The Council will be flying the rainbow flag above the Guildhall in Bath for the first week of February in support of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) History Month.
LGBT History Month takes place every year in February and celebrates the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of the Council, said: “Our staff are working hard to engage with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, and to deliver services that meet everyone’s needs. The flying of the flag is a small but important symbol of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s commitment to equal rights, and I hope it sends a clear message of support to LGBT members of the community.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council collected the ‘best new entrant’ award in the Stonewall Education Equality Index 2013.
Councillor Dine Romero (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth said: “We were delighted to receive the award from Stonewall as it demonstrates that Bath & North East Somerset Council is working hard to celebrate difference and prevent homophobic language and bullying in our early years settings and schools.
“Also, our new youth group ‘SPACE’ is growing in membership and providing excellent support to young LGBT people who had previously felt isolated.”
There are a number of events taking place in Bath and North East Somerset to mark LGBT history month:
- A special reception in the Chairman’s Office to mark the flag raising ceremony on Friday 31st January.
- LGBT history month resources will be on display at Bath Central Library from 3rd to 10th February (through a collaboration between the Council’s LGBT Staff Group and Library staff).
- All schools are being provided with rainbow ribbon pins to distribute and wear. The rainbow flag has been used as a symbol of the gay community since 1978, with the colours standing for: red – life, orange – healing, yellow – sunlight, green – nature, blue – harmony and purple – spirit.
- The Council is also using LGBT history month to launch a new short film, ‘B&NES – a place to be yourself’ which highlights and celebrates the work being done to promote LGBT equality and tackle homophobia.
Councillor Neil Butters, the Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “I am very pleased to be hosting a reception on the eve of LGBT history month to celebrate the good work that is going on to make Bath and North East Somerset a safe and happy place for our LGBT residents and visitors.
“It will also be the first time that our new film ‘B&NES – a place to be yourself’ will be shown in public.”
You can learn more about LGBT History Month at www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk.