LGBT Pride Month

As a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Aberdeenshire Council is committed to creating an inclusive environment for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) employees. June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month and this is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of Aberdeenshire’s LGBT community. Pride month is celebrated by millions of LGBT people and their friends around the world with parades, parties and much more.

These events are organised across the world to remember the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 in New York, where the gay community held protests against a police raid that occurred in the early morning hours and is considered to be the key event leading to the modern LGBT movement.

Aberdeenshire Council has an LGBT Employee Network which is both a support and a social network for employees who identify as being LGBT. Employees who are interested in the LGBT Network can find out more about the work of the network, including their various events by contacting the Network Chair, Lars Frevert on lars.frevert@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Support is also available from Straight Allies. There are seven Straight Allies across the Council, who help to tackle feelings of isolation or fear that might exist, particularly in operational environments and offer a point of contact for employees and managers who are seeking support in relation to LGBT issues. Straight Allies will be able to listen, as well as be visible and approachable throughout the organisation. Please visit the Straight Allies page on Arcadia to find out more.

Sexual orientation and Transgender are two of the nine protected characteristics that we are developing into all of our work here at Aberdeenshire Council.   The other seven protected characteristics are: – Age, Disability, Marriage and Civil Partnerships, Pregnancy and Maternity, Religion or Belief, Gender, and Race (including Gypsy Travellers).  Aberdeenshire Council is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and residents whilst also ensuring consideration of the nine protected characteristics contributes to informing and shaping the delivery of council services. For more information on the protected characteristics, please see the Equalities pages on Arcadia.