Rainbow Labour is urging Parliament to support transgender MP Georgina Beyer's gender identity legislation, and to continue to campaign globally for LGBT rights, as they mark the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO). Rainbow Labour – the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender arm of the Labour Party, is also welcoming new government funding aimed at tackling bullying in schools. According to Rainbow Labour National Secretary Judie Alison, “name calling and abuse of young people for being, or appearing, different is one of the main manifestations of school bullying. Ensuring that our schools recognise and address homophobia will help to maintain and foster a positive environment in schools. This must be an integral part of any anti-bullying measures.” Rainbow Labour is also urging Parliament to support Labour MP Georgina Beyer's proposed Gender Identity Bill, which enshrines legal protection against discrimination in the provision of goods and services, employment or housing for transgender people. “The rights to work and to shelter are fundamental ones,” says Alison. “People should not be deprived of them on the basis of prejudice of an employer or a landlord. If there is any legal doubt that this is not the case, then Parliament should act to remove it…” The group applauds the Labour-led government for it's 2005 statement to the United Nations urging the inclusion of ‘sexual orientation' as a “status protected against discrimination.” But Alison emphasises, “this work must continue.” “Too many nations maintain discriminatory laws causing great harm to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Even in parts of our own… neighbourhood – the Pacific – these laws make life miserable for the people affected by them. In Fiji, for example, there is evidence that although the courts have declared anti-gay legislation to be of no effect, the authorities plan – unconstitutionally – to continue to enforce it.” To mark IDAHO, public activities and demonstrations will be taking place in at least 34 countries today, including the official recognition of IDAHO by the European Parliament, which recently issued a resolution condemning homophobia. Ref: Rainbow Labour (d)