LGBT Charter of Rights

The list of rights included in the LGBT Charter of Rights are currently undergoing consultation with LGBT young people and LGBT adults to ensure that the LGBT Charter of Rights accurately incorporates the needs of LGBT people and makes the voices of LGBT people heard.

To make the LGBT Charter of Rights as inclusive for everyone as possible we need your help. Please take a look at the current rights listed and please feel free to contact me at info@lgbtyouth.org.uk with any suggestions, comments or recommendations that you may have.

Your opinion counts. Make your voice heard.

You have the right to be yourself

• We (the LGBT people of Scotland and the organisation which displays this Charter) believe that LGBT people have the right to express themselves in their own way and forge their own identity
• We will support LGBT people coming out and their individuality will be respected
• We recognise that sexual orientation/gender identity are only one part of an LGBT person’s life, we will challenge negative stereotypes and strive to promote a positive image of LGBT people within our organisation
• We will value LGBT people as equal citizens of Scotland, putting policies in place where appropriate to support their equality

You have the right to support by local Government, Scottish Government and Westminster

• We believe that the government has a duty to ensure that LGBT people can access all of their rights. The law should protect LGBT people and ensure that they are treated equally and with dignity
• We will stand up for LGBT rights and will speak out when appropriate against any law which unfairly discriminates against LGBT people

You have the right to be heard

• We will find ways to ensure that LGBT people’s voices can be heard within our organisation and represented at any level
• LGBT people’s views are important to us and will be respected and valued. We will listen to the needs of LGBT people and will create opportunities which are relevant to them

You have the right to be looked after

• We believe that LGBT people are entitled to the best possible care and good standard of living
• We will support LGBT young  people to live with their parents where this is beneficial to their health and wellbeing and we will support them to have their say in the care that is given to them
• We will ensure that LGBT people get the best possible care in care or residential homes in old age and to have their say in the care that is given to them

You have the right to be healthy

• We believe that LGBT people should be given the best healthcare possible and we will train our staff to be aware of their needs
• We believe that LGBT people are entitled to equal access in healthcare including the potential for gay and bisexual men to give blood, and the rights of lesbian women (and pre-op transgender men) to have smear tests
• We will empower LGBT people to access tools to look after their own health
• We recognise that homophobia and heterosexism can seriously damage the health of LGBT people

You have the right to be kept from harm

• We believe that LGBT people (and their families) have the right to be protected from violence, homophobic hate crimes, bullying, physical attacks and domestic abuse
• We will put procedures in place to make sure that homophobic violence, intimidation and domestic abuse are not tolerated within our organisation

You have the right to education

• We believe that places of learning should recognise and value diversity and support both staff and students to come out LGBT people will be able to easily access information and an education which furthers their knowledge and develops their abilities
• We will strive to be an organisation which allows LGBT people to learn in a safe and supportive environment

You will have the right to privacy

• We believe that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is their own business and we will not share this information with third parties without prior consent

You have the right to form relationships and have a family

• We will celebrate and support LGBT relationships, provided that they are free from abuse
• We will support LGBT young people to decide their own friendships and spend time around people they feel comfortable with, in an environment they feel comfortable in
• We will celebrate and support LGBT parents and ensure that their rights to be a parent are upheld

You have the right to housing

• We will implement policies and procedures to protect LGBT people from harassment in their homes from neighbours or in their neighbourhoods
• We will reach out to LGBT people and ensure that they are aware of their rights and support services available 
• We will listen to LGBT people and respect their housing needs
• We will ensure that housing staff are aware and sensitive to the issues facing LGBT people