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Updates have been provided to Senedd in the form of Oral and Written Statements from 2022 to 2025:

• Oral statement in June 2022
• Oral statement in February 2023 launching the LGBTQ+ Action Plan
• Written Statement in June 2023
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We have launched a dedicated LGBTQ+ Action Plan Bulletin for stakeholders. Subscribe to the bulletin.

In May 2023, an "Evaluation Assessment Framework" project was launched. We worked with the Equality Evidence Unit to produce a framework to assess the impact and success of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales.

In February 2025, the �ʶ�����issued an . Invitations are welcomed from individual organisations or consortia.

Action 1: strengthen understanding of the human rights of LGBTQ+ people

Age Cymru was funded from January to July 2022 to deliver a human rights project in partnership with the �ʶ����� Government.

The purpose of this project was to raise awareness of human rights, and to engage with older people across Wales. This was to embed the message that older people are citizens and participants in society, who should expect to have their human rights upheld.

This included a  which covers the experiences of older transgender people, especially those in healthcare and social care settings.

Action 2: improve LGBTQ+ people’s understanding of how to assert their human rights

The �ʶ�����has supported Stonewall Cymru in launching  on 23 January 2024. 

The programme was designed to empower LGBTQ+ people aged 22 to 30 from across Wales to develop their understanding of how our identities shape our experiences and how we can create inclusive environments where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive.

The day was marked by heartfelt conversations, creating a palpable sense of solidarity among delegates.

Action 3: ban all aspects of LGBTQ+ Conversion Practices

The Working Group on Banning Conversion Practices met 6 times during January and July 2023 and provided advice and insight to the �ʶ����� Government.

We have worked with  for survivors of conversion practices in Wales. The service went live in April 2024

The UK Government announced in the on 17 July 2024 that a draft Bill will be brought forward to ban conversion practices.  The �ʶ�����has held discussions at official and Ministerial level to ensure the voice of Wales informs the progress of this draft Bill.

Action 4: strengthen LGBTQ+ representation on equality forums

We have established the LGBTQ+ Action Plan Advisory Group. The non-statutory Group will advise on proposed actions in the LGBTQ+ Action Plan.

Action 7: seek the devolution of powers in relation to Gender Recognition

We have published advice for applicants for identity documents, including on how to get a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Action 8: international engagement showcases our LGBTQ+ values and support in Wales and globally

In April and May 2023, we met with the United Nations and their Independent Expert on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities. They have recognised the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales in their end of  as:

“An example of good practice in human rights policymaking”.

Action 9: remove barriers to LGBTQ+ people reporting hate crime

We are continuing to take this work forward under the Wales Police Community Support Officer Steering Group, with the aim of putting together a baseline of staffing levels in 2025.

Action 10: continue to invest in hate crime prevention programmes across Wales

We have updated our Hate Hurts Wales campaign with a focus on sexual orientation and issues faced by transgender people. This is supported by the  which is funded by the �ʶ����� Government.

Hate Hurts Wales has examples of online hate and clearly shows how survivors and targeted individuals to report online hate.

Action 11: counter online anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes and hate crimes

The “Rights, respect, equality “ statutory guidance for governing bodies of maintained schools is being updated in 2025 following a consultation in Spring. This will strengthen approaches to preventing and responding to all forms of prejudice-related bullying, including online bullying and aggression. The updated guidance on countering harmful discriminatory attitudes and hate crimes will consider the handling of any sensitivities that may prevent the learner from reporting incidents.

Schools can support young people, learners and their families with a range of . These resources promote considerate and respectful behaviour online.

Between December 2022 and March 2023, we rolled out a . This was to help them understand, prevent and respond to online sexual harassment. It included bespoke training for safeguarding leads.

We contributed to the UK Government’s development of the so that it could be inclusive of online harms to LGBTQ+ people.

Action 13: target violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence among LGBTQ+ communities

The “Live Fear Free” Helpline is the �ʶ����� Government’s all-Wales Helpline. It offers confidential support to all survivors and victims of violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence. This includes honour-based violence, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.

We published our 5 year Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) National Strategy in May 2022.

It was developed with partner organisations such as the police, specialist sector and survivors. The VAWDASV National Strategy is being delivered through a blueprint approach. This strengthens partnership working between public, private and specialist sectors.

Action 14: homelessness services are inclusive of the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people

 is a project funded through the �ʶ�����Innovation fund. It's staffed 24 hours a day and supports the LGBTQ+ young people community who were experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. This is in partnership with Denbighshire County Council, Viva LGBTQ+, and Llamau.

In September 2023, the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership . It supports LGBTQ+ young people who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. At the meeting with Denbighshire County Council, Llamau, and Viva LGBT+, the Deputy Minister said:

  “Across Wales, we are investing more than £210m in homelessness prevention services this year alone, including continuing to invest over £3.1m in the Youth Homelessness Innovation Fund.

  I look forward to sharing the values that have helped shape Tŷ Pride with other local authorities to ensure homelessness services are equipped to sensitively engage with LGBTQ+ people.”

Action 15: identify, safeguard and signpost LGBTQ+ people in claiming asylum

The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership  about the processing of asylum claims in Rwanda. This was also to discuss how to take forward the action to amend the Asylum Support Application Form (ASF1). This allows for asylum seekers to record their sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

The Wales Strategic Migration Partnership and Traumatic Stress Wales are currently developing proposals to address the unmet mental health needs of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

Action 18: understand and improve the experience of LGBTQ+ people in the health and social care sectors

The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership , the Equality group at BCUHB, and community groups from North Wales to discuss the needs of LGBTQ+ people in health.

Multiple codes of practice under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and Regulation and Inspection of Social Care Wales Act 2016 will be reviewed, under the normal course of business.  These will reflect LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Action 21: publish and act on a new HIV Action Plan

We published our HIV Action Plan for Wales 2023 to 2026 in March 2023.

Several task-and-finish groups and an HIV Action Plan Oversight Group have been established since April 2023.

An Annual Progress Statement on the HIV Action Plan was published in November 2024 as a Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Action 22: overcome barriers to LGBTQ+ people accessing sexual health services

We work with Public Health Wales (PHW), to make prevention and online testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) more accessible.

We also worked with PHW to develop the latest advice and information about .

The  offered by Sexual Health Wales is promoted widely by PHW to tackle inequalities.

Action 24: continue to develop the Wales Gender Service

We continue to develop the  (adults). It is based at St David’s in Cardiff and has local gender teams (LGT) based in each health board.

Action 26: provide national trans guidance for schools and local authorities

We recognise the importance of guidance for schools to support children and young people who are transgender or gender questioning. Work is underway to explore how to support schools to share inclusive practice to ensure that all children and young people feel valued, safe and able to learn.

 We are delaying the consultation to ensure the draft guidance is fully informed by emerging evidence and is taken forward in a way that is sensitive to the needs of children and young people and reflects the voices of parents.

Action 28: design and implement a whole school approach that is fully LGBTQ+ inclusive

The  was updated on 31 January 2023. It supports the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code.

We have supported Stonewall Cymru and Peniarth to translate into �ʶ����� two books.  focus on LGBTQ+ families. The books have been distributed to primary schools. This ensures children have access to inclusive materials that reflect on the diversity of Wales.

Action 29: ensure that all colleges and universities in Wales are LGBTQ+ inclusive environments for learners, students and staff

In July 2022, the �ʶ����� Parliament’s Children, Young People and Education Committee published its report on .

In June 2023, we published a review of peer-on-peer sexual harassment among 16 to 18 year old learners in further education colleges across Wales. The review was commissioned on behalf of the Minister for Education and �ʶ����� Language.

In Jan 2024, the ‘Peer-on-peer sexual harassment in education settings: action plan’ was published. It aims to prevent and respond to peer-on-peer sexual harassment in education settings. 

In 2024 to 2025, Medr continues to fund a collaborative further education (FE) peer-on-peer abuse project informed by the recommendations set out in Estyn’s Thematic Report ‘’ and their ‘’. In 2024 to 2025 this project will review current issues within FE to inform professional learning opportunities for staff in recognising possible signs of abuse, and how to manage incidents.

 Staff training will be provided to support staff in how to raise awareness of peer-on-peer abuse with learners and to provide support, as well as recognising the differences in perception of peer-on-peer issues across the diversity of the college’s learners. 

New resources will be developed, including around healthy relationships, and working with learners with additional learning needs. In 2024 to 2025 Estyn is undertaking a thematic review of behaviour in FE, informed by its previous review of peer-on-peer sexual harassment in FE. 

Action 30: support the family lives of LGBTQ+ people

Our bilingual Parenting. Give it Time website includes links to trusted organisations. It offers support for parents from LGBTQ+ communities, or whose children are LGBTQ+, or are in the process of transitioning. The website also provides support to parents and carers requiring additional help.

Action 35: support Pride organisations across Wales

We have set up an All-Wales Grassroots Pride Fund. It helps smaller Pride events engage and support LGBTQ+ people and broader communities.

Within the Financial Year 2024 to 2025, there were 20 successful applications to the All-Wales Grassroots Pride Fund.

We continue to support and sponsor Pride Cymru and its event in Cardiff, in line with our Programme for Government commitment.

Action 37: support LGBTQ+ Veterans of the Armed Services

We worked with Lord Etherton KC and team on the independent review into the impact of the criminalisation of being gay in the British military.  The review looked into the service and experience of LGBT veterans who served in the Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000.

This included close collaboration with the charity Fighting with Pride in Wales. This offered advice concerning the suggestions and recommendations for Wales in  published in May 2023. Its Analysis Report was published in July 2023.

The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership released a Written Statement on 20 July 2023 to update about progress made in this area.

Action 38: improve the representation, inclusion, and participation of LGBTQ+ people in sports

The �ʶ�����has supported the new  2022 to 2024.

Set in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, this Festival focuses on wellness, the outdoors and sport. It is designed for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people.

This is in line with our LGBTQ+ Action Plan commitments; the National Events Strategy for Wales 2022 to 2030; and well-being objectives in the Programme for Government to enable our tourism sports and arts industries to thrive.

Action 39: Improve the access and participation of transgender people in sport

The Deputy Minister for the Arts and Sports opened the  of Action. Launched in 2023, this restated the support of �ʶ�����for trans inclusion in sports.

Action 40: celebrate and improve the representation of LGBTQ+ communities in the heritage and culture of Wales

We fund LGBTQ+ language and history training for local museums, archives and libraries. This helps staff and volunteers work with LGBTQ+ communities to showcase, share and celebrate local LGBTQ+ history and culture in their collections.

The training has resulted in a project to create, and including references to collections and stories held in local collections, for each �ʶ����� county area. This was published in February 2024.

Action 41: increase the involvement of LGBTQ+ people and organisations in the design of cultural events and activities

Through , we want to ensure creative industries can continue to grow. This will help nurture talent from all communities, including LGBTQ+ communities. We have supported the Iris Prize Festival many times through Creative Wales.

Through the , Creative Wales is funding 2 projects with Beacons Cymru.

The "Resonant project" empowers gender diverse and marginalised young people (aged 18 to 25) to work behind the scenes in the �ʶ����� music industry.

The "TransForm Music project" to develop a training package for music and creative venues. This partnership focuses on making music industry spaces in Wales safer for, and more inclusive of, transgender and non-binary people. It is being delivered to 6 music industry stakeholders across Wales.

Action 44: Encourage private sector employers to be LGBTQ+ inclusive 

We have worked with colleagues in Business Wales to produce a range of on-line resources to improve business owner understanding of Fair Work. These resources are now available and will be promoted via a publicity campaign in Spring 2025.

The First Minister attended a breakfast event hosted by Principality Building Society before Pride Cymru 2024 to speak about the value of diversity in a corporate setting.

The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership  to discuss inclusive practice in workplaces.

We continue to support the Wales TUC (Trades Union Congress)  action plan published in May 2023.

The Minister for Economy and Deputy Minister for Social Partnership launched the Retail Action Plan in May 2023. The Plan includes actions to promote Fair Work and workforce equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

The Deputy Minister met with the Lloyds Banking Group and their Rainbow Network, speaking at their annual Rainbow Network event in Cardiff in November 2023 and addressed the importance of inclusive practices and LGBTQ+ staff networks.

Action 46: undertake a thorough investigation into how LGBTQ+ people, particularly LGBTQ+ young people and LGBTQ+ disabled people, in Wales have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic

We to see what actions could help address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on LGBTQ+ communities.