Chasing rainbows
Friday 17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB).
Established in 2004, the annual ‘worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversity’ was created to draw the attention of policymakers, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination faced by many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and those who do not conform to majority sexual and gender norms.
The 17 May date was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
As one of the UK’s biggest employers, Royal Mail is committed to putting equality and diversity at the heart of our business. Around 5% of our people identified as LGBT+ in the last employee survey. This IDAHOTB is a chance to reach out to your LGBT+ colleagues and let them know that you support them. Discuss LGBT+ life with your colleagues or manager, wear your Delivering with Pride t-shirt, organise a bake sale, decorate your noticeboard, organise a human rainbow, have your rainbow badge on display…the possibilities are endless. You may not think it will make a difference but awareness creates a conversation and reminds people that any form of bullying is unacceptable. Celebrate your diversity and stand against intolerance. Send your stories, pictures or videos to LGBT&Friends@royalmail.com.
Bent Bars
Kate Harrison, Darlington collection hub manager, is involved with a voluntary scheme known as the ‘Bent Bars Project’ – a letter-writing project pairing prisoners in Britain, who identify as LGBT+ with people on the outside.
The project was founded in 2009, responding to a clear need to develop stronger connections and build solidarity between LGBT+ communities inside and outside prison walls.
‘LGBT+ people have a long history of being policed and criminalised (and of resisting that criminalisation) yet there are relatively few community resources to support LGBT+ prisoners,’ said Kate.
‘Although there are many LGBT+ community groups in Britain, most do not specifically address the issues of LGBT+ prisoners. Likewise, many prisoner support groups do not address the specific issues faced by LGBT+ people behind bars.
‘We don’t know exactly how many LGBT+ people are currently behind bars, but we do know that they are often subject to increased isolation, harassment, violence and assault when in prison. Bent Bars aims to work in solidarity with prisoners by sharing resources, providing mutual support and drawing public attention to the struggles of LGBT+ people behind bars.
‘Letters can be a lifeline for people in prison regardless of their support network. But given the extra isolation that LGBT+ prisoners can face, I feel it’s important to promote this charity.’
