About us

Who are we?

LGBT Bristol is the brand name of the Bristol Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Forum.

The Forum was originally established in October 1994, as part of the Council’s Equalities Forums, and became a Registered Charity, No. 1098085 on 11th November 2002 to challenge the discrimination and homophobia that LGBT people faced in the City of Bristol.

Although it always represented transgender and transsexual people who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, in January 2011, after over two years’ consultation, the Forum extended it remit to include all trans people, irrespective of their sexual orientation.

Membership of the Forum is free and anyone over 18 who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and is either living, working or studying in the City can join.

Why does the Forum exist?

The Forum’s Charitable Objects are:

TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN ALL ASPECTS OF DISCRIMINATION SUFFERED BY REASON OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND IN PARTICULAR BY RELIEVING DISCRIMINATION AND HARDSHIP AND BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO EQUAL PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL BENEFITS THAT MAY BE SUFFERED BY LESBIAN, GAY. BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED IN SUCH WAYS THAT ARE CHARITABLE IN LAW.

In practice this means:

To challenge homophobia and transphobia in the wider community and promote understanding of equality and inclusion of LGBT people.
To promote LGBT groups, activities, enterprise, talent, ideas and visibility, alongside best practice for employers and service providers.
To disseminate information about group, services, events, activities and campaigning that is relevant to our communities, free of charge.

What are our aims?

To make Bristol City a place where people of all gender identities and sexual orientations can live, free from hatred, prejudice, persecution and discrimination, feel entitled to equal treatment, respected and valued for their contributions
To make Bristol a City of Asylum for LGBT people prosecuted around the world,share with them the same freedoms we fought for and won here in the UK and continue to campaign for their Countries to reject homophobia and transphobia in culture and law.
To take forward the equality agenda in the recognition that people of different sexual and gender identities all have an inalienable right to equal treatment, but are also all different individuals, with their own histories, culture, Faiths, political views, abilities and needs.
To ensure all LGBT young people and children of LGBT families can grow up without fear, violence, bullying and intimidation and see their families recognised, respected and valued as all other families are.
To ensure LGBT elders can look forward to a serene retirement, free from bullying and ill treatment because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and tha they are supported in their bereavement, ill-health and to the end of their days.
To make the Bristol LGBT scene inclusive of all strands of the equality agenda, so that people with all configurations of abilities, ethnicities, spiritual beliefs, ages, genders and identities will find here a place to celebrate life, achieve their full potential and feel part of cohesive communities.

What has the Forum achieved?

In June 2000 the Forum drew up a Compact between Bristol City Council and Bristol’s lesbian, gay and bisexual community. The Compact is an agreement between Bristol City Council and organisations from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community. The aims of the Compact are to:

Work towards equality of access to services and resources which are controlled by Bristol City Council.
Promote understanding and respect for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and its citizens.
Empower lesbian, gay and bisexual people to become actively involved in community life

What else?

The Forum has also conducted research into the quality of life for lesbian, gay and bisexual people (Second Best Value) and has produced a Guide to Section 28 for all staff and governors of Bristol LEA schools. The Forum also holds Open Meetings where issues central to the community are discussed. You can get a copy of these publications from the Forum.

In 2008-9 the Forum conducted a study, funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), to research the experience, degree of inclusion and needs of people who identify as LGB and are also members of Bristol’s diverse BME/Faith Communities.

The study, entitled “Under One Sky”, brought together the testimony of BME LGBT people, as well as collecting the opinion of Bristol residents of all ages and walks of life, and culminated in the Report recently published.

The Forum continues to act as a key consultee to the City’s administration, statutory, voluntary and community organisations like the NHS Bristol PCT, Fire and Rescue Service, Safety Scrutiny Commission, to mention but three, contributing 8 years of experience of campaigning and organising in Bristol to inform service and information provision services for LGBT communities.

Alongside its roles in campaigning, consultation and information provision, every year the Forum celebrates and supports the major events in the calendar of City’s LGBT life: LGBT History Month, IDAHO, Pride Bristol and the LGBT Film Festival.

What is the Forum doing now?

The Forum continues to work with the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to support the efforts of Bristol City Council to implement the Equality Act, ensure that LGBT people from all other strands of the equality agenda are included in its scoping.

We are especially aware of the multiple discrimination many of us face, as older or younger people, members of the Black and Minority Ethnic and Faith communities, as people with disabilities, as LGBT parents, travellers or even as parents and children of LGBT people.

How can I get involved?

We welcome active participation from Forum members. If you would like to get involved in our work, as a volunteer, trustee, expert advisor, copywriter or are willing to offer your company’s services or sponsorship, please contact us.