Consortium

for stronger lgbt+ communities

Paul Roberts

LGBT+ Experiences During Covid-19

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The National Centre for Social Research, with the support of Consortium, Intercom Trust, LGBT Foundation and Stonewall, is undertaking research to better understand what support can be provided to the UK LGBT+ voluntary and community sector to address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. This project is being funded by the ESRC.

A report has been published today, which is a review of evidence on the experiences of LGBT+ communities in Britain during the pandemic.

The loss of safe and supportive spaces and peer groups and disruption to LGBT+ services have impacted on the wellbeing and safety of UK LGBT+ communities. Trans and younger LGBT+ people have reported being more likely to self-harm and attempt or think about suicide due to increased feelings of isolation and reduced access to mental health services during the pandemic. Trans participants have reported that reduced access to medication and transition-related care have exacerbated gender dysphoria and mental health difficulties.

There is a need to explore the experiences of LGBT+ people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and LGBT+ people of colour, as well as LGBT+ disabled people, for which there are significant evidence gaps. This project is working towards generating solutions to create stronger, sustainable and resilient LGBT+ communities.

Read the full report 

Invest in LGBT+ communities, don’t just fund them

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Alongside the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), Consortium were part of a research project commissioned by The National Lottery Community Fund exploring how all funders can better support LGBTQ+ organisations. It is encouraging to see this research helping to better understand the landscape and seek change to funder working practices.

One of the core pillars of Consortium’s work over the last few years has been the sustainability and resilience of our LGBT+ voluntary and community sectors. We purposefully don’t just talk about the need for funding of organisations, but rather investment in—which I am pleased this research reaffirms.

We all know the pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live and the way we need to think as we rebuild out of it. Equity quickly became a focus of attention, but I hope there doesn’t turn out to be a sense of irony over this. We have seen an increase in attention on diverse communities, but equity doesn’t concern being flavour of the month or short-term focus. Equity is rooted in systemic change, so those most affected by inequality have access to the resources and opportunities needed to achieve an equal outcome. Funders talking about equity must deliver on their promises, and work alongside us and in partnership with us, to achieve this. Consortium’s previous research, as does that of many of our member organisations, highlights that LGBT+ people want specialist services. They feel safer using them, they give them more confidence of positive outcomes and the results from having accessed specialist services can be life changing and transformational. Imagine what could be achieved if longer-term investment, funding and support was given to our LGBT+ sector.

The opportunities are live to create this systemic change. LGBT+ communities are diverse and intersectional by their very nature and the pandemic has shone a light on a much broader cross-section of LGBT+ services and support. We need to encourage funders to embrace this intersectionality and not think of funding and investment as single-issue focus. Whilst as LGBT+ organisations our primary focus will be just that, the secondary, tertiary, focus of intersectional organisations is equally important. Those working in racial justice or those engaging in disability issues for example do so because other services within those communities cannot offer the specialist support and lived experience LGBT+ people want and expect. The interweaving of broad LGBT+ focus organisations alongside that of specialist intersectional organisations provides the golden opportunity to partner and collaborate for real change.

Trust in our communities to know what works for those most affected by inequality. Those emerging organisations working with diverse and intersectional LGBT+ people and communities do so because they understand what others are going through. Most diverse organisations in our sector are small in size. Some want to remain small and grassroots focussed, which should always be encouraged. Support alongside funding is what is needed the most in these cases. Others want to grow and expand, something funders should be investing in. However, with the majority being volunteer led, those professional fundraising skills found in larger staffed organisations are less likely to be present. How then, can we expect them to be able to submit funding applications that can compete—we can’t and we shouldn’t. The statistical evidence funders crave is also less likely to exist the more intersectional focus an LGBT+ organisation has. With this in mind, we need to find new ways of ensuring that funding, development and support gets to these organisations. New ways of doing funding has to emerge which challenges those more traditional models.

What the research with NatCen has shown is there is so much willingness to want to do better and this makes this a very exciting time. It also highlights some practical suggestions for creating this change. As an emerging specialist funder, as well as a key support mechanism for LGBT+ organisations, our door is open to supporting other funders in their equitable endeavours. Let’s work together, alongside those LGBT+ organisations, and put action against the recommendations from the research. Let’s invest and not just fund so can achieve long term sustainable change.

Nathan Hudson from NatCen has also written a blog about the research, which you can read here.

You can access the research here.

Bell v Tavistock Appeal Statement

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We are delighted to read the Judgement in the Bell v Tavistock case and see that Tavistock has won its appeal. This can only be a big relief to trans people, trans communities and in particular trans young people.

Puberty blockers are a reversible treatment that play a vital role in alleviating the stress young trans people experience and allows for those who are questioning their gender identity the time to consider what is right for now. Young people know who they are and are able to consent to these.

This has been an extremely distressing and upsetting time for so many young trans people. Waiting lists have only got longer, when they were already out of control, meaning many people left in the dark on getting the vital healthcare support they need.

The NHS acted quickly to remove guidance for young people relying on these services. They must act equally fast in publishing new guidance given the outcome of this case.

Urgent action is also needed. We call on the NHS and the Department for Health and Social Care to take urgent action to address the unacceptable waiting lists and care pathways for young trans people. They must be able to get the care they need in a timely way.

The Judgement can be found at Bell and another -v- The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and others | Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

 

Funding Bi Organisations Community Research Launches

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As BiCon 2021 gets going, Consortium is pleased to announce the launch of research it commissioned into why Bi organisations across the UK receive such little funding and how we can begin to address some of the obstacles that exist. The research can be accessed here

Thanks to development funding through The National Emergencies Trust, Consortium identified the lack of Bi-led and run organisations applying for its LGBT+ specific funding. In order to put in place actions to remove barriers and provide the right support for Bi Organisations we commissioned a collaboration of three Bi community researchers who surveyed and spoke with a range of Bi people facilitating Bi-led organisations across the country. This research will be used to inform Consortium’s future funding practice, whilst also being used to encourage a diverse range of funders to better consider the needs of Bi Organisations and communities.

Paul Roberts, Consortium’s Chief Executive, said: “I am very proud that we were in a position to commission this research. As a specialist funder, we must ensure there is equitable access to the funding on offer. We are working hard to ensure those most under-resourced in our LGBT+ sector can get the resource and support they need. This research gives us the actions we can work on to make this happen for Bi Organisations and ensure they are proactively engaged in all our funding work. I am very grateful to Jennifer, Libby and John for their hard work, and to all those who engaged with this research. Without your input, honesty and suggestions we wouldn’t be able to put in place the actions needed. I am excited to explore the possibility of both dedicated funds for Bi Organisations, and for broader funds which visibly and meaningfully include Bi people and communities.”

Jennifer Moore, one of the three community researchers, said: “There are bi organisers all over the country who’ve been nurturing their communities ‘on a shoe-string’ for years, connecting people who felt isolated, using creativity to get round the lack of money. I hope our analysis will help funders to reach those groups and boost their work. I’d love to see funder influence also pushing other organisations to make the B more than a token. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the research!”

9 Year’s of Trustee Service from Hannah

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After 9 year’s of being a Trustee for Consortium, Hannah Taylor has stood down from her Trustee position. Hannah has been Consortium’s longest standing Trustee, and as per our Constitution sadly must stand down at this point.

The whole organisation is eternally grateful for everything Hannah has brought to the organisation over the years. She has helped us create new connections with external organisations, seen the organisation through some challenging times and been a beacon of positivity throughout her tenure.

Paul Roberts, Consortium’s Chief Executive said, “Hannah has been an enormous strength both to the organisation and to me personally. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the expertise and knowledge Hannah has brought to the conversation and actions. I am deeply grateful for the enormous time and capacity given to Consortium and am excited for new opportunities for working with her in the future.”

The whole team at Consortium wish Hannah the very best for her new adventures, particularly now she is working for one of our Member orgs, AKT. Thank you for everything!

 

Consortium Supports Challenge to LGB Alliance Charity Status

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Leading trans charity, Mermaids is appealing the controversial decision by the Charity Commission to award the LGB Alliance charitable status.

LGBT+ Consortium, Gendered Intelligence, LGBT Foundation and TransActual are not appellants but are supporting the appeal, which is being crowdfunded by Good Law Project.

To be registered as a charity, an organisation must be established exclusively for charitable purposes, as recognised in law, and it must pursue them in a way which gives rise to tangible benefits that outweigh any associated harms.

LGB Alliance told the Charity Commission that its purposes were the promotion of equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and the protection of human rights. Yet in a speech on 9 March 2020, LGB Alliance director Bev Jackson was clear that their real goal had little to do with the protection of lesbian, gay and bisexual people:

“We’re applying for charitable status and building an organization to challenge the dominance of those who promote the damaging theory of gender identity.”

She spoke the truth: the LGB Alliance’s real purpose is the denigration of trans people and the destruction of organisations that support them, in particular through political lobbying and campaigning for changes to the law. These are not charitable purposes for the public benefit; they are political objectives designed to roll back legal protections for trans people.

The LGB Alliance leadership have expressed the belief that people should be described and treated in accordance with their “biological sex”, irrespective of their stated gender identity or gender expression.

Ever since it was established in 2019, LGB Alliance has repeatedly targeted registered LGBT rights charities including Mermaids, Stonewall, LGBT Foundation, GIRES and others. LGB Alliance has accused these organisations of extremism and homophobia, of spreading disinformation, of endangering children, and of campaigning against women’s and gay rights.

Further, the LGB Alliance has:

  • Called for a Parliamentary investigation into Mermaids.
  • Lobbied the Equality and Human Rights Commission to open a statutory investigation into Stonewall.
  • Campaigned to stop LGBT charities from advising schools and government bodies on transgender rights.
  • Campaigned to deprive LGBT charities of funding and/or to divert their donations and grants.

 

LGBTQ+ people across the UK face an onslaught of misinformation and attacks in the mainstream press, in politics and on social media. Transgender (including nonbinary and gender diverse) people are entitled, like everyone else, to support and understanding. Mermaids, along with the country’s leading LGBTQ+ charities and organisations, speak with the single voice of a single community when we will not be divided. We oppose transphobia in all its forms. We stand together.

Quote from Susie Green, CEO of Mermaids:

“Mermaids supports trans young people, children and their families who face overwhelming hostility simply because of who they are. The work of the LGB Alliance is clearly designed to divide the LGBTQ+ community in an attempt to undermine and isolate trans people. Mermaids is proud to stand up for the rights of trans people in court, with the unbreakable support of our LGBTQ+ charity family.”

Quote from Paul Roberts, CEO of LGBT+ Consortium:

“Charity status is hard earned and should promote positive and inclusive change for those most marginalised in our communities. The decision to register LGB Alliance goes in the face of that and sows distrust in what it means to hold charitable status. They exist to oppose free, safe and empowered trans lives and, as LGBT+ organisations, we stand as one to ask the Tribunal to quash the Charity Commission’s decision. We are with Mermaids every step of the way and will always stand up for an LGBT+ charity sector that puts positive public benefit first.”

Quote from Jo Maugham, Direct of Good Law Project:

“Charitable status is for those who serve the public good. Denigrating trans people, attacking those who speak for them, and campaigning to remove legal protections from them is the very opposite of a public good. We do not believe they meet the threshold tests to be registered as a charity.”

Quote from Helen Belcher, Chair of Trans Actual:

“We fully support Mermaids in taking this action. The idea that an organisation who wants trans people to be second class citizens should be recognised as a charity brings the whole system into disrepute.”

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact [email protected]

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