Sexual Orientation

Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Network   

The Southwest Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Network is a forum of and for LGB people in the region.  Most of its members are organisations of LGB people – for example community groups, support groups, advice and information centres and trade union LGB groups.  There are also a minority of “mainstream” organisations that are advancing LGB issues such as police forces and local authorities.

The Network brings together these diverse organisations to work on issues relating LGB equality.  We campaign for better legislation or existing legislation to be enforced and all organisations to play their part in eliminating discrimination against LGB people in their policy and practice and positively promoting equality and diversity issues. 

We are committed to tackling the layers of discrimination that LGB people face – not only homophobia but sexism, racism, disablism and ageism.

Recently the network has been raising awareness of the legislation prohibiting discrimination against LGB people at work and campaigning to ensure that the laws protecting the rights of people from faith communities do not become a loophole for a minority of homophobic religious bigots to preach their hate.  At the end of last year we also delivered training for local authority registrars preparing them for the arrival of civil partnerships.

Over the next year the Network will be working on:

• Raising awareness of new anti-discrimination legislation covering the provision of goods and services;
• Mapping LGBT organisations in the region;
• Sexual health services in the region;
• LGBT History Month.

A consultation event was held on the Government's proposals to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services on Thursday 25th May. 

ESW response on LGB Goods Facilities and Services

The network meets on a quarterly basis and is facilitated by an Equality Development Officer from Equality SouthWest. The Network is run by an Executive whose Co-Chairs are:

Jeff Grist – Unions Out West.  A profile of Jeff can be found here. Jeff's Profile
Robin Corser-Langford - So Out South West 

If you are interested in finding out more about the network, or joining, please contact The Office Manager at ESW on 01823 250832 or see the membership form here SW LGB Network Membership Form.

What's happening at the Network

The group discussed much of the good work being done by Gloucestershire Constabulary to tackle homophobic incidents along with the Gloucester CVS. The Government's proposals to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services have been delayed until April 2007 with the regulations available sometime in February. The group has given its backing to the possible formation of a transgender network within ESW. The group will lobby the Office of National Statistics to include the category of Sexual Orientation to ensure the collection of information on lgbt people. This data is vital if services are to ensure they meet the needs of the lgbt communities, without such data how do local authorities know the needs of lgbt are being met for example within Local Area Agreements?

Are you interested in joinging the network database?

If you are interested in joining the network database please fill in ESW contact form and return to Equality South West.

Alternatively, please send your name, organisation, brief description of work, email, telephone to Equality South West.

Do you work on sexual orientation equality issues in the South West?

Please send information (news/blurb/reports/website links) on your work to be added to this website.

For more information about the network please contact please contact Abbie_Pepperell at Equality South West.