Respect Magazine - February 2024 by RespectLGBT

Respect FEBRUARY 2024

LGBTQ+ History Month Respect in 2024 The Respect Awards And much more...

Magazine

EDITORS LETTER Hello and welcome to our last Respect Magazine! Don’t worry, we are not disappearing completely – in fact you will be seeing more of us! We will be moving to a slightly shorter newsletter format but sending these out quarterly. This way we can keep you informed with more current news and events that are happening at the time. In the old clichés of New Year’s posts – what a whirlwind/Taylor-Swift-love-life/ rollercoaster these past few years have been. We have weathered weather, a pandemic, wars, 9721748 Prime Ministers, government policies across the globe trying to slam the car into reverse on LGBTQ+ rights – particularly for our trans and non-binary family. But as we begin the year of 1944… Sorry, 2024. Sounds an awful lot like it though, right?! We have a lot to be thankful for in 2024 and this issue of the Respect Magazine hopes to highlight this. February is LGBTQ+ History Month, so we take a look at this year’s theme – ‘Medicine’, trans healthcare as well as a piece on living with HIV. We have a trip down memory lane on the progresses and losses the LGBTQ+ community has had in 2023 as well as the Pride events. There will also be a spread of photos from the first Respect LGBTQ+ Awards – a truly brilliant event with some wonderful photos! We also have profiles on all the winners, to give you a taste of what they do and why! Our exec sponsor profile this month is Kenyatte Nelson, and it is an excellent and thought provoking read, as is the piece on the Iris Prize winning film ‘Ted & Noel’ – watch this short film if you can, it is well worth it. This magazine is the product of a lot of hard work done by the amazing people on the Comms, Engagement and Events Working Group, so I wanted to say a massive thank to everyone who has put this issue, and all the issues over the past few years together – you are all incredible! So, as we say goodbye to the magazine in its current format, we look forward to the next chapter of informing and entertaining you, it’s what we love to do. P.S. Don’t worry, the Media Review is going nowhere. They will have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands. Sean xxx

(Sean definitely picked this picture)

By Rebecca Smith

FROM THEN

2 By Rebecca Smith

What has changed for Respect Despite the current challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, there has been significant growth and change over the past 15 years. At the Respect Network, we have evolved alongside this progress, transitioning from being an LGBT Network to a more inclusive LGBTQ+ Network. This transformation provides an excellent starting point to explore how things have changed. In the early days of Respect Magazine, we proudly identified as an LGBT Network, aligning our language with the broader community. Looking back, it now seems bizarre that our language and awareness was solely limited to individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Our language has adapted in sync with societal changes. Shifting from LGBT to LGBTQ+ is not merely about appending letters as an afterthought; it signifies a purposeful embrace of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. The '+' at the end symbolizes our commitment to continual learning and an acknowledgment of the rich tapestry within our community. Although the people behind the magazines and events here at Respect have changed many times over the past 15 years, looking back we have still maintained the same ideals. They are not something we actively mention these days, but it’s clear to see we still operate on the same four key pillars that we lived and worked by back at the beginning: Support, Inform, Socialise and Develop. However, it does seem like we approach these things slightly different now, and the magazine is a great example of that. In the earliest

editions of our newsletter/magazine we can find, the emphasis was much more on socialising. Predominantly a lot of coming out stories and more casual interviews alongside some shorter pieces on headlines and even celebrity news. Our more recent issues are more information focused by summarising current events across the world and introducing the higher ups that support the Network. That is not to say we shy away from the social in our magazine, we still love a bit of celebrity news and last issue we shared biographies on 15 of our LGBTQ+ Icons! One of the standout parts of our magazine now, and the network as a whole, is definitely how much more we look beyond our own network. Connecting with the other networks within the Co-op has become even more crucial, because people do not fit conveniently into one network with no need for the others. Recognising how these different intersections of minorities shape an individual’s experiences is so important, which is why we celebrate and respect each other. Between spotlighting other Networks in the magazine, to participating in Diversity & Inclusion coffee mornings and working closely with Aspire in particular as trans rights issues come to the forefront, we are proud to work with each other to make sure everyone is represented and supported in their own experiences and struggles. Looking ahead, we remain committed to continual learning, celebrating diversity, and respecting each other's unique journeys. Here is to the next chapter of growth, inclusivity, and shared experiences within the ever-evolving

NOW

AND BEYOND

2024 By Kerry Jay With the issuing of our final Respect magazine, we’ve been reflecting on our network activity this past year. We've had some great successes in 2023, with hosting the biggest Co-op Pride celebrations ever, facilitating several educational sessions and finally, the first ever Respect LGBTQ+ Awards Night! In 2024 we’ll be going through an exciting period of transformational change. We’ve grown as a colleague network, and we want to hear from you about how we can better serve our members in the coming year. Do we need more educational sessions? More social events? Would you like to see new ways to receive our fantastic content or have some ideas on partnerships? You can let us know what you want to see by emailing RespectLGBT@coop.co.uk We need you to help us in our mission to help create a safe and inclusive workplace, where colleagues can be themselves always, no matter their gender identity, trans status, or sexual orientation. This year we want to focus our commitment to our trans and non-binary colleagues as they face even greater struggles in society. The way we aim to do this, is to increase our partnership portfolio with other incredible organisations, reach into other business units who champion the LGBTQ+ community and be there for our colleagues whenever support is needed.

Respect in 2024 Through this, we're also looking to increase representation of allyship within the network, as we've recognised now, more than ever, allyship is vital in creating an inclusive workplace culture. Increasing allyship within the business enables colleagues to actively challenge biases, foster psychological safety, and amplify marginalised voices, which will contribute to a more equitable and empowering work environment for all our colleagues. And, of course, we will continue to mark key dates in the inclusion calendar so do keep an eye out for our highlight campaigns:

-LGBTQ history month in February -Pride month in June -Iris Prize festival in October -Trans Awareness week in November. We're passionate about what's to come, so please stay tuned for our exciting announcements! We're at our best when we work together.

Sponsor Spotlight

KENYATTE NELSON As our Chief Membership and Customer Officer and member of the Op Board, Kenyatte Nelson, plays a big role in shaping and promoting the businesses brand. As a co-sponsor of the Respect LGBTQ+ network, we wanted to learn more about how he can use his platform to help promote allyship and issues which affect the community By Dan Sayers-Yates

What motivated you to become a sponsor for the Respect network? What made you decide to join Co-op? I was looking for a business that could give me five things: large scale; business unit or geographic complexity; end-to-end marketing responsibility; proposition design responsibility; and the potential to have accountability to a significant part of the ‘profit and loss’. I also wanted to do all of this in the context of a business that was values driven. The reality is that there aren’t that many businesses in the UK that even tick the first box. Outside of financial services and grocery, there are not many businesses that generate more than £5 billion in turnover, and the reality is that I never saw myself working for a grocery/food retailer. It just wasn’t something I was terribly interested in. I tend to enjoy businesses where the consumer engagement is high (i.e., fashion, lifestyle, tech, travel, leisure etc.) as those businesses tend to be much more fun and, frankly, more interesting to work in. That said, Co-op is a different kind of business entirely. The fact that we’re a large-scale consumer co-operative makes this a business that offers the scale, complexity, functional/ strategic responsibility that I was looking for, while being an organisation that’s incredibly interesting. I’ve barely been here 10 months and

As a person with ethnic minority heritage, and being from the United States, I know what it means to be part of a marginalized group that one can only understand if they’re either a part of that group or have done some work to understand their own blind spots, biases, and privilege. It’s always been very important to me that I not only look to represent minority voices.. wherever I can, but that I also place myself in places and spaces occupied by groups that are minorities in ways that are different than what I’m accustomed to. In this way I can better understand where I may have blind spots of my own and move to address them while helping to provide allyship.

Why is it important for people not within the LGBTQ+ community to show allyship ? As an ally, if I’m speaking on LGBTQ+ issues to people who aren’t necessarily from the community, that common identity me and the audience share can really help messages to land. This familiarity, which in my mind is a prerequisite for intimacy, also plays a key part in building trust. Therefore, people outside of minority and marginalized groups are key enablers in ensuring these voices are heard, understood, and empathized with. Allyship is the driving force for positive change.

2023 marked Respect’s 15th birthday, why do you think networks such as ours are important for colleagues?

How do you promote allyship and inclusion, be that in your role as Chief Membership & Customer Officer or in your personal life? For me, participation is promotion. I have the privilege of sitting in a seat that can be seen from across the business. One of the benefits of being a senior leader in any organisation is that you have a much higher degree of visibility. But that visibility comes with a certain responsibility. Sitting in an elevated seat gives you a broader perspective, but you soon realise that your actions can be seen by just about everyone in the business. There is nowhere to hide and very little to shield you. The actions (or inaction) of every Op Board member are on full display. What we choose to do with that visibility is critically important because it sets the tone for the balance of the organisation. As the saying goes: ’pressure is a privilege.’

As someone who seems confident with who they are, what advice can you give someone who maybe struggles with this? Always know that you were asked to deliver in your current role based on what you bring to it. Once you understand this, you’ll never question the idea of bringing your full self to anything you find yourself doing. There is such great liberation in living in absolute honesty and authenticity. When you show up as your authentic self, you’ll never question whether your colleagues, friends, peers, partner etc. are around you for the wrong reasons, because if what you’ve shown them is the truest version of yourself then you’ll never feel the need to show them anything else. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that businesses and teams have cultures and cultural norms which means not everyone feels safe enough to be themselves. My view is that life is too short, go where you’re celebrated…not where you’re tolerated.

Now, maybe more than ever, we can all do with a bit more curiosity, empathy and understanding. Humans are strange and funny creatures. Sometimes I honestly think we’re nothing more than high order Apes. Our world and our technology have evolved incredibly fast, but people are pretty much the same as we’ve been for the last 50,000 years. We value safety and we find it in routine. It’s a simple concept that has helped us survive as a species and although it is very HUMAN, sometimes it is not very HUMANE. Networks like Respect remind us that, for as much adversity we experience because of our differences, it is our diversity that makes humanity so interesting, colourful, innovative and unique. The celebration of those differences has never been more important.

Our vision is to create a safer workplace for colleagues, regardless of their gender identity, trans status or sexual orientation – what will your commitment be in helping us achieve this? I don’t want to just create a safer workplace, that is an exceedingly low bar. Nobody in this organisation should have this as an ambition. I want to create the most vibrant, forward thinking, innovative and high performing workplace in the UK where, if committed, every person in that space can see a path towards success in whatever endeavour they might imagine or ambition they wish to achieve.

Co-op will be supporting more Prides this year than ever before; will we be seeing you there? I’d love to. I’m a single dad so, generally, the only thing keeping me from Pride is childcare but I’m looking to sort that out for this year.

We’ll be holding you to that! If you’ve ever been to Pride, do you have a favourite memory you’d like to share with us? I went to pride in Manchester several years ago and I’ll never forget how the city changed the traffic lights so that they showed the ‘male’ and ‘female’ icons. Some were individual, some were ‘male/female’, some were ‘male/male’ and others were ‘female/female’. It was such a clever way for the city to show support for Pride, I loved it.

2023 PRIDE ROUNDUP

By Haydn Rothwell

2023 saw Respect take part in our biggest Pride celebration so far! We joined 24 parades and supported over 50 other local events across the country. From Glasgow, all the way down to Plymouth, we were able to connect with lots of communities and show our support for our LGBTQ+ family on a national level. Last year also marked the first time we were able to join forces with our Nisa colleagues, which was a fantastic opportunity to reach those within the wholesale part of our business. For the second year in a row, we joined Pride in London, where we celebrated the day parading through Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus and along Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square. We hosted our infamous party in our Soho Food store, where we were joined by our friend and Rupaul’s Drag Race UK star Vicki Vivacious, who provided the fun and helped us to promote LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion. In August we participated in Manchester Pride, where we the rain held off enough for us to be able to walk through the city with our Pride mascot Colin. Again, we were able to run some activities within our Manchester - High Street store, where we had music from a local LGBTQ+ DJ, face painting, ‘Spin to Win’ and our members and customers were able to share positive messages on our window montage. Last year also marked Respect’s 15th birthday (can you believe it!). So, during Pride Month we hosted several events to celebrate the community and educate colleagues on important LGBTQ+ issues. In Angel Square we hosted a panel of colleagues and leaders to discuss the ‘Power of Inclusive Language’ where we also showcased the short film ‘Sexual Graffiti’, in collaboration with the Iris Prize Film Festival. The panel was also attended by Neil Ely, the director of the film, who shared his own personal story around inclusive language. We ran a similar event at Nisa’s office in Scunthorpe too, where we helped colleagues understand more about the work we do in Respect. That’s not all, throughout Pride Month we hosted weekly takeovers of Coop radio in our Food stores, where we promoted emerging LGBTQ+ musicians. Whilst it’s important to honour the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month, it’s even more important that Pride is celebrated all year round. Now more than ever, our community is being targeted by anti-trans policies and rhetoric. No matter your identity, trans status or sexual orientation, it’s all of our responsibility to speak up and make our voices heard, so we can feel safe enough to be our authentic selves and live without fear.

Time to get cosy! Respect content creator and member Sean has once again braved the labourious task of hunting down some entertainment to share, review, and recommend! By Sean Walsh

“The kids books?” I hear you ask? Yes – but it is so much more! The reimaging of the books into this series that isn’t just aimed at kids is brilliant. There are still elements aimed at a younger audience but there is such strong casting and writing, it is definitely more than a kids show. If you remember the books and the original shows from the 90s, then it will be a pleasant surprise to see the story of Slappy being told again. This time around there is a much more diverse cast and there is much more emphasis on the single story. The story centres around a group of highschoolers and their parents and a secret that has been hidden

for 30 years. The new generation must come together to find out what is going on in their small town (it’s always a small town!) and how it relates to their new English teacher, Mr. Bratt played by the wonderful Justin Long. Alongside Long is Rachael Harris – best known for her roles in ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’, ‘The Hangover’ and ‘Lucifer’, Isa Briones who was in ‘Picard’ and trans actor Miles McKenna who is a very well-known YouTuber on LGBTQ+ issues. All together they make a show that is intense, funny, heart-warming and spooky!

with both wonderful and tragic consequences.

And then there is Verna. Someone who you will see throughout the series in various forms, she is keeping a beady eye on the family, with a very special interest in them. (I am trying very hard not to give too much away!)

‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ is the latest series created and directed by Mike Flanagan – his previous works include the incredible ‘The Haunting of Hill House’, ‘Midnight Mass’ and ‘The Midnight Club’. Based upon the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, the series follows the Usher family and their meteoric rise as a global pharmaceutical giant, based upon their wonderdrug ‘Ligadone’ which causes an opioid epidemic around the world. The 8 episodes follow the rise of the family as they become hugely successful, starting with the heads of the family – twin brother and sister, Roderick and Madeline Usher played by Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell respectively – in 1952 with the illness and death of their mother. We then jump to the 1970s, where the duo make a deal that will seal their destiny

This is an amazing show if you are into horror and drama. It also has a very powerful message about the opioid crisis, with a very thinly veiled parody of the Purdue family who created OxyContin and the real-life opioid crisis. There is some great representation of the community – Victorine is lesbian, at least two of the children are bisexual and one is in a polyamorous relationship. It is a very well-rounded show and one that will definitely be rewatched!

2023 in Review

By Sean Walsh

What a year 2023 has been! A few bullet points of the year: •

Scotland stood up for trans rights whilst England has seemingly been trying to roll them back

•

TERFs (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists) and other bigots went crazy when companies sold items of anything related to LGBTQ+, BLM (Black Lives Matter) or promoted by LGBTQ+ people, which led to some bizarre videos of people setting fire to expensive clothing they had already bought

2023 was also a historic year for EU LGBTQ+ representation. San Marino would elect a gay head of state in Paolo Rondelli who served in the ceremonial role as one of the two Captain Regents for the allotted term of 6 months. And in July, Edgars Rinkēvičs was elected as the first openly gay President in Latvia! This is momentous for several reasons – not least that this is the first time a member of the LGBTQ+ community has been elected to the head of state – different to the head of a government such as a Prime Minister. Latvia – a country in Eastern Europe – was formerly a member of the USSR. Homosexuality was decriminalised with the formation of the Soviet Union in 1917 and anything related to sexuality was deemed to be private and therefore not to be dealt with under the law. However, things turned in 1933 when it was recriminalized for men – same sex relationships between women were not recriminalized. Throughout the rest of the 20th century, homosexuals in Latvia – along with the rest of the USSR – were under the extreme pressure of the Central Committee. If you were caught in a homosexual relationship of any kind, the punishment could be a term of up to 5 years in a prison camp.

•

The tragic murder of Brianna Ghey and the eventual guilty verdict of the two killers

•

The Indian Supreme Court declined to make same-sex marriage legal – but the parliament is creating a committee to look into granting the same rights and privileges to heterosexual couples.

Since the fall of the ‘Iron Curtain’, things have been turbulent for the LGBTQ+ community in the former USSR states. Some countries freed from Communism have progressed – most have made male same-sex relations legal, with some bringing in discrimination protections as well. However, there is still a lot of work to be done – for example, in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, it is still illegal to be gay. The election of the first gay president in the EU is a major step forward. Edgars Rinkēvičs is a politician who began their career the Ministry of Defence in 1998, working his way up through to the Policy Department, Secretary of State for Defence, Head of the Chancery and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He publicly came out via X – formally Twitter – in 2014, stating "I proudly announce I am gay… Good luck all of you." He is a staunch supporter for LGBTQ+ right, which he pledged to fight for when he came out. Hopefully we will see more of during his tenure as head of state, as it is still illegal for same-sex couples to marry in Latvia (though civil unions are legal), and trans and non-binary people’s issues are still woefully unrepresented.

The lack of representation of trans and nonbinary people and the issues they face are not limited to Europe. Whilst the rhetoric around trans/non-binary rights can be wildly polarising, the issues around trans and non-binary people get lost, harmfully legislated, completely ignored, or reduced to a sidenote. The ‘Gender Questioning Children’ guidance for schools that was published in the UK in December 2023, by Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch, significantly reduces the rights and protections of children who are questioning their gender identity with such language as, “In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of children questioning the way they feel about being a boy or a girl … This has been linked to *INSERT BUBBLE HERE* gender identity ideology, the belief that a person can have a ‘gender’ that is different to their biological sex.”

The guidance doesn't go anywhere near providing the right level of support and clarity for teachers and Trans and Non-Binary students. In October 2022, Jésus Baena was elected as the first non-binary magistrate in Mexico, and in November 2023 was found dead at their home in Mexico City, along with their partner Dorian Herrera. Little is known about their partner, aside from being a model and lawyer. They were the first Mexican to have ‘non-binary’ on their birth certificate, as well as on their passport and was given a gender-neutral title within the judiciary, making them a massive inspiration in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly the non-binary community.

The circumstances of the death as described in the press are horrendous. Both Baena and Herrera had extensive fatal as well as defensive wounds. A week after the deaths occurred, the prosecution service stated that the deaths were a murder-suicide committed by Dorian, starting from an argument. The Mexican LGBTQ+ rights organisation ‘Letra S’ called for the case to be looked at “without prejudice” and when the results of the investigation were released, were doubtful of the state’s findings. As reported in ‘The Advocate’, “Alejandro Brito, director of the LGBTQ+ rights group Letra S, told the Associated Press that state prosecutors are “loaded with prejudices” against the community. “In these types of homicides, they always try to disqualify or belittle,” Brito said. “These statements that the prosecutor is giving, what they’re doing isn’t clarifying the acts, they’re adding fuel to the fire of these prejudices.”

Cont. on next page

Cont. Mexico has made strides towards equality – but this is focussed on the LGB part of the community. Trans and non-binary people are still harassed and discriminated against, even with the law stating that non-binary people can change their legal documentation to match their identity. Anti-discrimination legislation is only for sexual orientation only – not gender identity or expression. And this is not limited to a specific area. The media focusses mostly on the ‘G’ and to a lesser degree the ‘L’ parts of the LGBTQ+. There are many reasons for this – gay men had the most legislation against them, had the most prolific ‘scandals’ about them and were the most demonised. During the Cold War in particular, the ‘Lavender Scare’ was highly publicised as a threat to the morality of society. This was driven by the US government, saying that homosexuals were Communists, and they were trying to spy for the Soviet Union - this was not helped by the case of Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess and Donald MacLean who were all found to be spying for the Soviet Union and were homosexual or bisexual. So, this could be why the focus tends to be on gay men – they had the spotlight on them. But that was decades ago, times have changed and now society needs to catch up. There are a lot more letters that need representation, need to be listened to. These people are kind, funny, wonderful, flawed, desperate, incredible human beings – just like everyone else. And they need to be heard, not just talked about. Ask the questions, but ask them the questions, not people who have not lived the experience you are guessing and making decisions on.

And good things happened in 2023 as well don’t forget: •

In February, Spain passed legislation to advance the rights of LGBTQ+ people as well as a provision allowing for legal gender recognition based on selfidentification

•

In March, Bolivia’s highest court recognized civil unions for same-sex couples

•

Dane County, Wisconsin declares itself a ‘sanctuary’ for trans and non-binary people

•

The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal ruled that forcing trans people to undergo gender reaffirming surgery before being able to change the gender on their ID cards is unconstitutional, whilst later in the year ruling that the lack of recognition for same-sex couples violated the right to privacy under the Basic Law.

•

Cook Islands, Mauritius decriminalised homosexuality and Slovenia, Andorra, Estonia legalised of same-gender marriages.

•

‘Ley Trans’ was passed in Spain which allows trans people over 16 years old to self-identify on their government documents without the need for psychological counselling and those under 16 to do so but with some restrictions.

Let us hope that 2024 continues in this vein and we start to see a more monumental drive for the rights of LGBTQ+ people, no matter what flavour! A great start was with France who have just elected their first gay head of government – Gabriel Attal, who at 34 years old is also the youngest to ever serve as Prime Minister.

TED & NOEL By Lindsay Robinson We talk about LGBTQ+ and its history, but how far would we have come if we didn’t have activists like Ted Brown making a stand for LGBTQ+ rights?

Director Alcamo said, “we hope viewers will go out and share the issues raised by the film far and wide and join us in our determination to protect LGBTQ+ lives.”

Ted was a British gay rights activist and was described in the Guardian as a ‘key figure in both British civil rights and LGBTQ+ History. Ted helped organise the first UK Gay Pride in London in 1972, with the UK branch of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF). More than 2000 people marched at the event and he is famously known for stopping at Trafalgar Square for a kiss making history where he was one of the few Black faces. That day he took photographs of buoyant butch lesbians and men in drag, all crowding round the Trafalgar square lions which had been covered in banners demanding liberation for all. Ted worked with the GLF to help improve the treatment and representation of the LGBTQ+ people in the media. He later worked with Lewisham Action Policing and later again co-founded Black Lesbian and Gays Against Media Homophobia. Ted has spent all his life fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community but his latest fight has been more personal. Ted’s latest documentary shines a light on the abuse of queer people in care homes. The documentary shows the abuse Ted’s husband Noel faced while in a care home in Croydon. He was burned by cigarettes and left bruised while he lived there because of his struggle with dementia. They sued the council and were awarded £30,000 and an apology for the abuse. Sadly, Noel had died before this had happened. The director of the short film – Julia Alcamo – won the Iris Prize Coop Audience Award. The film follows the activist Ted as he grieves for Noel while trying to find the strength for one last campaign The trailer shows Ted saying “I feel slightly guilty about what happened to Noel, I don’t want anyone else to go through that. I want them to recognise that homophobia is an issue in care homes.” 15

Following the release of ‘Ted & Noel’, the Londonbased Compassion in Care charity published the second part of its ‘Stripped of All Pride’ report in July. The report highlighted harrowing data on the abuse suffered by LGBTQ+ people, with contributions from whistle-blowers and family members in the care system. The Coop Respect Network are proud to sponsor the Coop Audience Award, and the story of Ted and Noel really highlights that we still have a lot to fight for. The film will be available to watch on Channel 4 in the UK and will be touring the UK with Iris on the Move in February and March. www.irisprize.org You can also join the UK-wide touring programme ‘Iris on The Move 2024’ that starts in February. Through Iris on the Move, we aim to make inclusive LGBTQ+ films accessible to people across the UK. We can already confirm that we will be returning to Aberystwyth, Bangor, Belfast, Blackpool, Caernarfon, Liverpool, Manchester, Pontardawe, Plymouth, and Swansea. If you would like to screen Iris films in your area, please book by emailing to adnan@irisprize.org. The calendar of the events can be found Calendar 2024 - Iris Prize

RESPECT AWARDS 2023 was an incredibly exciting year for the Respect network! One of this year's big headlines, we hosted our first ever (and hopefully annual) Respect LGBTQ+ Awards, in late November. The night was an absolute blast, with many colleagues and leaders attending from across the country. Entertainment was provided by local Manchester talent, drag queen Annabelle Lector and DJ Deany, with our friends at Iris Prize Film festival also joining us to host a showcase of some of their short films. We came together to recognise and celebrate LGBTQ+ excellence within the business, with colleagues nominating each other across several categories for awards. We’ve profiled each of the winners, sharing more about who they are and how they’ve helped to create better, safer, fairer workplace for colleagues, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity or trans status:

LINDSAY ROBINSON Winner of the Respect Award - 'LGBTQ+ Inclusive Leader of the Year' Congratulations on your win! How does it feel? I honestly can’t believe it! I am lost for words, to be recognised is a fantastic feeling but by your colleagues is even more amazing. I am so proud to be receiving this award.

What does it mean to you to win the LGBTQ+ Leader award? Inclusion is so important to me, making sure that everyone has a say is something I strive for. People are different; that is what makes the best teams, you have different qualities to get the best results. I do my best to champion this, I want everyone to come to work to be their best self. To do that they have to be happy, we must create an environment where everyone feels safe. It’s something I pride myself on and to win an award to show that the work I do is being recognised is so rewarding.

Why do you think it is important to be an inclusive leader? We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. We must keep talking and highlighting the wrongs that are still happening, because everyone will think it’s all ok out in the world when it is not. As a leader I can use my influence to ensure that these topics are kept alive, to encourage colleagues to take part in our events, to like a post we share, to speak out when it is needed, if we all do a small part of this then we can make changes, make a difference even if it’s a small difference it could be huge to someone. 18

How do you think more people can get involved within the LGBTQ+ community and issues the community faces? Sign up to our Network, join events that we put on. Have a look in the community you live, actively see if there are things you can support. Get involved in Pride – if your area doesn’t have a Pride could you potentially look at bringing people together to set one up? Speak up and stand up if you see something wrong.

What changes would you like to see from society with regards to the LGBTQ+ community? I would love to see a time when you don’t have to ‘come out’, you just be you and people don’t assume you have a husband at home. I would like to see whoever you love, you shouldn’t have to fight to be treated the same.

Is there anything else you would like to say? Just a massive thank you to who nominated me I am truly grateful, to know I am making a difference has really inspired me and highlighted how important the work we do as a Network has to continue.

HEATHER SCANLONGREEN Winner of the Respect Award - 'LGBTQ+ Trailblazer of the Year'

Congratulations on your win! How does it feel? I have had time to get over the shock of winning an award. It feels good to be recognised but what I have been recognised for isn’t out of the ordinary or it shouldn’t be out of the ordinary. I have shared awareness with my peers via chats and presentation. I only wish that one day it would be to a wider audience in the business. Not only raising awareness for LGBTQ+ but covering all diversity and inclusion topics that is important to share.

What does it mean to you to win the LGBTQ+ Trailblazer award? It means a lot to me; I think it means that the awareness I am trying to share has not been for nothing. Knowing that I was nominated for the award give me a great sense of achievement that I have impacted someone enough that they wanted me to be recognised for that.

How do you think more people can get involved within the LGBTQ+ community and issues the community faces? I think if people are open to talk about what is happening, they can share in their teams – getting to the wider audience. The information needs to be shared and showcased if necessary and it needs to have people to drive that to get it out there.

What changes would you like to see from society with regards to the LGBTQ+ community? I think in a perfect world we wouldn’t need to have coming out stories, we wouldn’t need to be labelled as LGBTQ+. We would just be ourselves and people would accept that without having to have a story behind it.

Is there anything else you would like to say? Why do you think it is important to be an inclusive leader? Everyone should feel welcomed in the workplace. Everyone should feel that they belong and that they are not just a number. We need to speak about unconscious bias and how to deal with things that may feel uncomfortable so we can open our knowledge and gain the ability to feel comfortable so others can feel the same.

I would just like to say thank you to whoever nominated me for the award. Without them I would never have got to share my views and for that I am very grateful. Sometimes you can feel like you are just a number in the company, and you don’t know how to share your thoughts to help everyone move forward on inclusion. Hopefully one day I can make that difference for everyone.

NAT WILDING Winner of the Respect Award - 'LGBTQ+ Icon of the Year' / Ways of Being‘

Congratulations on your win Nat! How does it feel? Thank you! I was proud, and honoured, to have been nominated for the award. To actually win it left me speechless. However, anyone who knows me will know that I can’t accept it solely for myself. On accepting it, I said that the award was for everyone in the business who attends the sessions that we run, asks us for advice to help them to support their colleagues, contributes to our working groups. The support from the community and our allies is what makes it all worthwhile. What does it mean to you to win the 'LGBTQ+ Icon of the Year' award? I’m trying to help change the Co-op and the communities we serve, in all capacities, for the better. Winning the award demonstrates to me that I’m making a difference. Even if I have only touched the life of one person, and eased their journey, then that is success.

Why do you think it is important to champion LGBTQ+ people and issues? The LGBTQ+ has been fighting discrimination openly with Pride for over 50 years. We have seen changes in the way our community is treated, but we still can’t claim equality. Homophobia is still an issue and, in more recent years, we have seen a rise in Transphobia. Some of this is simply through ignorance. For example, recent survey showed that only 25% of people know someone who is trans, which is hardly surprising as only 0.5% of the population have reported their Gender Identity differs from the one assigned at 20

birth. This means that 75% of people are gaining their knowledge of the trans community through mainstream, and social, media. It’s so easy to find yourself in a transphobic, gender critical echo chamber. Championing issues, sharing our lived experience, offering advice to support other people... these are ways that we can help people understand that were not so different, that a lot of things they read and hear are not only scaremongering, but have a massive impact on the community. It’s so important that people become good allies, even if you don’t think it will impact you. You’re only one hire away from it becoming part of your day job. You may even have an LGBTQ+ colleague, or friend, or family member, who is living in fear of coming out. Good allies create safe spaces where people can be themselves. How do you think more people can get involved within the LGBTQ+ community and issues the community faces? There are so many ways, but the ones that immediately spring to mind are: Reach out to the Network and contribute some of your time to a working group or speak to local LGBTQ+ Support Groups and offer to help out (tell them all about Local Causes!). Question everything you read in the papers, Facebook, X, etc. Don’t take anything at face value. 5 seconds of research makes all the difference. Attend a Pride march.

Use the Network. We’re always here to support,

What changes would you like to see from society with regards to the LGBTQ+ community? A change in attitude, or the willingness to learn, from the older generation would be great. However, I have so much faith in the younger generation. In my experience, they are more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. They have access to so much information, via the internet. They know where they belong in the community and are more likely to “own” their identity, rather than hide in their bedroom, thinking they're a freak, like I did. I firmly believe that we will see a shift in the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in 10 or 20 years. Is there anything else you would like to say? Always. I ramble a lot when I’m talking about things I’m passionate about. But I’ll try and keep it brief... One of the things I’m proudest about this year is the new Trans and Non-Binary Solidarity Group. It’s a WhatsApp Group (as that is the closest to anonymous we could get, all we see is your phone number and the name you use on WhatsApp) where trans and non-binary colleagues can hang out, meet each other, ask for (or offer) help and advice. Transition can be a lonely journey when you don’t see people like yourselves in the business. It needn’t be I have also recently launched a second group, The Respect Trans and Non-Binary Ally Support Group, where allies to trans and non-binary people can ask for help and advice. Both groups are quite quiet right now but, as membership grows, I have high hopes for them. Finally, if you get a few hours spare to watch or listen to something, have a look at the Trans Awareness Week Lunch and Learns!

SHAUN OWEN Winner of the Respect Award - 'LGBTQ+ Rising Star'

What does it mean to you to win the 'LGBTQ+ Rising Star' award? Congratulations on your win! How does it feel? It is a lovely feeling – it’s always nice to know that you’ve made a difference. But, there is a tinge of sadness there, that the work I’ve been doing had to be done in the first place. I reflected on this in my speech when I accepted the award – that just that day, I’d seen an anti-trans sticker outside the hotel, and I’d seen private security in the Gay Village guarding a gay clothing/lifestyle shop in broad daylight on a Thursday afternoon (as the shop has been attacked multiple times over the past year). There’s still a really long way to go. But, being in a room full of supportive people who truly believe in equality was a nice reminder that we are so strong as a community, even when things feel difficult. That’s partly why I shouted out Laith Jaafar in my acceptance speech, too – he’s another Co-op colleague who has been doing amazing work on trans rights. The fight for trans equality is so big that it can only be won by the community working together – whether that’s in groups like Respect LGBT+, or in the form of lots of people chipping away at their own individual pieces of activism, or even just people being open about their lives and educating others. Of course, not everyone is in a place where they can do activism – in terms of their own mental health, their safety, and so on. I personally know quite a lot of LGBT+ people who are just focused on surviving in a world that’s so tough to live in. I totally respect that, and say to those people – stay safe, and don’t worry, there are other people out there fighting for you.

I think the main takeaway for me was that I need to keep up the work I’ve been doing! Since winning the award, Nat Wilding and I have been continuing to work together as there continue to be so many challenges facing trans people (most recently, the Daily Mail had a front-page piece reporting that ministers are seeking to stop trans people from having our gender recognised on our passports and driving licences. I must say, that even shocked me, as that was further than I thought they’d go). I suppose the name of the award, Rising Star, is basically a way of saying “keep up the great work and keep going”, so I will, Co-op, I will! What do you think it takes to be an LGBTQ+ Rising Star? The biggest thing I’ve learned, and which has enabled me to keep chipping away at bits of LGBT+ activism, is to keep a balance in life and don’t let it get overwhelming. I try to limit the amount of “doom-scrolling” I do, for example, and I don’t use Twitter at all as it’s…. erm, how do I word this in a work publication….. full of lots of very nasty people when it comes to trans-related topics. I have an amazing network of friends and LGBT+ allies around me who I can talk to when things get too much, as well as support lines such as Samaritans and LGBT Switchboard who I’ve been helped by in the past. And I make an effort to spend time doing hobbies which take me away from emotionally difficult subjects like anti-trans political things. I’ve been SUPER into Lego lately, as a lot of people have – it’s a big craze at the moment, I think. And I love spending time with my guinea pigs and my housemate’s cats. They don’t care what someone’s gender or sexuality is, as long as they get fusses and treats, and that’s a very freeing thing – spending time with them

takes you completely away from socially constructed “culture wars” debates in the news etc.

It sounds weirdly counter-intuitive, but to make a big difference with LGBT+ activism in the long term at least, it requires being able to “switch off” sometimes too, and to know that there are other people out there fighting for equality too – it doesn’t all rest on one person’s shoulders, and it’s okay to take some time away from it! How do you think more people can get involved within the LGBTQ+ community and issues the community faces? There are big ways and small ways. And one cool thing is, lots of small things add up to a “big thing”, too. So, going back to my example from earlier – being openly trans involves lots of small things but has a big impact. Lots of people have said I’m the only trans person they’ve met. If all those people feel slightly more tolerant towards trans people and more understanding of trans rights, having known a trans person, that all adds up to a big difference. I recently watched the powerful documentary “Is It Time To Break The Law?” on Channel 4, about the climate crisis. One of the activists on there – I forget their name, but the documentary is still available to watch – said that a movement takes lots of people doing what they feel comfortable doing. So, one person might be happy to go to a protest, whereas another person might prefer to write to their MP. I’d say to anyone who wants to get more involved, find your own way of getting involved that feels right to you. Whether that’s doing something small like wearing a Pride flag badge on your jacket or making some LGBT+ art or music about your experiences or going to a massive protest in London and bringing a placard you’ve made – everything makes a difference and the more people who get involved, the better. What changes would you like to see from society with regards to the LGBTQ+ community? I’m imagining a future where we say, “you know what, we don’t need an LGBT+ network anymore” – a world where it’s no big deal to be gay or trans. For trans people in particular, the most pressing issue is increasingly healthcare, which is in a real state at the moment, both in the private sector and the NHS. It would be fantastic if a trans person could go to their GP, get referred to a gender specialist to talk things through, and then have timely medical care that’s appropriate to their needs. That’s how things in theory are supposed to work, but very much not how they work at 23

present (I waited 5 years for my first NHS appointment, and the wait is getting worse all the time). If we accept as a society that gender dysphoria is a real thing, and we make available the treatment that works (i.e. transition), and we accept that trans people have as much of a right to live in society as anyone else, that would be a world I’d be much happier to live in! Of course, there is still a really long way to go in terms of gay rights too – around the world, but even here in the UK. I have some gay friends who are scared to hold hands with their partner in the street, and who can blame them, when you hear about some of the homophobia that’s still around even in 2024? So, we need to get that homophobia in the bin. I just want a world where everyone’s allowed to be themselves and treated equally and fairly, is that too much to ask??!?! Is there anything else you would like to say? I’m very grateful to the Co-op, all the way from Shirine and the Board at the top, to colleagues on the ground in Food stores, and even customers who made nice comments when I wore Pride pins to work and things. My 1AS colleagues are amazing too. Everyone has really taken the principle “Show you care” and demonstrated it. That’s meant an awful lot to me, as there was genuinely a time where I felt like people in society as a whole didn’t care. In stores, I’d see a horrific headline on the front of a newspaper about trans rights in the UK. And then, the next day, the headlines would be about a celebrity’s affair, or a new Netflix series. I’d think, “where is the outcry? Who is standing up for us? Do people even care?”. But over time I’ve learned that yes, lots of people do. Lots of people are so shocked when I tell them about things that politicians have said and are saying – for example, our Prime Minister essentially saying last year that it’s “just common sense” that trans people don’t exist. Lots of people have asked me, “what can I do?”, “is there a petition I can sign?”. I remember one colleague telling me on Teams that they’d written to their MP, without me even asking them to do this. People do care, and especially people in the Coop, where I find the vast majority of our colleagues are absolutely lovely people who genuinely want to make the world a better place. So, thank you, Co-op, you’ve made more of a difference to me and my life on a personal level than you’ll know (and I’m probably going to be here for a long, long time :D there’s no getting rid of me, now!) If you want to contact you MP, here is a link to find out who they are and their contact details Contact your MP - UK Parliament

KATE CARROLL Winner of the Respect Award - 'Ally of the Year'

Congratulations on your win How does it feel? I think I went through every emotion, from disbelief, to humbled, to super super chuffed! What does it mean to you to win the Ally of the Year award? It really means a lot to me; I feel so passionately that treating people with respect is a given. People are people, nobody is better than anybody else and everybody deserves kindness. Why do you think it is important to be an ally and to highlight topics that matter to the LGBTQ+ community? Unfortunately, the LGBTQ+ community is still classed as a minority group and faces prejudice, harassment and sometimes hate, so it’s really important to be an ally. Being an ally is as simple as being a friend, being there, supporting, speaking up and always calling out hate. I really treasure the friendships I’ve made since I joined the Respect network; there’s no doubt what I’ve learnt from spending time with friends from the LGBTQ+ community has made me a better, kinder person and I’ll be forever grateful for that and I hope by being an ally, I can repay that. What changes would you like to see from society with regards to the LGBTQ+ community? A change in Government can’t come soon enough, but it’s not right to use people in point scoring culture wars, and there have been such hateful things said about trans people by too many people in power. I hate that we need to have campaigns like #Trans Rights Are Human Rights but sadly we still do, and more people need to speak out about it. 24

Also, everybody can write to their MP on important matters – such as the Bill to ban conversion therapy, which is simply wicked abuse and not therapy. More people need to be active allies and put their support to LGBTQ+ campaigns. How do you think more people can get involved within the LGBTQ+ community and issues the community faces? There are some really simple, small things people can do to show their support. Adding your pro-nouns to your social platforms, email signatures, etc is a really easy place to start, and always do your best to use people’s correct pronouns. It may feel like a little thing to you, but it really matters to get this right . Joining a Pride parade is a great activity to get involved with. The LGBTQ+ community is the most welcoming of all, there’s no judgement, just friendly acceptance, and inclusion. I’d recommend all colleagues join the Lunch and Learns that the Respect committee hold; these are such relaxed and informal sessions that are so educational. If more people talked about the LGBTQ+ community, and some of the challenges they face, everybody’s understanding would improve and there’s no doubt more Co-op colleagues could be their true, accepted, selves at work. Educate yourself; ask people from the LGBTQ+ community how you can support them and what being an ally means to them – and how you could be one. Is there anything else you would like to say? I’d like to thank the amazing Respect committee for the tremendous work they do, truly educating and inspiring others – they’re all volunteers playing such an important role, and ultimately making the word a more tolerant and welcoming place. Everybody, just be a good human!

SEAN WALSH Winner of the Respect Award - ‘Biggest Media/Social Impact’ Congratulations on your win! How does it feel? It feels amazing! I am so honoured and humbled to win this award, but I couldn’t have done this without the rest of the Comms, Engagement and Events working group – Lindsay, Dan, Rebecca, Haydn, Kerry and Rorey! What does it mean to you to win the Biggest Media/Social Impact award?

For me, the media plays a massive part in our daily lives and how we get our message across. There is currently so much horrendous rhetoric – particularly around trans and non-binary rights and issues – across the many different platforms that we are all subjected to, and I feel that being able to use those platforms for good – to educate, spread the good news as well as the bad – is so important. Why do you think it is important to use social media to highlight topics that matter to the LGBTQ+ community? A big part of what I do in Respect is signposting about the various different events that happen around the UK and the world that affect the community. Because we are such a minority, these events often get overlooked by wider society, and it is through activity such as this that people learn that we have a lot to celebrate, that there is a lot to learn about – our community is muti-dimensional, and we face difficulties that most people wouldn’t have even thought about. By raising these points through social media, we can get to a larger audience and get more people talking and asking the right questions. This is how society interacts and we need to make sure that we are there to get our voices heard. 25

How do you think more people can get involved within the LGBTQ+ community and issues the community faces? Reach out. Read that article. Ask questions. Join Respect! We are not just for LGBTQ+ people, allies are more than welcome to join – we need allies more than ever in these turbulent times and there is only so much shouting that we can do. We need ALL of society to be shouting!

What changes would you like to see from society with regards to the LGBTQ+ community? I would like certain elements of society to stop ‘debating’ and ‘discussing’ and deciding on things about which they have no clue and the impact this has on the community. We are all people. No matter what that looks like to you as an individual, you are a person and so is everyone around you. But because you are one person, that doesn’t mean you can decide for EVERY person. I have said this before and I will say it again, because clearly it bears repeating – talk to the people it affects!

Is there anything else you would like to say? To the LGBTQ+ community – please be kind to each other. We have so much to celebrate but we are still being attacked on so many fronts, we do not need to be attacking ourselves as well.

MADL TEAM Winner of the Respect Award - 'Pride Champion of the Year' Congratulations on your win How does it feel? It was such a lovely surprise; we are all absolutely delighted!

What does it mean to you to win the Pride Champion of the Year award? It really does mean a lot to us. We’d done some analysis on the donations the Nisa Retailers make each year and realised donations to causes supporting the LGBTQ+ community were considerably lower than to donations to sports or health/wellbeing groups, so we actively set about ensuring much more is done for that community. To have that recognised in this awards win was just wonderful!

How do you think more people can get involved within the LGBTQ+ community and issues the community faces? Get involved in a Pride parade! In 2023 the MADL team supported Hull Pride and colleagues from across the Co-op business joined us. It was a brilliant day, and we were really proud to play our part. We plan to do this much more in 2024.

What changes would you like to see from society with regards to the LGBTQ+ community? There are small changes everybody could make; getting pro-nouns right would be a great and very simple place to start.

Why do you think it is important to be a Pride Champion and to highlight topics that matter to the LGBTQ+ community? We believe all charities have a duty to be open, welcoming and inclusive to everybody in order to successfully fulfil their charitable objectives and be truly representative of the people they exist to support. When we identified less MADL funds were donated to causes supporting the LGBTQ+ community we felt we were failing a significant community group and knew we had to do more. We instantly established a Pride Pot, setting aside £50,000 just for Nisa Retailers to apply for to make donations of up to £500 to different community groups. We’ve since seen a variety of donations made from Pride parades across the UK to books in school to help educate young people. 26

But you might be wondering, who are MADL? Well, we asked them a few more extra questions to spread some awareness of who they are and the good they do!

WHO/WHAT IS MADL? Q: What is MADL & how does it work? MADL, Making a Difference Locally, is Nisa Retail’s corporate foundation. It’s a registered charity, founded in 2008, to help Nisa’s independent retailers give back to the community they serve and has raised over £17m. Nisa Retail is a wholesale business, owned by the Co-op, and every convenience store that buys their groceries from Nisa, participates in the charity simply by purchasing Co-op own label goods, which generate a charity donation to the store’s charity fund. The charity is operational in over 2,200 independently owned and run convenience stores across the UK, including every Nisa Local store, and many other independent fascia stores. Just look for the MADL logo around the store to see if your local store has a MADL charity fund.

We put £50,000 into a Pride Pot, so our Nisa Retailers can apply for up to £500 donations to make to small charities and community groups that support the LGBTQ+ community. Whilst the most popular donations have gone to support Pride parades, retailers have also made donations to a school library to help educate children and to LGBTQ+ community groups supporting people with their mental health. Q: What is MADL looking at in the future? The Pride Pot remains open with funding still available – so please send people our way if you know of a local LGBTQ+ support group or Pride organisation looking for support, and we’d be delighted to connect them to their local Nisa Retailer! Q: How did Hull Pride come about? Who got involved? How was it on the day? Are you doing it again?

The MADL team is a small but perfectly formed team of four people who passionately believe independent retailers play a huge role in their local communities and every day we hear stories of how Nisa Retailers give back to the communities they serve.

Supporting Hull Pride in 2023 was a really proud moment for us, not only was it the first Pride that MADL had supported, it’s also the largest parade in East Yorkshire, and the closest to Nisa’s support centre in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

Q: What LGBTQ+ events/achievements have MADL had so far?

It was the first Pride event that saw all Co-op colleagues from across the business come together for a parade.

In 2023, our annual donation stats showed us Nisa Retailers made far fewer donations to community groups supporting the LGBTQ+ community than any other donation group, such as sporting groups, health/wellbeing groups, so we set up a Pride Pot to address this.

We plan to do this far more in 2024 and attend more Pride events and really look forward to meeting many more of our Co-op colleagues and members of the fabulous Respect network.

PINK-WASHING By Sean Walsh

As the Cabaret song goes “Money makes the word go around”. As an unfortunate part of our lives, we must pay for things with money – more and more of it with each passing day it seems! And retailers have realised that the LGBTQ+ have money to spend – a buying power delightfully known as the ‘pink pound’. To attract this ‘pink pound’ to their stores, retailers need to offer products and services that appeal to the LGBTQ+ community. While there are many wonderful LGBTQ+ businesses directly serving the community, we’re focusing on those not specifically catering to it, such as high street retailers, major corporations, and ‘big business’. ‘Pink-washing’ is a term for when a company sells goods or services aimed at the LGBTQ+ community, despite not usually doing so, with the pure intent of getting those in the community to buy from them. This typically happens for a short period, usually during Pride season, or with a limited range. There's a positive aspect to this – the LGBTQ+ community gains visibility and access to products/services not usually available. However, the problem is that these

corporations only seem to embrace the LGBTQ+ community when there's financial or reputational gain for them. This undermines the authenticity of their commitment and message, contributing to a sense of insincerity and exploitation. So, what should we do? Should we avoid buying these products because they're driven by greed? Or do we buy them, knowing they'll only be available for a short time, and we might not find them from an LGBTQ+ owned business? The answer isn’t simple. In an ideal world, we could buy whatever we liked from anywhere without worrying about who, what, where, when, or how. However, factors like cost, choice, and access influence our decisions. We shouldn't be ashamed to buy something just because we like it! But maybe, we should delve a bit deeper into the people behind the products. What does the company stand for year-round? Have they publicly supported LGBTQ+ issues, and do they align with your core beliefs and principles? Make them earn your ‘pink pound’!

The theme this year is ‘Medicine’, a topic very much in the public eye right now; we have had the pandemic, monkeypox and some major issues with trans healthcare.

At this time every year we look back on how we got here, and this year we do so with another year of highs and lows behind us. In the postpandemic world, we are focussing a lot more on our health with mental health being a specific concern in recent years. For the LGBTQ+ community, this is not always easy.

LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH

According to a government survey with over 100,000 participants: By Sean Walsh

51% of survey respondents, who accessed or tried to access mental health, services said they had to wait too long, 27% were worried, anxious or embarrassed about going and 16% said their GP was not supportive.

80% of trans respondents who accessed or tried to access gender identity clinics said it was not easy, with long waiting times the most common barrier.

LGBTQ+ healthcare is something that has been debated for a long time – and in some cases is specifically written in law that it is OK to discriminate against. According to Movement Advancement Project, there are currently 26 states in the USA (plus American Samoa, Northern Marina Islands, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands) where there are no laws to protect LGBTQ+ people from being rejected healthcare. Both Arkansas and Mississippi have laws that explicitly state that providers are allowed to refuse gender-affirming care.

at least 16% of survey respondents who accessed or tried to access public health services had a negative experience because of their sexual orientation, and at least 38% had a negative experience because of their gender identity.

Steps are being made in the right direction though. NHS England appointed an LGBT Advisor in Dr. Michael Brady, who also is a HIV and sexual health clinician at Kings College London and was the Medical Director at the Terrence Higgins Trust who was instrumental in getting PrEP accessible through the NHS. We have some information on the organisations and people who have helped the community in the quest for equality in healthcare which we hope you will find informative and interesting!

ICONS Bruce Voeller was an American biologist and activist who studied the HIV virus. He founded the National Gay Task Force – later named the National LGBTQ Task Force – which was the first LGBTQ+ group to meet with the White House to discuss policies affecting the community. He was also a HIV/AIDS researcher who authored many research papers on the subject, founded the Mariposa Research and Education Foundation and was instrumental in getting the name changed from ‘Gay Related Immune Disease’ to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. He lived with his husband, Richard Lucik, until he sadly passed away from AIDS related illness in 1994.

Dr. Sara Josephine Baker was a New York physician, who spent her career on helping the children and mothers in Hells Kitchen. Through education of young and new mothers on hygiene, she helped to reduce infant mortality as well as blindness in infants caused by gonorrhoea by using silver nitrate. She also found ‘Typhoid Mary’ – twice! This was the cook in New York who caused breakouts of typhoid and she was able to find them! Beloved ‘Dr. Jo’ as she was known, was openly gay and lived with her partner Ida Wylie until her death in 1945.

Dr. Alan Hart was a trans radiologist who was the first trans man to undergo gender-affirming surgery in the USA in 1917. Throughout his life he was made to resign from various jobs due to people ‘outing’ him, until he was finally able to get a job as a physician and later a researcher. It was here that he made his discoveries in the area of tuberculosis using chest x-rays to be able to detect the disease early, allowing treatment to effectively treat the condition well before it becomes lethal. He lived with his wife Edna and passed away at the age of 71.

ORGANISATIONS The LGBT Foundation is a national organisation that caters to the LGBTQ+ community. Founded in 1975, it was originally a phone line called the ‘Manchester Lesbian and Gay Switchboard Services’ which was set up by 6 gay men for people to call in for support and information. Over the following years and decades, they

The Terrence Higgins Trust was setup by the friends of Terry Higgins after he passed away suddenly in 1982. At the time, his cause of death was ruled as parasitic pneumonia, however it was later determined to be AIDS.

expanded their services and reach, they merged with ‘Healthy Gay Manchester’ and eventually became the LGBT Foundation. The foundation have been supporting the community with advocacy, wellbeing guidance, sexual health testing, substance abuse assistance, domestic abuse help for years and help over 40,000 thousand people in person nationally and 600,000 people with their online services. They also operate the ‘Village Angels’ – volunteers that go out on Friday and Saturday night into Manchester’s Gay Village to offer support to the vulnerable. This has also now been expanded to London with the ‘Soho Angels’.

strength – becoming one of the largest charities dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS as well as supporting people with sexual health related issues throughout the UK.

His friends didn’t want anyone to go through what he did ever again, so they set-up the Trust to raise funds for research. In 1983, members of the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard met with the Trust and together they went on to be a public company with a bank account, board of directors and in January 1984 was awarded charity status. Since then, the Trust has grown from strength to

This year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is creating

“a guideline on the health of trans and gender diverse people”. According to their website, this guidance “will focus in 5 areas: provision of gender-affirming care, including hormones; health workers education and training for the provision of gender-inclusive care; provision of health care for trans and gender diverse people who suffered interpersonal violence based in their needs; health policies that support genderinclusive care, and legal recognition of selfdetermined gender identity.”

It is being authored by the departments of Gender, Rights and Equity - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (GRE-DEI), Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes (HHS), and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) who are working together based upon requests from member states asking for advice in creating “WHO’s vision of a world in which all people attain the highest possible level of health and well-being, leaving no one behind.” This will be a very welcome development, as it will be created in collaboration with trans and gender-diverse people. More often than not, such guidance or legislation is debated or made without the involvement of those whom it is about or affects.

L H

LGBTQ+ HISTORY

MONTH

CONT.

HEALTH CARE LGBTQ+ healthcare was mostly overlooked in recent history, primarily as anything ‘other’ in terms of gender or sexuality was seen as a mental illness. As a result of this, incredibly restrictive laws and societal pressures, most LGBTQ+ remained in the closet in public. Being ‘mentally ill’ was something that was mostly rejected by those who the label was applied to. Sadly, some LGBTQ+ people did believe that they were ill and sought treatment for it through counselling or the more extreme version, conversion therapy. Conversion therapy was – is – the ‘therapy’ used to convert LGBTQ+

people to live cis-heteronormative lives. The levels of this ‘therapy’ can vary, from ‘praying the gay away’, beatings and hard labour to using very extreme methods including chemical or surgical castration and electro-shock. The theory behind all of this was that ‘those feelings’ would be associated with the pain being induced and therefore they would stop. Needless to say, these torturous therapies do not work, however they are still practiced in an alarming number of countries and territories. The good news is that it is being outlawed in more and more.

THE LGBTQ+ Have you ever wondered where the term LGBTQ+ comes from? As our understanding and inclusion of diverse sexual identities and gender expressions has grown, so has its acronym. The L was the first to exist - the word was associated with the works of Sappho, an ancient Greek lady from Lesbos, who wrote poems about same-gender passion. The oldest use of the term to describe same-gender love was traced back to the 17th century, with more modern use emerging in the 1890s. Over time it grew in popularity and was adopted by women who loved other women. Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, a 19th century lawyer was first to try label his own community. As early as 1862, he used the term “Urning” to refer to men who were attracted to men. In 1869 this was replaced by “homosexuality” by AustroHungarian journalist Karoly Maria Kertbeny in response to a proposed law forbidding male same-gender sexual activity. Kertbeny also coined the terms heterosexual and bisexual. Throughout the 20th century, same-gender attraction was largely outlawed with the term “gay” used negatively to describe LGBTQ+ people. It was eventually embraced and 35reclaimed by men who defied the status quo

through open expressions of same-gender love. By the 1990s there was widespread adoption of the LGB acronym. Although trans people have always been part of history, the term only came about in the 1960s. Historians traced the earliest use of the term to a 1965 psychology textbook, where it was popularized by transfeminine activists. The term has since been embraced as part of the wider LGBT movement. More recently Q was added to the acronym, although has been used since at least the 1910s. It was once a slur used to separate people from a heteronormative society but became more popular as a sexual identity by the 1990s. Q also meant “questioning” as a way to acknowledge those who are exploring their gender or sexual identity. Newer iterations look to embrace a wider variety of identities, with I (Intersex), A (Asexual) and + added to the acronym. It has its critics though as some argue no term can ever encompass the spectrum of gender and sexual expression. What can be said with some certainty is that the words used to describe gender and sexual identity will evolve, as your identity is exactly that - yours.

LIVING Testing WITH Family & HIV Support Can you tell us more about your work within George House Trust? Alongside being a Trustee, I'm an avid volunteer. My volunteer role is all about positive speaking. So, what that means is that I go into communities such as GP surgeries, dentists and schools talking about HIV and also talking about my story and experiences of living with HIV.

Respect sat down with Kieran Yates, who has been living with HIV for five years and is a Trustee and Positive Speaker at George House Trust. By Rorey Scriven

What advice would you give someone who has just been diagnosed with HIV? Look at finding the right support for you. Telling everyone about your status isn’t suitable for every single person living with HIV, but even finding that one person you can trust, that one person you can tell will give you so much more confidence in your own status.

For those who aren’t sure, can you help them understand what HIV and AIDS are? There's a clear distinction between the two: HIV is the virus, and AIDS is what happens if the virus goes unmanaged and unchecked in the system. For the majority of people living with HIV, it will never advance to AIDS.

If you’re comfortable enough to share, can you tell us about your journey and experience living with HIV? I was diagnosed back in 2017. At the time, I ordered a home testing kit and received the results just after Boxing Day, which is quite a daunting experience to have to spend Christmas with family and keep it a little bit of a secret for a while. However, thanks to the confidence I gained through services like George House Trust, I'm now very comfortable telling people about my story of living with HIV.

What support did you find most helpful and why? There are a lot of different support services available. It all depends on the person. For me, I was quite confident already with my status, but I wanted to gain a little more confidence with telling other people just in case it came up in conversation. I did lots of different training programmes where I could build my confidence to come to terms with my status but also share it.

Why do you think events like World AIDS Day are important? World AIDS Day is incredibly important and is very much needed nowadays. A lot of the fear and stigma surrounding HIV should be eliminated but it is still there. Having events like World AIDS Day opens those communications, allows education around HIV so they can build that confidence.

Can you tell us more about what U=U means? U=U is a very powerful statement. It means that people living with the virus cannot pass it on to someone else. U=U means ‘Undetectable equals Untransmittable’. If someone is on medication and they have a viral load under a certain number, it means that they cannot pass it on to the next person. They can start a family without that fear of HIV holding them back.

U=U

What do you think businesses like our Co-op can do to support colleagues living with HIV? Just empowering them through listening. If someone is trying to tell you something, be there, be that support for them. It takes a lot of confidence to tell someone they are living with HIV and some people might not be comfortable to share their status. So be there and be ready to support them when they need it. What can people do to help fight the stigma that still today surrounds HIV?

Not just educating others but educating yourself. Be there to learn more, educate yourself, then educate others. People have different knowledge about HIV, like some people only remember what happened in the 80’s. Today is it a very different condition, one which is manageable, and people living with HIV can live healthy and confident lives.

Are there any final thoughts you’d like to share? Wear your red ribbon. Make sure you remember those who lost their lives to HIV but be there to support those living with HIV today.