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COUNCIL LEADER REFLECTS ON AUTHORITY'S LGBT ACHIEVEMENTS ON EVE OF ELEVENTH CARDIFF WALES MARDI GRAS
September 3, 2010 9:18 AM
This weekend the eleventh Cardiff Wales LGBT Mardi Gras takes place in the city. The event is set to attract over 40,000 people and is recognised as Wales' biggest celebration of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.
Along with being a sponsor of the Cardiff Wales LGBT Mardi Gras, Cardiff's Liberal Democrat-led council has supported the LGBT community in a number of ways during the past year that have received recognition.
Earlier in the year, Cardiff Council was delighted to become the only Welsh local authority to be named in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index top 100, being placed at number 75. The index ranks employers in the public and private sectors throughout the UK for the way they support their lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. The work of the council's LGBT Employee Group was particularly recognised by Stonewall as part of the assessment. And in further recognition of the fact that the council had risen a staggering 94 places from last year's index, an award was presented to the local authority by Stonewall Cymru for becoming the most improved employer in Wales.
The council's LGBT Employee Group has assisted the local authority in the past year with a number of initiatives including helping to organise the city's celebrations of LGBT history month, organising events to mark National Coming Out Day in October, and arranging to raise rainbow flags across council buildings for IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) in May.
The group has also helped in developing the council's Single Equality Scheme which will be published in 2011 and the council is also working closely with Stonewall, Transgender Wales, and LGBT Excellence Centre Wales to ensure that the needs of LGBT communities are clearly mapped and communicated.
Along with achieving a place in the Stonewall 100, the council has also been recognised by other LGBT organisations for its commitment to the LGBT community. Cardiff Council recently became the first local education authority in Wales to gain the LGBT Excellence Centre Wales' Rainbow Mark accreditation for its achievements in tackling homophobic bullying in the city's schools.
In addition, the council's housing department has also been inspired to go for the Rainbow Mark accreditation and the council's newly created LGBT Youth Provision, 'Loud and Proud', recently reached the final of the Youth Work in Wales Excellence Awards.
Cardiff's Liberal Democrat council leader, Councillor Rodney Berman, said: "On the eve of the eleventh Cardiff Wales LGBT Mardi Gras, it is appropriate to reflect on the council's many achievements in the field of LGBT equality that have occurred since last year's event. It is particularly pleasing to note that we have received external recognition for this work in a number of areas.
"For instance I was personally delighted that after a number of years of increasing effort, Cardiff Council reached the top 100 in Stonewall's list of gay-friendly employers. And it was particularly gratifying that we were specifically recognised by Stonewall Cymru as the most-improved employer in Wales.
"It was also extremely pleasing to see the council obtain valuable recognition for the pioneering work we've been undertaking with the LGBT Excellence Centre Wales in tackling homophobic bullying in schools across the city, and to see the council's LGBT youth service 'Loud and Proud' shortlisted in the Youth Work in Wales Excellence Awards.
"Since the Liberal Democrats took charge in 2004, the council has been a keen supporter of the Cardiff Wales Mardi Gras which has become an increasingly important event in the city's calendar. And just like the Cardiff Mardi Gras, I have no doubt that the council's commitment and recognition of the LGBT community will continue to go from strength to strength."
Notes: Councillor Rodney Berman will once again be taking to the Mardi Gras stage at around 2.30 pm on Saturday 4 September to formally welcome attendees to the day's festivities on behalf of Cardiff Council.
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