Wales Green Party have set up a dedicated group to advance the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex & Queer (LGBTIQ) people. ‘Welsh Green Pride’ will be launching their manifesto at Pride Cymru in Cardiff and will be joined by world-renowned gay rights activist and human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell.
Tatchell commented: "I commend the LGBTIQ manifesto of the Wales Green Party. It offers inspiring, far-reaching policies on education, criminal convictions, the blood ban, trans issues and mental health. Yet again, the Greens are leading the way on policies for LGBTIQ equality and human rights. Bravo!"
Welsh Green Pride will also be joined at the launch by Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party Leader; Anthony Slaughter, Wales Green Party Deputy Leader and Amelia Womack and Shahrar Ali, England and Wales Green Party Deputy Leaders.
Adam Smith, who initiated Welsh Green Pride said: “We have been overwhelmed by support from both within and outside the LGBTIQ+ community, proving that Wales Green Party will fight for equality for all. Our manifesto launch will be a momentous occasion and one we will be celebrating with pride.”
Welsh Green Pride are campaigning on the discriminatory blood ban that is affecting gay men and women with bisexual partners, and against the nuclear plant in North Wales and fracking in Wales. Welsh Green Pride will be working on a number of equality issues over the coming months, including pension rights.
Pippa Bartolotti, Wales Green Party leader said: “We have a lively and active LGBTIQ+ community within the Wales Green Party, and Greens from across Wales will be marching in solidarity at Pride Cymru for full equality for gay couples under the law.
“We have much further to go if gay married couples are to be treated with true equality. I am particularly concerned that pension rights upon death are still very discriminatory, with gay spouses often getting only a tiny fraction of the pension a heterosexual couple would get. This is exceedingly unfair. Gay couples pay into their pensions just like the rest of us. Their benefits upon death of a spouse should also be exactly the same”