendment.
Proposed by Baroness Barker and seconded by David Mundell MP
Election of Officers
Lord Collins called for nominations for Chair. Crispin Blunt was nominated by Martin Docherty-Hughes and seconded by Stephen Gilbert and duly elected Chair, with all present in favour.
Crispin Blunt MP proposed the following block of officers, seconded by Lord Cashman, as follows:
Deputy Chairs
Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat)
Dame Angela Eagle MP (Labour)
David Mundell MP (Conservative)
John Nicolson MP (SNP)
Secretary
Elliot Colburn MP (Conservative)
Treasurer
Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour)
Vice-Chairs
Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green (Crossbench)
Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative)
Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative)
Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated)
Lord Herbert of South Downs (Conservative)
Lord Cashman (Labour)
Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Labour)
Peter Gibson MP (Conservative)
Stewart M McDonald MP (SNP)
Stephen Doughty MP (Labour)
Hannah Bardell MP (SNP)
Dan Carden MP (Labour)
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Labour)
Additionally, Dan Carden MP proposed Martin Docherty Hughes MP as a Vice-Chair and David Mundell MP seconded and Martin Docherty Hughes MP was duly elected.
Income and Expenditure Statement
Crispin wanted to thank the Barings Foundation for the support they continue to offer the APPG and also Harry Prance, the coordinator for his hard work, at this time.
The Treasurer, Lord Collins, presented the Income and Expenditure Statement to the APPG, commenting that it is in a stable financial position. The APPG approved the Income and Expenditure Statement.
Chair’s Report
Crispin Blunt offered the report for approval and it was duly approved.
Baroness Barker asked for more to be made of the Parliamentary Liaison Scheme and hoped to see its expansion in future. Baroness Barker also called for recognition that refugees are going to be a central part of the agenda this year and the APPG should be doing more to hold the Government to account in this space.
Crispin Blunt MP agreed and reiterated the need to source appropriate funding to increase the capacity of the APPG.
Stephen Doughty MP asked for an updated list of country allocations within the PLS to be sent to the officers and a special meeting on refugees, to focus particularly on how MPs can help, a practical session offering a toolkit for colleagues on who they should refer people to and what is an appropriate response.
The chair and officers agreed.
Lord Cashman recommended the work of Outright International as useful participants. Also commended the Ministry of Defence’s work with refugees and in particular the work of Baroness Williams.
Stephen Doughty MP also noted the success of the recent GRA Westminster Hall Debate and warned that more may be likely in future.
Lord Cashman also commended the work of Terence Etherton.
Safe to Be Me
Lord Herbert gave an extensive presentation on the Government’s upcoming conference.
Crispin Blunt MP asked if there were any ways to allow trans activists to voice their concerns before the conference.
Lord Herbert emphasised that it is an inclusive conference, and the government has invited several trans groups to lead sessions and fully participate.
Stephen Doughty MP advised talking to HIV organisers about inclusive and respectful ways of managing protest within the conference. Also asked that the First Minister of Wales be invited. And wondered if activists from Ghana, given recent developments will be in attendance. Stephen Doughty MP also asked if all British Overseas Territories will be invited and Lord Herbert confirmed they will. Stephen Doughty MP asked if there will be a section about sport and Lord Herbert confirmed that where there are celebrity champions, they are looking to give them a platform.
Lord Cashman made clear his concerns and the concerns of civil society, that support for the conference may implicitly be support for the Government’s agenda, especially its perceived lukewarm attitude to trans rights, despite the excellent work of Lord Herbert, Iain Anderson, Ian Brady and Minister Mike Freer. Lord Cashman asked how the conference might address these concerns. Lord Cashman also underlined the importance of a greater involvement of women and made a plea that plenaries are co-chaired by men and women.
Lord Herbert responded that the agenda is being determined by civil society co-chairs and agreed that it is essential that the conference has representation from the global south and women. He also reiterated that the conference is about the principles of the conference not the views of the Government.
Lord Collins stated the importance of worker inclusion as well as business and worth remmebering that LGBT+ rights are worker’s rights. He hopes that invites will also be offered to trades union. Lord Herbert agreed.
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP reiterated the importance of diversity in participation and religious voices.
AOB
The meeting was called to a close by Crispin Blunt MP who thanked everyone again for another brilliant year for the APPG.
Annual General Meeting - February 2021
Annual General Meeting
February 24, 2021
5-5.30pm
Online
DRAFT Minutes
Present
Dame Angela Eagle
Lord Gilbert of Panteg
Baroness Barker
Elliot Colburn MP
David Mundell MP
Peter Gibson MP
Nia Griffiths MP
Hannah Bardell MP
Margaret Ferrier MP
Kate Osborne MP
Peter Dowd MP
Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green
Liz Saville-Roberts MP
Simon Baynes MP
Stephen Doughty MP
Stephen Farry MP
Baroness Wilcox of Newport
Lord Herbert of South Downs
Lord Collins of Highbury
Chris Bryant MP
John Nicolson MP
Anna Robinson (APPG LGBT+ Secretariat)
Tarsilo Onuluk (Office of Crispin Blunt MP)
Niamh McCourt (Office of Stephen Farry MP)
Archippus Sturrock (Office of John Nicolson MP)
Helen Belcher (Office of Baroness Barker)
Apologies
Lord McConnell
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
Sarah Champion MP
Election of Officers
Lord Collins asked for nominations for Chair. Crispin Blunt MP was proposed by John Nicolson MP and seconded by Chris Bryant MP, with all present in favour.
Crispin Blunt MP then proposed the creation of a Standing Committee of Officers to meet regularly (at least quarterly) to oversee the APPG’s work programme, finances, and human resources alongside a discussion of the APPG’s response to the issues of the day. The Chair shall be responsible for convening Standing Committee meetings. The Standing Committee shall consist of the Chair, the Deputy Chairs, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.
In addition, the APPG would appoint Vice Chairs, whose responsibility would be to consider occasional requests from the Standing Committee Officers and the APPG staff for advice and assistance. Chris Bryant MP seconded this proposal. All present were in favour of this proposal.
Crispin Blunt MP proposed a block of nominations, seconded by Angela Eagle MP and Lord Cashman, as follows:
Deputy Chairs
Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat)
Dame Angela Eagle MP (Labour)
Elliot Colburn MP (Conservative)
John Nicolson MP (SNP)
Secretary
David Mundell MP (Conservative)
Treasurer
Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour)
Vice-Chairs
Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green (Crossbench)
Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative)
Nia Griffith MP (Labour)
Lord Gilbert of Panteg (Conservative)
Lord Smith of Finsbury (Non-affiliated)
Lord Herbert of South Downs (Conservative)
Peter Gibson MP (Conservative)
Stewart M McDonald MP (SNP)
Stephen Doughty MP (Labour)
Conor Burns MP (Conservative)
Hannah Bardell MP (SNP)
Chris Bryant MP (Labour)
Maria Miller MP (Conservative)
The block nominations were agreed by the APPG with the following alterations: Crispin Blunt MP proposed Lord Cashman as a Vice Chair, seconded by Lord Collins, which was agreed. Nia Griffith MP proposed to replace herself with Baroness Wilcox of Newport as a Vice Chair, seconded by Baroness Barker which was agreed.
Approval of last AGM’s minutes
The minutes of last AGM’s meeting were approved without amendment.
Income and Expenditure Statement
The Treasurer, Lord Collins, presented the Income and Expenditure statement to the APPG, commenting that it is in a stable financial position. The APPG approved the Income and Expenditure Statement.
Chair’s Report
Crispin Blunt MP thanked the APPG’s Coordinator and his Chief of Staff for their hard work over the last year and noted that we were in a position to provide even more information on Global LGBT+ Rights for members with the imminent launch of a weekly newsletter for members and interested parliamentarians which will be provided by PinkNews and overseen by John Nicolson MP. He expressed his hope the APPG would be able to expand its staff capacity.
Crispin Blunt MP updated colleagues on the Parliamentary Liaison Scheme progress. He hopes it will really make a difference for LGBT+ people globally as it gives them a voice and accountability for our Government as well.
Lord Cashman gave thanks to the APPG’s Coordinator and the Chair’s Chief of Staff and thanked the Chair for steering the APPG through a difficult year and endorsed the Chair’s report.
Crispin Blunt MP expressed disappointment in the Government’s failure to reform the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and noted that, while the APPG was set up to focus on international issues, it is the only LGBT+ APPG in the Parliament. He noted that the UK’s Equal Rights Coalition co-chair, Argentina, had introduced a progressive gender recognition law in 2012.
Crispin Blunt MP welcomed the APPG’s former Chair, the Lord Herbert of South Downs, congratulated him on his work with the Global Equality Caucus, and welcomed the Government conference which he will chair.
Lord Herbert shared that the conference has been postponed and discussions about rescheduling it are ongoing, and hoped that the APPG will play a role, along with parliamentarians from around the world. Crispin Blunt MP commented that would be good to be do alongside London Pride in 2022.
Vice Chair’s Report
Crispin Blunt MP handed over to Baroness Barker to give an overview of the domestic situation but had to give her apologies and left the meeting as she was required in the set-up of the following event with Queer Britain and History of Parliament Trust. Crispin Blunt MP thanked Baroness Barker and her staff for all her hard work on UK LGBT+ equality.
Angela Eagle MP raised the importance of making progress on advancing trans equality and of protecting trans people from ignorance and prejudice of a kind that is familiar for those who were around in the 1980s.
Angela Eagle MP, Lord Cashman, Lord Collins and Crispin Blunt MP emphasised the importance of working cross-party to advance equality for all.
The meeting was ended by Crispin Blunt MP who invited all to join the event following the meeting with the History of Parliament Trust and Queer Britain: Chris Bryant MP in conversation with Baroness Barker.
Inaugural Meeting - January 15, 2020
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT+ Rights
Inaugural Meeting
January 15, 2020
4pm - 5pm
Committee Room 6
Minutes
Welcome, introductions & apologies
Present
Crispin Blunt MP
Baroness Barker
Lord Collins
Lord Cashman
Stewart McDonald MP
Baroness Tonge
Nia Griffith MP
Elliot Colburn MP
Lord Lucas
Stephen Doughty MP
Mark Menzies MP
Lord Black
Angela Crawley MP
Christina Rees MP
Peter Gibson MP
Rob Butler MP
Kate Osborne MP
John Nicolson MP
Kieran Mullan MP
Baroness Howe
Nigel Evans MP
Nick Herbert
Andrew Slinn
Tarsilo Onuluk (Researcher for Crispin Blunt MP)
Archippus Sturrock (Researcher for John Nicolson MP)
Anna Robinson (APPG Secretariat)
Apologies for absence
Peter Kyle MP
Caroline Lucas MP
Rt Hon David Mundell MP
Daniel Kawczynski MP
Lord Scriven
Alyn Smith MP
Baroness Goudie
Sarah Champion MP
Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
Kirsten Oswald MP
Wendy Chamberlain MP
AGM Business
Crispin Blunt, Secretary of the APPG in the last Parliament, was elected Chair. Baroness Barker (Vice-Chair), Lord Collins (Treasurer), Lord Cashman (Vice-Chair), Stewart McDonald MP (Vice-Chair) and Peter Kyle MP (Vice-Chair, not present) were all re-elected as Officers.
Discussion of proposed strategy and approach for 2019 Parliament (see attached)
CB outlined the new proposed strategy and approach for the 2019 Parliament, thanking NH for his previous work as chair of the APPG, and for securing a Researcher and Coordinator for the Group. CB outlined the five workstreams proposed.
MC expressed his approval for the proposed organisation of work, noting how he had met the organisation Open for Business earlier that day, who make economic case for equality and have published a report on economic inequality and religion. MC stated post-Brexit, it is a good opportunity to collaborate with OFB and produce some policy recommendations for the UK. MC also noted it was important to draw our attention to the Equal Rights Coalition and the upcoming international conference.
RC highlighted the importance of working with civil society, including faith groups and trade unions, using as an example the success of working with TCEN during the last CHOGM, and hosting a trade union event on LGBT+ rights. RC stressed the importance of reaching out to civil society. CB agreed and stressed the APPG intended to be part of international and national networks and actors working on LGBT+.
GB emphasised that point four from the strategy - criminalisation and human rights - is tied up with spread of HIV, and thus we need to address HIV as well. SD agreed with GB, adding it is useful to work with other APPGs - including geographic groups, such as Poland. Group agreed to add “including APPGs” to wording of points 3 and 4.
Discussion on APPG’s Workplan:
Appointment of Officer leads on proposed organisational objectives
JN agreed to take the lead on point 1, with his background in journalism. SD agreed to take the lead on point 2, in collaboration with PK and GB. MC reminded the group to consider gender balance in the distribution of tasks. LB agreed to lead on point 3, noting the primary objective is to cut down the amount of time communicating and to work smarter and more efficiently together. RC, along with CB, agree to take point 4. MC, CB and PG agree to work collectively on point 5, with MC noting it’s important to widen the pool of donors.
CB invited NH to give an overview of the Global Equality Caucus (GEC). NH explained how the GEC was launched in June 2019 at UN as in some sense a global version of the APPG, with the goal to mobilise collectively to promote LGBT+ rights globally and link parliamentarians across the world. NH informed the members of the APPG that there are planned regional launches for Europe, Africa, and Latin America. NH also addressed the UK taking the co-chairship of the Equal Rights Coalition and the upcoming ERC international conference in London. As the UK is the host country for the conference, NH suggested organising a dinner in the Lords Dining Room for the visiting international parliamentarians, and to organise side meetings for the parliamentarians. CB agrees this is a good idea and encouraged colleagues to attend the conference. LB suggested that the APPG meets in early February with the responsible civil servants in the FCO and GEO.
CB raised the opportunity to engage with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on bilateral delegations as part of point 4, sharing a roster of upcoming delegation visits. CB recommended engaging with the visits because of the importance of discussing LGBT+ rights with fellow parliamentarians on a global level, and the importance of helping make connections between local organisations and their parliamentarians.
JN shared his experience of being part of such delegations, encouraging members to engage with fellow parliamentarians both in the UK and when they are travelling abroad. MC noted that when parliamentarians travel they have the chance to support the activists as conduit to their national parliamentarians.
CB also encouraged APPG members to do this through the country APPGs as well as it carries much importance for the activists in the countries.
SM mentioned his connection with Ukraine and his special relationship with Ukrainian human rights defenders. He went to a Kyiv Pride, where many international politicians go. He suggested that more politicians organise going to prides around the world.
LB agreed, mentioning how she was in contact with the EBPO. She shared how she got tear gassed in Baltic Pride and how international parliamentarians can act as human shields for people who live there. She added that visibility is very important, for example wearing pride symbols when talking to Ministers in hostile countries, with MC agreeing.
CB mentioned there is funding available to do this and encourages members to bid for it through the appropriate channels.
Suggestions for potential media or news partners to assist with work item No. 1
JN agreed to discuss this in depth with the Secretariat.
Consideration of previously proposed (2019) Terms of Reference for Inquiry on LGBT+ Equality and Freedom of Religion and Belief (attached)
Those present agreed to approve the ToR, with the caveat from LB to ensure we set up an advisory committee of 4 or 5 people from different faiths to help guide the inquiry. CB suggested Jayne Ozanne as one possible member.
The group agreed to take KM’s suggestion to remove “freedom of religion or belief” from the title and replace with “interface between LGBT+ rights and religion” as FORB which is a separate agenda and thus it can be a misleading title.
JT added that the APPG on Population, Development and Reproductive Health is about to undertake a similar inquiry and it would be good to be in close communication as both inquiries move forward.
Any other business
None was raised.
Date of next meeting
Suggested Before February recess - proposed time 4pm on Tuesday 11 February, to be confirmed.
Annual General Meeting – 9 January 2019, 11.30am - Room P, Portcullis House
Details of AGM were submitted to All Party Notice on 26 November 2018, and included in the APN from 13 December. They were also posted on the APPG website frontpage (www.appglgbt.org) from 13 December.
ATTENDEES
Parliamentarians: Nick Herbert MP, Crispin Blunt MP, Lord Cashman, Baroness Barker, Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Lord Collins.
Parliamentary staff: Alexander Black and Christopher Howarth (Nick Herbert).
Civil society: Andrew Slinn (Project for Modern Democracy), Paul Dillane (UK Alliance for Global Equality / Kaleidoscope Trust), Claire House (Stonewall), Claire Fletcher (UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group), Alistair Stewart (Human Dignity Trust), Jenny Vaughn (StopAIDS), Ross Reeves (AIDS Alliance).
Apologies: Stewart McDonald MP, Peter Kyle MP.
MINUTES
Required administrative items for reporting deadline:
1. Quorum: Meeting was confirmed as quorate with the attendance of: Nick Herbert MP, Crispin Blunt MP, Lord Cashman, Baroness Barker, Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Lord Collins.
2. Officers: It was agreed to re-elect all existing officers to continue in their previous positions, and additionally to elect Peter Kyle as Vice-Chair.
Chair – Nick Herbert MP
Vice Chairs – Baroness Barker, Lord Cashman, Peter Kyle MP, Stewart McDonald MP
Secretary – Crispin Blunt MP
Treasurer – Lord Collins
3. Funding/expenditure statement: It was agreed that since the benefit-in-kind funding from the Baring Foundation (for the Kaleidoscope Trust to host the APPG’s administrator) was to begin from 4 February 2019, then the funding would be registered at the end of the next reporting period.
APPG 2019 activity items:
1. New administrator: The APPG was updated by Paul Dillane (Kaleidoscope Trust) about the selection and employment conditions of the incoming administrator, Anna Robinson, who starts on 4 February 2019. The position is funded by a grant from the Baring Foundation for £40,000 over two years, and when advertised received over 40 applications. Nick Herbert will undertake to update the Baring Foundation at a meeting later in January. It was agreed that as Chair, Nick Herbert was to be her immediate line manager to set work directives, with Kaleidoscope Trust as responsible for legal employment issues. It was also agreed that Anna would work for the APPG as a whole, being available to all Officers and Members, and would operate a network of key staff contacts in each Officer’s office to coordinate APPG campaigns.
2. Proactive campaigns: A wide-ranging discussion was held on the future work programme for the APPG’s proactive campaigns and the following broad areas were agreed upon.
· Equal Rights Coalition related lobbying: to lobby the Government to resource sufficiently its ERC ambitions once the UK takes joint chairmanship in June 2019; to marshal diplomatic support in the UN for the continuation of the Independent Expert on SOGI ahead of the vote in June.
· Religion enquiry: to use the APPG’s new administrative capacity to press ahead by conducting and publishing a thorough review into the interaction between global LGBT Rights and faith, by holding evidence sessions with religious leaders from across the spectrum. It was agreed that once in post, Anna would draw up an outline and roadmap for the project, into which Officers would then feed suggestions. It was generally agreed that the focus should be informed by asking LGBT people of different faith groups for their experiences and priorities.
· Gender Recognition Act reform: to remain engaged and to support the reform case where effective, while recognising that other groups were leading on the issue.
· Commonwealth follow-up: to ensure that the Government keeps commitments made at CHOGM 2018.
· LGBT Action Plan follow-up: to hold the Government to account in meeting the stated objectives in the LGBT Action Plan, and to highlight areas for improvement where it does not meet the APPG’s 2015 report. Lords APPG members are to lobby Lord Ahmad and Commons APPG members are to lobby Penny Mordaunt.
· IDAHOT debate: to hold another debate on LGBT rights around the time of IDAHOT (17 May). It was agreed that these set-piece events are useful as an annual show-of-force but that they must not replace the ongoing lower-profile pressures of questions and ministerial meetings.
3. Reactive monitoring: It was agreed to monitor particular hotspots globally including Chechnya and Tanzania, while recognising the APPG’s reliance on INGO reports and approaches to do so. Brazil was raised as a particular concern by Claire House (Stonewall) and it was agreed that the APPG would take a close interest in developments over 2019.
4. International LGBTI Equality Caucus (ILEC): APPG Chair, Nick Herbert updated the APPG on plans for the new ILEC which will launch later this year and hold a conference alongside the UK Government’s 2020 ERC conference in London.
Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 13 September 2017
Officers
Nick Herbert MP was re-elected Chair. Lord (Michael) Cashman, Baroness (Liz) Barker and Stewart McDonald MP were re-elected Vice-Chairs. Lord (Ray) Collins of Highbury was re-elected Treasurer, and Crispin Blunt MP was elected Secretary in place of Ben Howlett who lost his seat in the 2017 General Election. Caroline Lucas MP wished to resign as an officer of the APPG but retain her membership.
Areas of focus
The APPG agreed the following areas of focus in the year ahead:
· Religion and LGBT rights, taking forward the inquiry agreed at the previous AGM.
· The Commonwealth Summit in April 2018.
· Highlighting current abuses of LGBT rights, eg. in Chechnya.
· LGBT asylum seekers, following up the report (No Safe Refuge) by Stonewall and the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG).
Support
The APPG will continue to work closely with LGBT NGOs and particularly the UK Alliance for Global Equality (https://ukallianceforglobalequality.org.uk) which co-ordinates them. Officers are currently discussing with the UK Alliance and others the policy and administrative support needed to enable the APPG to be effective.
Future events
· Lord Ahmad (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/lord-ahmad-of-wimbledon), Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, has been invited to meet the APPG to discuss current issues of concern and the forthcoming Commonwealth Summit. A date is being arranged and members will be notified.
· On Tuesday 31 October the APPG LGBT will be holding a meeting with Charles Radcliffe, Chief of Equality & Non-Discrimination in the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBT.aspx). Charles will be discussing the UN’s recently launched ‘Standards of Conduct for Business on Tackling Discrimination against LGBTI People’ (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57755#.Wd6A7UyZO1s).
· In the New Year the APPG will hold a reception focusing on businesses and the forthcoming Commonwealth Summit. A date is being arranged and members will be notified.
APPG for Global LGBT Rights AGM – 22 November 2016, 1100, Committee Room 7, House of Commons
Attendees: Nick Herbert MP, Baroness Barker, Lord Cashman, Lord Collins, Caroline Lucas MP, Ben Howlett MP, Crispin Blunt MP, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Paul Twocock (Stonewall).
Apologies: Lord Cooper, Baroness Featherstone, Mike Freer MP, Stewart McDonald MP, Baroness Gouldie, Lord Hayward, Baroness Masham, Maria Miller MP, John Nicholson MP, Lord Smith
The meeting opened with a brief address from Baroness Anelay, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN who updated the APPG on the work of the Government to promote LGBT rights globally, the Government’s response to the recent APPG report, and Government activity in relation to the UN vote on the Independent Expert for the LGBT Community.
The AGM then moved to items of business.
1) Election of Officers – all officers were re-elected with thanks.
2) APPG Secretariat – Paul Twocock from the newly formed UK Alliance for Global Equality presented a proposal to create a new full-time role providing secretariat support to both the Alliance and the APPG. This was agreed to in principle by the APPG and Twocock committed to developing a JD and funding bid for the new position by Christmas 2016.
3) Future Work Programme – a wide ranging discussion was held on the work programme for the APPG over the next year and the following broad areas were agreed upon.
· Report Follow-up – activity centred on further promoting and advocating the 2016 APPG report. It was agreed that the APPG would write to the PM about the report (Nick Herbert to do), and put in for a Backbench Business debate on it early in 2017 (Ben Howlett to do).
· Role Religion and Faith plays in Global LGBT Rights – an inquiry into the role that religious and faith organisations play globally in both discouraging and promoting LGBT rights. This could be major programme of work with the potential to tie in with the work of the US Congressional Equality Caucus and other similar international organisations, as well as holding an evidence session with religious leaders from across the spectrum.
· LGBT Asylum Seekers – a campaign building on the recent Stonewall/UKLGIG report to lobby the Home Office for better treatment of LGBT asylum seekers in UK detention centres.
· CHOGM/Commonwealth - a campaign focused on promoting LGBT rights in the Commonwealth in the lead-in to the CHOGM meeting due to be held in the UK in early 2018.