LGBT+

Equalities update: consultation on updated NHS constitution reinforcing commitment to “single-sex” wards

The Department of Health and Social Care is currently consulting on proposed changes to the NHS Constitution (“the Constitution”) as part of a 10 year review process set out in the Health Act 2009. The constitution was last updated in 2015. The consultation will run for 8 weeks and closes on 25 June 2024. The …
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Bates Wells’ LGBT+ history month roundup 2024

This February, we joined in the UK’s celebration of LGBT+ history month. History month is an opportunity for us to reflect, and to take steps to continue to build inclusion for our people. It also enables us to look outwards, to our work with clients and with the wider legal and professional community. This LGBT+ …
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Department for Education guidance on “gender questioning children”: call for responses

The Department for Education (DfE) is inviting responses to its long awaited draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England on “gender questioning children”. It states that the term transgender is not being used to describe children because under English law, children cannot obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate and therefore cannot change their legal …
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UKVI refuses to commit to closing loophole for transgender individuals in right-to-work checks guidance

Employers are required to carry out right to work checks for any new employee or for an existing employee on a time bound visa. UKVI’s current guidance is clear on how right to work checks are to be carried out – but the guidance currently does not address how transgender individuals can adequately address discrepancies …
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Bates Wells’ LGBT+ history month roundup

At Bates Wells we see it as vital to promote the work of our LGBT+ people as well as acting as an institutional ally. This LGBT+ history month, we focussed on: Claiming the past – we secured charitable status for London Gay Switchboard in 1974, and we’ve been addressing challenges in the LGBT+ community since. …
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LGBT+ inclusion: Reviewing the current legal landscape

Issues around LGBT+ inclusion have become contentious and can often be confusing. To help you, Mindy Jhittay and Tim Barnden have put together a list of recent Employment Tribunal cases relating to the UK workplace, membership organisations and service providers to explain the implications for LGBT+ inclusion. If you would like to know more on …
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Creating impact: Bates Wells recognised by The Times Best Law Firms 2023

We’ve been commended by The Times Best Law Firms 2023 for our work for charities, employment and immigration. Key highlights included the ground-breaking Butler Sloss judgment and Erica Crump and Molly Carew-Jones’ work on the repatriation of the Horniman’s Benin Bronzes. The article also flagged our immigration team’s lobbying efforts in the wake of the crises …
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