WELCOME!

Hello and welcome to the June issue of our Respect magazine.

Well, what can I say since our last edition. A lot has happened both within the network and in the wider LGBTQ+ community. We’ve had the wonderful Laith Jaafar join us as a new Co-Chair, replacing Claudia who’s left a lasting legacy on the network. We want to wish Claudia all the best in their future endeavours. Laith has been with us a few months now and is already making waves. You’ll get to hear more from him in the magazine.

June can only mean one thing, it’s Pride Month!! We love this time of year, but what makes this one extra special is that it’s Respect’s 15th birthday. Can you believe that we ’ve been around that long? We can’t! We’ve got lots happening throughout the month, which you can get involved in, so keep an eye on our Respect LGBTQ+ Yammer page for more information.

Anyway, back to the magazine. In this edition, we’re shining a spotlight on another Coop network, this time we caught up with Ash Akhtar, Co-Chair of Rise. We also talk about the legislation that’s sweeping the USA, banning drag performers, which we’ re really concerned about. Of course we have our staple media review, which provides some recommendations on the LGBTQ+ content we’re currently obsessed with. In honour of our 15th Birthday we’re also recognising 15 icons who’ve truly made a difference within our community.

Anyway, that’s enough from me. I really hope you enjoy this edition of the magazine. If you ’d like to feature in a future edition why not reach out to us at RespectLGBT@coop.co.uk.