Council apologise for ‘hurt caused’ to LGBTQ+ community

FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council (FODC) has ‘apologised’ for any hurt caused by a statement issued by the council following the recent Supreme Court’s ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex.

The landmark ruling, which applies to the Equality Act 2010, is expected to have implications for single-sex spaces, such as toilets, changing rooms and refuge centres.

Following the ruling, the BBC’s Nolan Show contacted councils in the North to ask for their reaction to the controversial ruling.

The FODC issued a statement to the Nolan Show on April 25 which stated: “The Council will be developing new guidance for the use of changing rooms at leisure facilities and toilets further to the Supreme Court ruling. It is understood that the Equality Commission NI intends to issue written guidance on this matter, and the Council will be cognisant of this.”

The council statement was criticised by the Omagh Pride, some of whose members staged a protest this evening outside a council meeting at Enniskillen Town Hall.

At the meeting, the Chief Executive of the Council, Alison McCullagh, said the council would like to ‘formally apologise’ for any hurt caused by the reporting of the statement and added that the council had not made any formal decisions in regard to changes to policy and that policies are in review.

The Chief Executive told the chamber: “We received a media enquiry which we responded to, and I would like to formally apologise for any hurt or stress that was caused by the reporting of that response, and I would like to clarify that firstly there has been no decision made by council.

“Our policies are as they always were. We are reviewing our policies in the context of the Supreme Court’s judgement but within the guidance from the Equality Commission’s guidelines, which we understand will be forthcoming in June.”

Also speaking on the statement was the council’s diversity officer, councillor Noeleen Hayes, who reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the council’s equality and diversity policy, which she described as ‘completely inclusive’.

She also said she ‘deeply regretted’ any hurt caused to the LGBTQ+ community and their families by the reporting of the statement.