Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+) History Month is marked across the UK throughout February as an opportunity to connect and reflect on the past and present of the LGBT+ community, celebrate LGBT+ culture and progress towards equality, while driving awareness that discrimination and violence against people in the LGBT+ community are all too common. Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic attitudes remain deeply embedded in many cultures around the world. In 70 countries, discriminatory laws criminalise private, consensual same-sex relationships and in at least five countries, the death penalty.
NHS Lanarkshire’s LGBT+ staff network was set up in 2022 as a forum where LGBT+ employees can come together quarterly to discuss challenges/issues they face and create actions to address, make appropriate representation and promote LGBT+ inclusion.
LGBT+ staff network Chair Jonathan Cavan invites all staff who identify as LGBT+ to join the network.
Jonathan said: “We are a recently formed network but have already supported some vitally important discussions. We’ve had speakers on whistleblowing, Datix reporting of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic incidents and supporting LGBT+ families that adopt or foster at our meetings. We are currently forming an action plan to address LGBT+ awareness and inclusion across NHS Lanarkshire.
“NHS Lanarkshire supports staff protected time to attend so, if you would like to join us, please ensure you plan and arrange with your line manager – further information on all staff networks is available on FirstPort.”
During LGBT+ History Month the equality and diversity team will be visiting acute hospital sites to raise awareness of the network, LGBT+ history and distributing inclusive Pride badges. The NHS Scotland Pride badge promotes inclusion for LGBT+ people and makes a statement that there is no place for discrimination in NHS Scotland.
The NHS Pride badge toolkit can be accessed at: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/nhsspb/
For more information, email LGBT.staffnetwork@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
