Consortium

for stronger lgbt+ communities

Marita Haakonsen

LGBT Hero launches Don’t Lose Your Vote campaign

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From this year, the law around voting in UK parliamentary elections, local elections, and the elections for Mayor of London and London Assembly are changing. The biggest change to the way we vote is the introduction of photo ID. LGBT HERO is here to help LGBTQ+ people cast their ballots with the Don’t Lose Your Vote campaign. We’ve researched how the new laws affect our community and created a suite of resources to get our community ready to vote. We would ask that all LGBTQ+ organisations, charities, and community groups share our content as soon as possible using the images and tracked links.

On 7th March 2023 at 2pm we will be running an online workshop for LGBTQ+ charities, community groups, and individual campaigners. The session will consist of a presentation and Q&A which will provide you with the following tools:

  • Understanding of the changes to election law.
  • Specific knowledge of how this affects LGBTQ+ people (especially trans people and younger groups).
  • Effective routes to engage service users and prepare them to vote.
  • Pre-approved digital campaign materials that can be used by your organisation.

 

Whether you’re a large charity engaging with thousands of service users or a smaller community group, this training is for you. The session is free, and we will provide plenty of time for attendees to ask any specific questions about the Elections Act and how it affects their beneficiaries. More info, and sign up to the workshop here.

We are also running Voter Photo ID drop-ins online and in-person where we can help people get photo ID, register to vote, or explain the changes to the law. Find our list of drop-in dates and times here. We’re also attending LGBTQ+ events to provide this support. If you would like us to attend an event your running, then please let us know by contacting [email protected].

Discussing LGBTQIA+ experiences of immigration detention

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On 7 February it was time for the quarterly meetup for organisations, groups and projects that support LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, migrants and refugees. Together with our wonderful member and co-organiser, Micro Rainbow, we welcomed nine different organisations to an evening of networking and discussing LGBTQIA+ experiences of immigration detention.

Dr. Laura Harvey walked us through some of the findings from her pilot study with our member Rainbow Migration, and answered many questions from attendees. The key takeaways from Dr. Harvey’s talk were among other:

  • Immigration detention remains extremely dangerous for LGBTQIA+ people and LGBTQIA+ people should not be detained.
  • The government must stop locking LGBTQIA+ people in detention centres where they face violence and abuse based on their sexual orientation and or gender identity.
  • Many LGBTQIA+ people held in immigration detention are scared to be their true selves in fear of abuse and violence, and many hide their true selves because of this. If you want to learn more you can read more about it here, and check out Rainbow Migration’s campaign No Pride in Detention.

Five people are facing a PowerPoint presentation projected to a wall.

We were also joined by Laila who told us about the Migrant Advice and Support Fund, which funds frontline organisations providing specialist advice and or holistic support to migrant Londoners (incl. asylum seekers, refugees, undocumented people and those with otherwise insecure immigration status). Please note that applications close 27 February.

This meetup is a supportive space wherein volunteers and staff in groups, projects and organisations who support LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, migrants and refugees can connect, share challenges and build collaborations. If you are interested in joining our LGBTQIA+ migration meetups, feel welcome to email [email protected] to sign up on the mailing list, or keep an eye out on our Events page.

Report from ‘Ban Conversion Therapy for Everyone’ Protest

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Yesterday (Sunday 10th of April), team LGBT+ Consortium joined many of our member organisations in protesting the Government’s decision not to include trans people in the conversion therapy ban.

A crowd of protestors facing 10 Downing Street. A trans flag is waving in the wind in the middle of the crowd, and next to it a sign that states "respect our existence or expect our resistance".
Protestors chanting “LGB with the T” and “Keep Trans in the Ban” at 10 Downing Street.

While organisers expected around 100 participants, more than 3000 people showed up to tell the Government that they must protect trans people from so-called conversion therapy. The sound of thousands chanting “Keep Trans in the ban” and “LGB with the T” across Whitehall is hard to describe, but the display of trans power, community and solidarity was deeply inspirational.

Shaan (Trans Organisations Network Officer) and Marita (London Engagement Officer) at the protest.

As pointed out by others, rarely have we seen such a highly attended rally for trans rights in the UK. This confirms what we already know: the public strongly disagrees with the Government and wants to keep Trans in the ban. This has become particularly evident as the petition to ensure that Trans people are fully protected under any conversion therapy ban, got more than 100, 000 signatures in the space of 4 days. The message is clear: A ban that does not include everyone, is not a ban at all.

We are so proud of our Trans member organisations and their achievements, and we will continue to support them at every step of the way. #TogetherWithTrans.