6 June , 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

The NHS Constitution sets the guiding principles for the NHS and it’s delivery of care. It is reviewed every 10 years to make sure it is fit for purpose for patients and staff alike.

LGBT Foundation is concerned that some of the proposed changes to the constitution will harm LGBTQ+ communities, particularly trans and non-binary people.

In our response sessions, we will take you through the key issues related to LGBTQ+ people, and help you give feedback that will make the Constitution better for our community members.

The sessions on 29th and 31st May are general admission and open to all.

The session on 6th June will be a priority space for trans and non-binary people.

If you are not sure which session to attend, please email consultations@lgbt.foundation.

By attending this event, you agree to adhere to our Safer Spaces policy, available to read here: https://lgbt.foundation/safer-spaces-policy/

29 May , 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

The NHS Constitution sets the guiding principles for the NHS and it’s delivery of care. It is reviewed every 10 years to make sure it is fit for purpose for patients and staff alike.

LGBT Foundation is concerned that some of the proposed changes to the constitution will harm LGBTQ+ communities, particularly trans and non-binary people.

In our response sessions, we will take you through the key issues related to LGBTQ+ people, and help you give feedback that will make the Constitution better for our community members.

The sessions on 29th and 31st May are general admission and open to all.

The session on 6th June will be a priority space for trans and non-binary people.

If you are not sure which session to attend, please email consultations@lgbt.foundation.

By attending this event, you agree to adhere to our Safer Spaces policy, available to read here: https://lgbt.foundation/safer-spaces-policy/

Our commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth, particularly trans and non-binary individuals, remains steadfast. In the words of Hilary Cass, “I would urge everybody to remember the children and young people trying to live their lives and the families/carers and clinicians doing their best to support them. All should be treated with compassion and respect.” 

We understand that our communities have been eagerly awaiting this review and will have questions about its implications for them, their friends, family, and loved ones. We are collaborating with various sector peers in advocating for the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. Together, we will delve further into the findings of the Cass Review and provide our analysis and guidance in due course. 

In the meantime, we urge individuals and organisations working with or for LGBTQ+ and trans and non-binary youth to prioritise their psychological and physical well-being in any discussions concerning their experiences. Long-standing research consistently and clearly demonstrates the harmful effects of unsupportive environments on trans youth. It is paramount to uphold their right to express their identity, as well as to establish safe spaces where LGBTQ+ youth can freely explore their gender identity without fear of stigma or discrimination. 

We acknowledge the concerns and uncertainties many may feel about the future, but we are one of many dedicated charities, service providers and organisations tirelessly working to find a way forward. We welcome conversations with organisations and service providers who want to join us in fostering safe spaces, spreading compassion, collaborating for change, and working towards a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ youth. 

Looking to connect with like-minded individuals in a warm and welcoming environment? LGBT Foundation’s Women’s Group is a new meet-up happening on the second Monday of every month. It is a place for all LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people who wish to access a women centred space to come together and make connections. We host a range of engaging events aimed at bringing you new experiences. 

On 28th October the Women’s Group will meet for a special one-off activity to mark Halloween. Join Aimie for a fun-filled, magic-inspired workshop designed to help you get in touch with the things your heart truly desires, and give you the courage, as well as the energy, to magnetize these things into your life.

In this workshop you can expect to work with the tarot, connect to your eros through dance & learn a simple spell using string and work some brujeria.  

Bring your journal, a pen and some water. The movement part of the workshop will be accessible to different abilities, please bring flat and comfortable shoes with you to wear for this part of the session.

Aimie Duggan (she/her) is a spiritual and wellness facilitator, yoga teacher, and intuitive guide, using tarot and astrology to support individuals in finding greater peace, wholeness, and reconnecting to their inner light. She blends ancient wisdom with her own creativity to create inspiring, playful and down-to-earth sessions that leave people feeling whole. 

This group is for all LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people who wish to access a women centred space. You must be aged 18+ to attend.

To ensure our space is welcoming and inclusive, we require everyone to follow our Safer Spaces Policy.

Made possible thanks to the generous funding of Cheshire Community Fund.

It takes place at LGBT Foundation, Fairbairn House (2nd Floor), 72 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3NJ. Our venue is accessible by lift and stairs, and has gender-neutral toilers and an accessible toilet. For more info on getting to us: https://lgbt.foundation/downloads/HowToFindUsJune2023

For any questions or access requirements, please email women@lgbt.foundation

Before we dive into this discussion, let me take a moment to shed light on the ethos of LGBT Foundation. Rooted in a passion for inclusivity and equality, we stand as a beacon of support for the LGBTQ+ community. Our commitment extends beyond advocacy; it’s a dedication to fostering a world where every individual, irrespective of their gender identity or sexual orientation, can live authentically and without fear and can live a life that is full of hope and joy.

Defining the Unseen Battles:

Gender-based violence is deeply entrenched in the roots of inequality, power imbalances, and societal norms that mercilessly affect individuals based on their gender identity. It’s a complex issue, one that reveals its ugly face in various forms within intimate partner relationships, transcending the boundaries of the gender spectrum. From physical violence to psychological abuse and everything in between, the intricacies of gender-based violence demand a comprehensive approach to dismantle its hold on society.

Facing the Harsh Realities in the UK:

Let’s delve into the numbers, the stark realities that linger behind closed doors. These statistics aren’t just cold figures; they represent the stories of real people. These statistics transcend mere data; they narrate the lived stories of individuals. A disconcerting one in four lesbian women and gay men has disclosed instances of domestic abuse from the age of 16. Save Lives underscores that bisexual women face an alarming likelihood—almost three times more than heterosexual women—of encountering various forms of domestic abuse. Additionally, domestic abuse affects over 50% more bisexual women than lesbians.

Furthermore, Galop’s recent Sexual Violence report unveils distressing figures from its LGBT+ survey respondents. A staggering 88% reported experiencing sexual harassment, while 77% faced sexual assault since turning 18. Notably, a significant majority (79% out of 755) of LGBTQ+ survivors indicated that the perpetrators of sexual violence were individuals known to them.

It’s not just about numbers; it’s about lives disrupted and voices silenced.

Becoming Architects of Change:

The call to action is both personal and collective. We want every individual to become an architect of change. It begins with awareness, challenging stereotypes, and providing unwavering support to survivors. Engage in workshops, contribute to online discussions, and share resources. Allies, your role is pivotal – amplify marginalised voices and champion policies that include everyone. Consider volunteering, attend training sessions, and stay informed; let’s collectively pave the way for change.

LGBT Foundation’s Guiding Hand:

Our commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals facing domestic abuse and sexual violence is unwavering. As the manager of the team, we as team extend a personal invitation to those aged 16 and above in Greater Manchester who want to talk about domestic abuse to call our helpline (Telephone: 0345 3 30 30 30) or email us (dasupport@lgbt.foundation).

During these 16 Days of Activism, catch us in the community, spreading awareness and offering information about our LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence support services.

Fostering Collaboration with Others:

Recognising that one size doesn’t fit all, we actively support organisations in developing LGBTQ+ specific or inclusive domestic abuse and sexual violence services. Collaboration is key. Let’s share knowledge, build safe spaces, and cater to the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re in the field across the UK, let’s connect, let’s build a network that addresses the challenges faced by survivors head-on.

Ways to be an Activist Against Gender-Based Violence:

Now, let’s delve deeper into actionable steps individuals and organisations can take to be effective activists against gender-based violence, fostering a community of support, empathy, and lasting change.

1. Community Engagement: Actively participate in local workshops and events focused on gender-based violence. These gatherings not only provide valuable insights but also create a space for dialogue, fostering a sense of community. By attending, you contribute to a collective effort to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and inspire change at the grassroots level.
2. Online Advocacy: Engage in online discussions to amplify the conversation surrounding gender-based violence. Utilise social media platforms, forums, and online communities to share information, personal experiences, and resources. By leveraging the power of the internet, you extend the reach of your advocacy, creating a digital space where diverse voices are heard and acknowledged.
3. Resource Sharing: Share resources widely to enhance awareness. Circulate informative articles, videos, and support materials within your networks. Educate others on the multifaceted nature of gender-based violence, encouraging open dialogue and understanding. By being a resource hub, you empower individuals to educate themselves and others, fostering a more informed and compassionate community.
4. Allyship and Amplification: Be an ally by actively supporting and amplifying the voices of those who are marginalised and underrepresented. Advocate for inclusivity in all spaces, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. Through allyship, you contribute to creating an environment where survivors feel supported and empowered to share their stories, breaking the silence surrounding gender-based violence.
5. Advocacy for Inclusive Policies: Champion policies that are inclusive and sensitive to the diverse needs of all individuals. Advocate for the implementation of laws and regulations that address gender-based violence comprehensively, including provisions that protect LGBTQ+ individuals. Collaborate with local and national policymakers to influence positive change and ensure that the legal framework reflects the realities faced by all survivors.
6. Volunteering with Dedicated Organisations: Make a tangible impact by volunteering with organisations dedicated to combating gender-based violence. Offer your time and skills to support survivors, whether through helplines, outreach programs, or community events. Volunteering allows you to directly contribute to the well-being of those affected, fostering a sense of connection and solidarity within the activist community.
7. Continuous Education: Attend training sessions and workshops to continually educate yourself on the complexities of gender-based violence. Stay informed about evolving issues, emerging trends, and best practices in supporting survivors. By continuously educating yourself, you equip yourself with the necessary tools to be an effective advocate and ally.
8. Collaborative Partnerships: Form collaborative partnerships with other individuals and organisations. Strengthening alliances allows for the pooling of resources, knowledge, and expertise, creating a more robust and interconnected network dedicated to combating gender-based violence. Through collaboration, activists can share experiences and strategies, leading to more effective and sustainable initiatives.
9. Grassroots Initiatives: Initiate grassroots projects and campaigns within your community to address specific issues related to gender-based violence. These initiatives can range from awareness campaigns and educational programs to support groups and artistic expressions that highlight the impact of violence. Grassroots efforts have the power to create transformative change at the local level.

Let’s Talk, Let’s Act:

As we stand together during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, our call echoes with a personal touch. Engage in conversations, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re involved in this vital work across the UK, reach out to us at the LGBT Foundation. Let’s explore ways to develop your services and expand your knowledge. Together, let’s craft a world free from gender-based violence, where everyone can live authentically and without fear.

Closing Reflections:

For us, this isn’t just a campaign; it’s a journey, a shared experience. By understanding the intricacies of LGBTQ+ domestic abuse and sexual violence, actively advocating, and teaming up with organisations like ours, we’re steering towards a future where everyone, irrespective of their gender identity or sexual orientation, can break free from the chains of violence and fear. Let’s make it happen.

With heartfelt determination,

The Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Team LGBT Foundation

LGBT Foundation expresses deep disappointment regarding the recent announcement by the UK Health Secretary, which outlines the government’s intention to ban trans women from accessing female hospital wards. We firmly highlight the importance of safeguarding the privacy, dignity, and safety of all patients while upholding patient-centred, respectful, and flexible healthcare practices nationwide.

The decision made by the UK Government will have detrimental effects on the health and well-being of trans and non-binary individuals who already face barriers to accessing essential healthcare services. This decision will further discourage, or in some cases stop, trans and non-binary people from seeking care or openly discussing their gender identity and healthcare needs, ultimately leading to long-term health issues and an increased financial burden on an already under-pressure and under-resourced NHS.

Inclusive language has played a crucial role in dismantling barriers within the UK healthcare system in recent years, fostering an environment where trans and non-binary individuals feel more comfortable coming forward and discussing their healthcare needs. This leads to quicker and better life-saving healthcare interventions.

We urge the government to reconsider this decision and redirect their focus towards providing support and resources to the NHS to maintain its world-class, patient-centric, and freely accessible healthcare services for all.

LGBT Foundation remains dedicated to collaborating with allies across the health and wellbeing sector and the NHS to ensure that inclusive healthcare remains a reality for everyone.

LGBT Foundation cautiously welcomes the announcement of two new regional centres that have the potential to provide an improved provisional service to the many children, young people and their families who have been failed by the existing poor-quality service.

Children and young people exploring their identity have needed urgent action for some time. However, this haste should not come at the expense of not involving people with the knowledge and experience to deliver a service that meets the needs of young people.

Those with lived and professional experience are essential in providing a healthcare service that can meet the needs of those who use it. We urge NHS England to involve LGBTQ+ organisations in developing these services, ensuring they remain inclusive and can meet a diverse range of needs.

We have seen considerable success from services that employ and seek support from trans and non-binary practitioners in providing a safe space, reducing stigma, and combatting confusion around using gender services, and we advocate for this as a way forward.

To safeguard the future of children and young people we ask for:

• Meaningful involvement for trans, non-binary, and questioning children and young people and their families, with services created with and by people with lived experience to guarantee the needs of their service users are met.
  
• Purposeful relationships with LGBTQ+ organisations with a track record of providing vital support to children, young people, and their families in their struggles to get appropriate support from Gender Identity Development Services.
  
• Trans and non-binary people to be involved in the service at all levels, from clinical professionals to patients.

We know this is a worrying time for trans and non-binary young people and their loved ones, with the announced closure of the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) and the recent statements by Dr Hillary Cass. We are working with a coalition of our peers and inclusive organisations to provide the correct level of information to all people concerned. We are aware that the statement by NHS England on puberty blockers contradicts the details provided by Dr. Hilary Cass in her letter to them. We will continue to seek clarification around the role of puberty blockers and push for this information to be accessible and publicly available.

We are committed to supporting and uplifting trans and non-binary people, their friends and families, and all those who are questioning or who need to explore their identity in a safe and supportive space, whether they are trans or not. Everyone deserves to be able to use services that are safe, supportive, and inclusive, and we will continue to campaign for this.

Our Gender Spectrum Wellbeing Group is for trans, non-binary, intersex, gender-fluid, gender-queer, agender, gender-questioning people, and those who identify (wholly, or in part) as different from the gender they were assigned at birth.

The group is a wellbeing space for, and run by, gender diverse people. We will help you connect in a community space with others with shared identities. During the session, you can always take some space to think about your life, what’s working well, and where you can try new things to level up on your life satisfaction.

In the group, we share space with the community, talk about wellbeing, and learn new things we can put into practice that can spark joy, ease discomfort, and feel empowering.

LGBT Foundation cautiously welcomes the first snapshot of LGBTQ+ identities in the Census, with an understanding that this data remains incomplete, and that the true picture of LGBTQ+ people will become clearer in years to come.

To achieve a fair and equal society, we must understand the lived experience of LGBTQ+ communities. Census data is just one part of that – it constitutes a vital step in ensuring our communities can share their experiences and identities at a national level.

This is the first Census which has asked people about their gender identity, sexual orientation and trans identity. It is an exciting and ground-breaking moment that gives a baseline understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences in the UK. Through asking about these characteristics, diversity and difference is recognised and normalised. This promotes conversations and education on LGBTQ+ people which are necessary for recording a more accurate representation of our communities.

We are proud to advocate for the needs of at least 1.5 million LGB+ people in England and Wales, which is equivalent to the populations of many countries like Cyprus or Estonia and more than the total number of people working in the NHS (1.2 million). We are also proud to work on behalf of approximately 262,000 people who identified as trans and non-binary within the Census. A figure higher than the population of U.K. cities like Newcastle, Wolverhampton or Southampton.

We know that figures provided in the Census represent only a small proportion of all LGBTQ+ people, and we hope that an increasing number of our communities feel confident to self-disclose in future Censuses.

Unfortunately, there are a range of reasons why people won’t feel able to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity. The historic and ongoing attitudes towards LGBTQ+ communities, particularly trans and non-binary people, will stop many from feeling safe to provide this information. Meanwhile, many LGBTQ+ people are living within households and environments where they are unable to be open about their gender identity, sexual orientation and trans identity. As such it will be years before we get an accurate picture, informed by figures from, and comparison with, future surveys.

Previous data collation landmarks, such as ethnicity monitoring, have led to changes in commissioning and a greater understanding of barriers and inequalities. We hope the data from the Census supports local and national policymakers that advocate for LGBTQ+ people and promotes a richer and more detailed understanding of our community’s needs.

We advocate for increased monitoring beyond the Census, for example across health and social care settings, to ensure a rich tapestry of data around the experiences of LGBTQ+ communities is documented. Recording sexual orientation, trans status and gender identity is a huge first step in making LGBTQ+ people feel included.

LGBTQ+ communities experience inequalities in every area of life, and regardless of the size of this population, everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. We thank the Office for National Statistics for starting this journey and will continue to work with communities and organisations that wish to build on this extraordinary work.

For guidance and information about data collection and monitoring visit: lgbt.foundation/monitoring.

For the latest information about LGBT Foundation visit lgbt.foundation.

Our main concerns are that:

• Barriers to accessing the service have been increased, leaving children and young people with less access to a service that has already been failing to meet the demands of service users for a number of years. This leaves children and young people without essential support or treatment to keep them safe.
• For those children and young people who do manage to be seen by the service, additional barriers have been put in place which will prevent them from accessing essential medication.

• Young people will be required to take part in a clinical study in order to access hormone blockers or cross-sex hormones, meaning that they cannot meaningfully consent to take part in this research in a way that is ethical.
  
• The specification actively discourages the exploration of gender, questioning gender stereotypes, and social transition under the grounds that gender incongruence in childhood may be a ‘transient phase’. Families and primary care facilitators are advised not to respect children and young people’s names or pronouns, and not to affirm social transition prior to diagnosis.
  
• Young people experiencing mental health issues or any neurodiversity such as autism or ADHD may be forced to delay their treatment until they have been able to access interventions for these experiences first.

Evidence shows that 94% of young people maintain their gender identity following social transition and that social transition itself is a key protective factor in alleviating dysphoria and distress and suicide prevention (Olson et al., 2022).

We encourage the use of the WPATH-approved DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria for ‘gender incongruence’, as this is more up-to-date and aligned with international clinical best practice than the outdated ‘gender dysphoria’ diagnosis.

We are calling on allies to respond to the Public Consultation (open until 4th December) and tell NHS England what trans and non-binary young people and their families need from an inclusive and affirming service: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/specialised-comm…

LGBT Foundation will be working on making the consultation more accessible and providing our communities with more information in the coming weeks.

If you have concerns or are affected in any way by the launch of this Service Specification, contact our helpline on 0345 3 30 30 30 or email HELPLINE@lgbt.foundation.