Inclusivity may fall at the altar of intolerance

The States agreed in the summer of 2020 to introduce legislation to defend people being discriminated against for their race, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and anyone who provides care or support for a person with a disability. It will be illegal to discriminate in employment, when people are accessing goods and services, education, accommodation and clubs.

But even before acceptance by the States, the process has been mired in controversy, around proportionality and also Guernsey’s traditional right and ability to ‘do things differently’.

Employment & Social Security must be frustrated that, having been pushed towards addressing religion and sexual orientation before it had intended to do so by an amendment, what has emerged as a highly controversial element of the religion element of the legislation is once again leading to vocalised opposition to the whole anti-discrimination law.

It is possible that a previous ESS committee and its supporters and collaborators on the development of the law might accept that it could have done things differently from day one.

Its approach to its original consultation was widely seen as too extreme – but changes introduced since then appear to have taken the proposals to a much more acceptable place. Except to those who seem not to want to move along with it.

Yes, deputies said yesterday that they wanted anti-discrimination laws. But some appear more enthusiastic than others.

More than a year since the States debate, more than two years since the consultation was ongoing, some still talk about additional cost implications and ‘gold-plated’ proposals which are seen as unnecessary and will lead to islanders ‘taking advantage’.

Are some now seeing only what they want to see? Now, sadly, inclusivity in its broadest form appears to be on the verge of falling at the altar of dogma and intolerance.