What is the Council doing on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans issues?

The Council recognises that local authorities need to be inclusive and connected to the local communities we serve as part of the government’s agenda for reform and modernisation.  Councils that can reach out to all sections of the community could be the most successful and popular local authorities of the future.  This includes engaging with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) people.

 

Social and legal trends suggest that the visibility of LGBT people as service users and the need to engage with them as citizens will increase in the future. The Council needs to be aware of the changing legal environment and the need to stay in touch with changing social attitudes.

 

LGBT people are not only employed in the council but engage with the Council as representatives from other organisations. They are also most likely to interact with the Council as service users.  Often, sexual identity may not be felt to be relevant to the use of a particular Council service. However, many Council services are very important to LGBT people as a community of interest.  How these services are provided and how sensitive they are to their needs can have a huge bearing on the quality of life to many LGBT people.

 

The Council is currently progressing work on LGBT issues in a number of areas.  The Equality and Diversity Group (EDG) has established an Officer Group representing all Council directorates to do more work on employment and service delivery issues for LGBT people.  As a Council we are also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions scheme and lead the field nationally in producing a homophobic hate-crime self-reporting pack together with our partners.  In addition we have promoted the Civil Partnership Register in Sheffield and have been presented with an award for this work.

 

The Centre for HIV and Sexual Health and the SHOUT! Centre in Sheffield have given Kate Flannery in the Corporate Policy Unit an award for her support and positive contribution to Sheffield's lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) comunities.

 

Kate was presented with her award at the fifth annual 'Spring Out' event in May 2007, which aims to celebrate LGB sexuality, promote health in the community and honour people who have positively contributed to LGB communities. The award recognises the efforts made by individulas and organisations to challenge prejudice and discrimination, provide services that meet the needs of LGB communities and promote health and well-being.  

 

Further information on LGBT issues at Sheffield Council can be accessed through the sub-pages in this section.  By following these links you can also find out more information about Stonewall, the national campaigning organisation for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people; Press for Change, the national campaigning organisation for Trans people; and The Gender Trust, a UK registered charity which specifically helps adults who are Transsexual, Gender Dysphoric or Transgender. Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays FFLAG is dedicated to supporting parents and their gay, lesbian and bisexual sons and daughters

 

If you require more detailed information please contact Kate Flannery at kate.flannery@sheffield.gov.uk