Strengthen understanding of the human rights of LGBTQ+ people

Age Cymru was funded from January to July 2022 to deliver a human rights project in partnership with the Welsh Government.

The purpose of this project was to raise awareness of human rights, and to engage with older people across Wales. This was to embed the message that older people are citizens and participants in society, who should expect to have their human rights upheld. This included a human rights toolkit and a video which covers the experiences of older transgender people, especially those in healthcare and social care settings.

Ban all aspects of LGBTQ+ Conversion Practices

We established a Working Group on Banning Conversion Practices. The Group advised on proposed actions to ban conversion practices in Wales. This included a research project, an awareness campaign, and support services for survivors.

We have worked with Galop to develop new bilingual support services for survivors of conversion practices in Wales.

We have commissioned research on the experiences of survivors of conversion practices in Wales, which started in May 2023.

Homelessness services are inclusive of the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people

Tŷ Pride is a project funded through the Welsh Government Innovation fund. It's staffed 24 hours a day and supports the LGBTQ+ young people community who were experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. This is in partnership with Denbighshire County Council, Viva LGBTQ+, and Llamau.

In September 2023, the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership visited the Tŷ Pride project in Rhyl. It supports LGBTQ+ young people who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Provide national trans guidance for schools and local authorities

To inform policy development the Welsh Government has established external groups to provide information and to enable the consideration of a range of views. We are also undertaking a wider programme of stakeholder engagement; some stakeholder organisations attend with observer status. There will be a full public consultation during the 2023 to 2024 academic year. The outcome of this will be published in 2024.

Support the family lives of LGBTQ+ people

Our bilingual Parenting. Give it Time website includes links to trusted organisations. It offers support for parents from LGBTQ+ communities, or whose children are LGBTQ+, or are in the process of transitioning. The website also provides support to parents and carers requiring additional help.

Good practice in human rights policymaking

In April, the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership and LGBTQ+ policy officials met with the United Nations and their Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Following their visit, they recognised the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales in their end of mission statement as:

"An example of good practice in human rights policymaking."

Ensuring transparency and accountability during the implementation of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales.

In June 2023, we published our LGBTQ+ Action Plan tracker, so that anyone in Wales can monitor updates and progress against each action and activity in the Plan.

We have also started work to produce an Evaluability Assessment Framework, to measure the impact and success of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan.

An LGBTQ+ Internal Accountability Group has been established to ensure we build a coherent approach across policy areas.

We are also setting up an LGBTQ+ Advisory Group, bringing together the voices of LGBTQ+ communities and organisations.