A coalition of LGBT campaigners has tried to revoke an equality rights group’s independent status – but has been told “you have the wrong target”.

Twenty LGBT organisations, including Stonewall, claim the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is working to remove legal protections for trans people.

They have presented a 19-page submission to the UN asking for the independent status of the body to be reviewed.

But EHRC chief executive Marcial Boo said: “Stonewall and other critics are aiming at the wrong target.”

The LGBT groups criticised the EHRC’s recent intervention in the Scottish government’s bid to reform the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) and its response to the consultation on banning conversion therapy in England and Wales.

Scottish government ministers have tabled proposals to make it easier for people to change their legally recognised gender, with a Bill expected at Holyrood this year.

But the EHRC had recommended “further consideration is needed before any change to the law should be made”.

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And in its response to the conversion therapy consultation, it recommended that legislation should initially focus on sexual orientation, and rules on transgender conversion therapy should follow “once more detailed and evidence-based proposals are available which can be properly scrutinised”.

The groups maintained the EHRC statements “not only reverse their long-held positions but are in stark contrast to international human rights standards”.

It went on: “The EHRC’s stance seeks to strip trans people of legal protections and pose a grave threat to the ability of trans people to participate in daily life with dignity and respect.”

‘Deeply troubled’

But EHRC chief executive Mr Boo disagreed.

He said: “The EHRC has the power to prosecute people and companies that discriminate against trans people. We have done so.

“Instead of criticising the statutory regulator that exists to protect the rights of everyone in Britain, campaign groups should work with us to identify discrimination against LGBT people so we can take action together to stop it.”

Stonewall, a leading LGBT group which is a signatory on the submission to the UN, said the EHRC statement was an attack on trans equality and said it is “deeply troubled” by the approach the group is taking to trans people’s human rights.

Read more: New UK special envoy on LGBT+ rights admits worries of ‘culture war’ over trans rights

“The EHRC is calling for further delays to legislation that our communities have been waiting on for many years,” a Stonewall spokesperson said, insisting that the Scottish government has given “ample opportunity for consultation”.

Stonewall claimed the EHRC’s comments “undermine the EHRC’s core purpose of regulating, promoting and upholding human rights”.

‘Politically motivated’ attack

The UN submission goes on to accuse the EHRC of lacking independence from the UK government, which it says influences appointments on the body and has politicised its positions.

Without the status, organisations cannot participate at the UN Human Rights Council.

The Equality Network, a prominent LGBT charity in Scotland, echoed Stonewall’s comments, with director Tim Hopkins claiming the EHRC board is “directly appointed” by the UK government and is “failing to stand up for equality for trans people”.

Mr Hopkins added: “We do not need UK government appointees telling us in Scotland how to legislate in devolved areas, and we look forward to the Scottish government proceeding with this legislation soon.”

However, Joanna Cherry, SNP MP and deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), said there seems to have been a “politically motivated” attack on the EHRC.

She tweeted: “It’s coming from those with an agenda to undermine the rights of women & the same sex attracted under the #EqualityAct. #HumanRights are universal.”

The LGB Alliance also said there had been a “regrettable and sustained attack” on the commission’s work in recent days and it is being “smeared for taking a balanced perspective on conflicting rights”.

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