AN equality and diversity champion has urged the new Council of Ministers to continue work to enshrine the rights of same-sex parents in law.
Kaye Nicholson, who was recently announced as the new chief executive designate of Liberate Jersey, is the subject of today’s Saturday Interview on pages 10 and 11.
In April, she is due to take over from current chief executive Vic Tanner Davy.
One of her priorities, she added, was bringing forward hate-crime legislation in Jersey – which would result in longer sentences for crimes with a hate element.
Speaking to the JEP following the vote of no confidence in Chief Minister Kristina Moore, which could see the entire Council of Ministers reshuffled, Ms Nicholson said: “I’m hoping that whomever forms the new government will keep diversity and inclusion as a priority and look to take forward the work which has already been prepared.”
Current Assistant Children’s and Education Minister Louise Doublet recently lodged a draft law to enshrine the rights of same-sex parents after years of development and consultation.
If the law passes, it would make Jersey the first Channel Island to have these protections for same-sex parents in place.
Ms Nicholson, a gay woman who has a young son, said: “This legislation is very, very needed. It’s taken a long time, as these things do, because it’s a complex piece of legislation, but it’s vital for families like mine and for my child to have the same rights as other children without the extra step of having to go to court and apply for a parental order.
“It ensures that the process to register your child is the same whatever your sexuality is, whatever your family make-up is.
“I cannot understate how important it is for my son to see both of his parents on his birth certificate.
“I’m very pleased and hopeful that it will go through the Assembly this year and come into force.”
Another of her priorities is a much-awaited hate-crime law, which would bring legislation into line with the UK.
Last year, this legislative gap was brought into sharp focus following a recent homophobic attack in town.
During Royal Court sentencing of Marcin Skalimowski – who assaulted a drinker in a town bar and returned to confront him with a deactivated AK-47 assault rifle and bayonet – the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq said the crime contained ‘a significant element of homophobia’.
Mr Tanner Davy said at the time that Jersey has been “waiting for a hate-crime law for five years”.
In England and Wales, an offence can be prosecuted as a hate crime if the offender has demonstrated hostility, or been motivated by hostility, based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and/or transgender identity. This categorisation can lead to higher sentences.
There are no such offences in Jersey, and defendants are therefore charged with assault.
Ms Nicholson said: “That’s something that I’m very interested in. It’s on my radar. I’ve experienced various types of harassment myself and I think it’s very important that we have that legislation and protections in place, and that there is awareness that those kinds of things are not acceptable.”
