Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed news from the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service men in a same-sex relationship will soon be able to donate blood here. Changes to the donor eligibility rules are being implemented over the summer and will mean anyone who has had the same sexual partner for more than […]
Politicians have a duty to stand up for the inclusion of minorities, Alliance West Tyrone representative Councillor Stephen Donnelly has said, after a local DUP MLA shared “malicious anti-LGBT propaganda” on social media. DUP West Tyrone MLA Tom Buchanan shared the post from a woman who claimed she was gay until she became a Christian. […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has called for improved healthcare services for transgender and non-binary people and has urged the Health Minister to address the underfunding of Northern Ireland’s Regional Gender Identity Service. The South Belfast MLA’s comments come on International Transgender Day of Visibility, which falls annually on March 31. “On Transgender Day […]
Alliance representatives have welcomed a move from Health Minister Robin Swann to remove a three-month ban on men who have sex with men from donating blood. The recommendations by the For the Assessment of Individualised Risk (FAIR) group would see a move from the current population-based risk assessment, with men who have sex with men […]
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw has paid tribute to the volunteers and organisations providing support to the trans community, as Trans Awareness Week takes place. The week, which ends with Trans Day of Remembrance on Friday (November 20), encourages people to do stuff to mark and raise awareness of trans equality. “Trans Awareness Week provides an […]
It is disappointing legislation to ban so-called gay conversion therapy is unlikely to come before the Assembly in this mandate, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. The North Down MLA has received correspondence from Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who is taking forward the matter as part of the Executive’s Sexual Orientation Strategy. However, she […]
Alliance Councillor Eóin Tennyson has said it is time that the UK Government lived up to its commitments outlined in the 2018 LGBT Action Plan, by banning so-called ‘conversion’ or ‘reparative’ therapies which seek to change a person’s sexual orientation or suppress their gender identity. Councillor Tennyson said, “It’s been over two years since the […]
Today is another major step on the road to equality, Alliance MLA John Blair has said, after the UK Government laid regulations in Parliament allowing for religious equal marriage to come into effect in Northern Ireland from September 1. The regulations will bring similar rights and protections as seen in England and Wales, including no […]
Alliance MP Stephen Farry has expressed concern over reports the UK Government is due to scrap plans to allow people to change their legal gender by self-identifying as male or female. Media reports suggested Equalities Minister Liz Truss was ready to sign-off on the plans, which reverse measures by the previous Conservative Government allowing people […]
Alliance Leader Naomi Long has offered congratulations to the first same-sex couple to be married in Northern Ireland. Mrs Long said: “I would offer sincere congratulations to Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peoples as they start their new life together as a married couple. “This day has been a long time coming and is as […]