“We have not achieved equality until every LGBT person, of every colour and background is able to enjoy equality within our community and outside it”
BY SOPHIE GRIFFITHS
UK Black Pride is Europe’s largest celebration for African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Caribbean heritage LGBTQI people. Stonewall is a UK charity focused on lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality.
It has been announced today that these two organisations have formed a new partnership in order to transform how they work with the UK’s diverse black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBTQI communities.
This is a community that faces disproportionate levels of anti-LGBTQI discrimination and the two organisations joining forces will hopefully empower them and raise their profile.
The work will be led by BAME organisations and activists to drive meaningful social change and celebrate BAME LGBTQI people and culture across all of society.
Research carried out by Stonewall revealed that 51% of BAME LGBTQI people have faced discrimination from within the LGBTQI community, proving exactly why there is a need to build a strong relationship between the communities.
Stonewall also plan to extend their support for running UK Black Pride and will be recruiting a new full-time member of staff. The role will be working closely with the UK Black Pride Board and BAME community groups around the UK to oversee a series of events to build and connect the BAME and PoC LGBTQI movement.
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Executive Director of UK Black Pride (and DIVA columnist), and Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall have stated they are excited and proud to announce the new partnership.
They said: “We have agreed on a joint programme of work that will transform how our organisations are able to reach and empower Britain’s diverse black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT communities.”
“We have not achieved equality until every LGBT person, of every colour and background is able to enjoy equality within our community and outside it. We recognise the influence and privilege that organisations like Stonewall have and, working with the expertise of UK Black Pride, are committed to using that power to reach and empower more people in our beautiful, diverse communities through this joint work.”
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