BSL Act Now live show to broadcast on day of sign language bill’s final stage

A two-hour live show will mark the third reading of the British Sign Language (BSL) Bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday, the British Deaf Association (BDA) has announced.

BSL Act Now Live – which will be broadcast from a studio opposite the Houses of Parliament – will feature the Bill’s sponsors Rosie Cooper MP and Lord Holmes of Richmond, plus the Minister for Disabled People Chloe Smith MP.

In a statement issued to The Limping Chicken, the BDA’s CEO Rebecca Mansell said: “We are calling on Deaf organisations and Deaf clubs to open their doors, safely, to the Deaf community on the 27th April to – hopefully – celebrate a historical event as the BSL Bill receives its third and final reading at the House of Lords.

“We know it is very important for the Deaf community to be part of the BSL Bill celebrations, so by watching BSL Act Now! Live together from 2pm to 4pm – as it is livestreamed on BDA’s Facebook page from Westminster Studios – will conclude 19 years of waiting.”

Alongside the high-profile guests, the show will also discuss BSL in the early years, language deprivation in Deaf children, access to health and social care, and why “the campaign must continue” if the BSL Bill passes.

News of the special programme comes as BDA Chair David Buxton confirmed on Wednesday there would be no London rally to mark the Bill’s final reading this week.

The BSL Act Now founder said this was due to both Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square being unavailable on 27 April, but hinted that a “celebration” is needed if the Bill becomes an Act.

BSL Act Now Live will be streamed on the BDA’s Facebook page from 2pm on Wednesday, with the third reading due to take place from 3:30pm.

It will come a day after the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments vote on consent motions to have the Bill apply to their respective countries, with languages being a devolved matter.

According to the BDA, if the Bill passes its third reading in the Lords on Wednesday, it will receive Royal Assent and become the British Sign Language Act 2022 the next day.

Photo: British Deaf Association.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.