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LGBT Workers' Forum
Who are we?
| LGBT Bulletin | To submit something to be included here, please email us at lgbtworkersforum@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
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| Date | Activity |
| February 2013 |
LGBT History Month events in Brighton & Hove:
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| January 2013 |
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| December 2012 |
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| November 2012 |
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| October 2012 |
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| September 2012 |
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| August 2012 |
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| July 2012 |
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| June 2012 |
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| May 2012 |
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| April 2012 |
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| March 2012 |
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| February 2012 |
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| January 2012 |
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History Awards winners 2012
The 2012 History Awards have been run differently this year. They have all been nominated by the council's LGBT Workers' Forum steering group in recognition of the work that the winners have done to help the steering group to deliver their annual business plan.
| Award Name | Winner | Reason for winning |
|---|---|---|
| Changing Lives |
Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty |
Earlier this year, Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty put forward a motion for the city to undertake a scrutiny into the lives and experiences of Trans people in Brighton & Hove. This work began with Nicky Cambridge from the council's communities & equality team supporting Julia Riches & Mary van Beinum from the council's scrutiny team in working with the amazing LGBT Health & Inclusion Project to get as many Trans people included in the scrutiny. Nick Douglas played a vital role in engaging the Trans communities in the city. The scrutiny panel also included Cllr Denise Cobb and Cllr Warren Morgan. This year, we award all of these people for their involvement in this essential piece of work. Thank you to Phelim, Nicky, Julia, Mary, Nick, Denise and Warren. |
| Engaging Others | Susan Luxford |
The winner of this award has been nominated because they have helped the Workers Forum to join together LGBT people inside and outside of the organisation. She has also given up hours and hours and hours of her time to provide a platform for us all to speak up and connect with others. We award Susan Luxford, who runs the amazing online community, Zhoosh. |
| Working Together |
Sam Beal (healthy schools team) |
The winner of this award has been nominated to recognise the excellent work they do within the LGBT community in Brighton & Hove. Specifically this year, the partnership between this community group and the council has led to the city council being nationally recognised by Stonewall for their efforts to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in most of our city's schools. We award Allsorts Youth project and Sam Beal, from the council's healthy schools team. |
| Council Officer Outstanding Achievement | Jo Harvey Barringer |
The winner of this award has been nominated to recognise the energy and enthusiasm that she has put into improving the lives of LGBT staff in the council for years. She developed one of the UK's first LGBT mentoring schemes for Brighton & Hove City Council, one that has since been replicated by many other local authorities and private sector organisations. She continues to advise the organisation on policy and champions LGBT equality at every level in the organisation. The mentoring scheme has without doubt ensured a very high score in the Stonewall workplace equality index. This award goes to Jo Harvey Barringer, who facilitates the LGBT mentoring scheme. |
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LGBT Workers Forum Steering Group Award for LGBT Community Member |
Joanna Rowland-Stuart |
This year's winner has been selected to recognise the winner's efforts to champion equality for LGBT disabled people. In the past year, the steering group have asked her to speak at the Anti-Hate Crime vigil, where she spoke passionately about the experiences of Trans people and disabled LGBT people. She also offered her own personal experiences as a panel member at our LGBT & faith debate in LGBT history month. She also promotes the amazing group Regard at every available opportunity. The steering group gives thanks and much respect to Joanna Rowland-Stuart. |
What do we do?
The 2012-13 objectives for our LGBTWF are to:
- To act as the voice of Brighton & Hove City Council's LGBT staff;
- Improve communication with all LGBT staff and LGBTWF members;
- Build on the success of the existing developmental schemes and provide further developmental opportunities for LGBT council staff;
- Building relationships with external LGBT community and voluntary organisations through signposting, networking and events to promote LGBT equality in the city;
- Successfully manage the LGBTWF budget to achieve the three objectives above.
We aim to support LGBT staff through mentoring, networking and social events. We also provide information and hold events for any council staff . This work is often done in partnership with the council's Communities & Equality team.
Brighton & Hove's LGBTWF are recognised nationally as one of the best in the country. We are often contacted by both local and national partners to contribute and advise in the setting up of their own networking groups.
We work hard to eliminate the homophobic, biphobic and transphobic experiences that some of our members continue to have and, as a forum, we are with our members every step of the way, helping them resolve issues. We recognise we have made some impact, there is still some way to go.
The LGBTWF is proud of the many things that it has achieved, both as a group and for individuals, and is also thankful for the valuable support from the communities & equality team.
History:
The LGBTWF began in 2001 with membership growing continuously. There are monthly meetings where all members are invited to attend. The types of events that are provided include film screenings, discussions, training and development events.
In March 2004 the law was changed to make discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation illegal and in 2008 the Gender Equality Duty added protections for transgendered people at work. Brighton & Hove City Council takes its responsibility around these regulations seriously but it does recognise that there are still pockets within the organisation where homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are an issue.
For the past few years, Brighton and Hove City Council has been recognised as a national leader in LGBT issues – we have excellent internal policies and we work hard to promote equality amongst the city’s communities.
How can I find out more?
If you would like to find out more about what we do, or you are a Brighton & Hove City Council employee and would like to join the Forum, please email lgbtworkersforum@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call Diane Coe in the council's communities & equality team on (01273) 291280.
You can now follow us on twitter @LGBTWF or 'like' us www.facebook.com/lgbtwf.
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