We are a Bristol-based campaigning organisation, set-up to give LGB people of Bristol a voice.
Information
- Founded:
- October 1994
Events
2 past eventsSee All
- Annual General meeting
The Council House
Wednesday, October 28 at 6:00pm - Under One Sky Conference
Conference Hall, Council House
Thursday, June 25 at 9:30am
Basic Info
- Founded:
- October 1994
Detailed Info
- Website:
- http://www.bristol-lgb-forum.org.uk/
- Company Overview:
- The Bristol Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Forum is a Registered Charity, established in October 1994 to challenge the discrimination that lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience.
Membership of the Forum is made-up of local lesbian, gay and bisexual people and the Charity is run by a Management Committee, made up of volunteers, as well as two part-time members of staff: the Development Worker and the Administrator. - Mission:
- The objectives of the Forum are to:
* ensure the Forum is adequately funded and staffed - set the Forum's work programme, each year
* engage with LGB individuals, groups, and organisations on what that programme should contain
* engage with local Authorities, Statutory bodies and other Charities/Community groups
* campaign on issues that affect LGB people, locally and nationally
* promote best practice on issues of equality, diversity and Inclusion
* dispel myths and challenge preconceptions about LGB people
* liaise with other LGB organisations, regionally and nationally
* be a first point of contact for individuals and organisations looking for information about Bristol's LGB community - Products:
- In June 2000 the Forum drew up a Compact between Bristol City Council and Bristol's lesbian, gay and bisexual community. The Compact is an agreement between Bristol City Council and organisations from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community. The aims of the Compact are to:
* Work towards equality of access to services and resources which are controlled by Bristol City Council.
* Promote understanding and respect for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and its citizens.
* Empower lesbian, gay and bisexual people to become actively involved in community life
Past Work.
The Forum conducted research into the quality of life for lesbian, gay and bisexual people (Second Best Value) and produced a Guide to Section 28 for all staff and governors of Bristol LEA schools.
Additionally the Forum produced information pamphlets on a range of topics surrounding the new Civil Partnerships.
What is the Forum doing now?
The Forum continues to work with the local lesbian, gay and bisexual community to lobby Bristol City Council for a fair deal for the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. We are especially aware of the multiple discrimination many of us face, as older or younger people, members of the Black and Minority Ethnic and Faith communities, as people with disabilities, as LGB parents or even as parents and children of LGB people.
Campaigns.
Most recently, during 2008-09, the Forum mediated a difficult conflict between two strands of the Equalities Agenda: Faith and Sexual orientation, when a small but very aggressively vocal number of parents of Faith withdrew their children and blockaded two primary schools in Easton - East Bristol. The parents objected to a programme of age-appropriate books and classes by "No Outsiders" that introduced the diversity of the modern British family, including those with LGBT parents. In response, the Forum engaged with all parties, holding three Open Meetings and eventualy obtained a firm, public commitment by Bristol City Council's Children and Young People's Services to reject notions of a "Hierarchy of Equalities" by :
* enforcing all strands of the Equalities Agenda with impartiality
* tackling homophobic bullying by bringing it into line with standards applicable to racist bullying through obligations to monitor and report homophobic bullying incidents in schools and investigating consistent zero reporting
* extending identical rights to protection to LGBT families and young people that currently apply to children from Black and Minority/Faith communities
introducing a programme of training for staff and School Governors
* producing an LGBT Myth-busting booklet (published by Equalities and Community Cohesion in late 2008)
* challenging homophobic language and attitudes in schools, amongst staff, parents and pupils.
Projects.
Only recently, on 25th June 2009, the Forum's Project "Under One Sky", funded by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to research the experience, level of inclusion and needs of people who identify as LGB and are also members of Bristol's diverse BME/Faith Communities.
How can I get involved?
We welcome active participation from Forum members. If you would like to get involved further in the work of the Forum, please visit our website for further information, click on "About Us" to find out about Membership and becoming a Trustee.