Consortium’s Chief Executive sits on the UK Government’s LGBT Advisory Panel as an organisational member, alongside fellow Chief Executive’s at Stonewall and LGBT Foundation. We stand in solidarity with our fellow individual Panel members who have resigned in dismay at the lack of progress on introducing a ban on conversion therapy, amongst other challenging issues. We also stand with other Panel members who have taken the decision to stay in their role and continue the fight, as Consortium will continue to do. We are proud to have worked alongside them all over the last two years, keeping LGBT+ issues on the agenda despite the lack of Ministerial engagement.
Consortium, as the umbrella body for LGBT+ Voluntary and Community organisations across the UK, has a 450 strong membership. We are mandated to fight for the rights of our Member organisations and have a duty to maintain a strategic relationship with the Government of the day. We will stand strong to keep fighting for our LGBT+ communities. We will not shy away from holding this Government to account, whatever direction the Minister chooses to take with the current Advisory Panel, and will not allow them to cause further harm to those we serve. We recognise the privilege this position brings and will continue to work alongside our diverse Members to protect our communities in every way we can.