It’s positive that we’re having this debate in Plenary today, and perhaps all the more important and prescient, given world events and what’s happening outside this Chamber. The Welsh Government’s commitment to equality and its cross-cutting approach to furthering this agenda is to be applauded, but the challenge for us all, and not solely the Welsh Government, is to ensure that these overarching objectives and principles translate into reality and everyday practice for the people they are set up to serve.

Equality, to me, is not simply a matter for the minority, it is for the majority to embrace and champion in shaping the nature of our nation, and we should believe that equality in today’s Wales is an absolute, not an add-on. I know from my experience in the trade union movement that mainstreaming equality is done largely through equality representatives and representation on branches. It makes it an everyday, accepted occurrence and it embeds a culture of understanding, fairness and respect that we’re all together in striving for the same social justice. Whether that is a fair day’s pay or eliminating discrimination in the workplace, equality of opportunity or extending rights and protections, it’s all about creating a more equal Wales and wider world.

I’m proud that it was a Labour Government that led the way in legislation that enabled me, and many others, to live my life as I am and for who I am. We’ve come a long way on equality when it comes to changing legislation and implementing guidance, but we need to make sure that this actually changes lives. We should rightly celebrate how far we have come as a country and society, but we should never become complacent and should absolutely remain vigilant. That is why it’s right that the Welsh Government reiterates its commitment to reducing the incidence of all forms of harassment and abuse, including hate crime, as outlined in objective 4 of the equality report 2015-16, and the same objective in the Welsh Government’s equality objectives for 2016-20. Indeed, we are aware that there’s been a continued increase in the reporting of hate crime in Wales, with 2,259 hate crimes recorded in Wales in 2014-15, an increase on the number recorded in 2012-13. And this probably hides the true figure as the nature of the crime means there’s probably an element—a large element—of underreporting.

We’ve taken positive steps forward to tackle hate crime in Wales, funding Victim Support Cymru to run National Hate Crime Report and Support Centre Wales, and participating in hate crime awareness every October. On National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Cabinet Secretary, I’d like to see more done with schools and communities across Wales in order to educate, break down barriers and open up access to support. Nobody is born with prejudice, and no-one should live in fear in their own community, without a safe space to turn to. And on that, there should be no hierarchy of hate, no degree of separation when it comes to discrimination and ensuring that people are able to live their lives free from fear.

And on that, we all have a duty to call out hate. I’m sure I’m not the only one here who feels, at best, uneasy at how the tone of some political debate seems to have shifted recently. What was once deemed beyond the pale some now feel it is okay to say. And this isn’t about political correctness, it’s about behaving with basic dignity and respect to each other as fellow human beings—a lesson in dignity that, in fact, the new President of the USA could do with learning. We’ve already heard a clear condemnation in this Chamber today, and the First Minister is right that President Trump’s travel plan policy is beyond any rational defence. The very real fear is that it’s just the beginning and reports began circulating last night that the White House under President Trump was considering reversing many LGBT protections.

Looking at events unfolding around us, I must confess that I’ve had my moments when I’ve wondered whether this is the right time to stick my head above the parapet but, actually, now more than ever, it’s important that we are prepared to stand up and speak out. The debate today is not only significant in terms of timing, but this Government’s commitment to equality is both imperative and of immense value, and we should not forget this.