Committee details

Conference: Improving the Health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Communities in Wolverhampton

Logo for Conference: Improving the Health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Communities in Wolverhampton

Purpose of committee

The UK has made significant progress in recent years to further equality for LGBT people. From the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality 50 years ago to the introduction of same-sex marriage in 2013, successive governments have made remarkable progress in advancing equality for LGBT people.

 

In 2016, the Office for National Statistics estimated that 2.5% of the UK population aged 16 or above identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or ‘other’ (almost 1.3 million people). The Government Equalities Office estimates that there are between 200,000 and 500,000 trans men and trans women in the UK.

 

Being out and proud as a LGBT+ person is not a life choice, being who you are is important to our overall health and wellbeing especially our mental health, LGBT+ people can’t help the way we were born, we can either be happy or we can hide away and be unhappy and never reach our true potential in life.

 

Representation of all communities in public life is important for the successful delivery of balanced public services as well as in society in general, this goes beyond gender or from any particular ethnic background.

 

Equality is about people being equal and having an equal opportunity in life. The human race is complex, how we treat each other is not, respect and dignity should be given to all, if you want respect you should give respect in return regardless.

 

It is important that all people in a position of influence and public office understand all the different communities they represents & serve without which they are unable to make informed decisions.

 

If your community is not represented, at all levels in society then your community has no voice and is left behind when it comes to commissioning public services and legislation, as they say “nothing about us, without us”. Its only when you are inclusive decisions and policies work for the whole of society.

 

Cllr Anwen Muston
City of Wolverhampton Council