Life-saving work towards Trans equality

In Brighton and Hove, we are proud of our city's track record in relation to LGBT diversity. This has involved many years of hard work on the part of numerous volunteers, activists, community groups, and charities.

Local Trans support groups - including the Clare Project and Female to Male (FTM) - are run by volunteers who provide a safe space to talk, share, and support.

The city council's work on Trans equality in the city is pioneering; we are leading the way nationally and pushing to make local services more Trans-inclusive.

The recommendations of the council's award-winning Trans Scrutiny Panel and the incredible success of Trans Pride have shone a light on the needs and great strength of the Trans community in Brighton and Hove.

Inclusive swimming sessions at St Luke's - which were highly commended in the participation category at the council's sport and physical activity awards - continue to provide the Trans community with access to a place for sport and leisure and are being duplicated by councils across the country.

The council's works with schools and Allsorts Youth Project to support and nurture Trans- inclusive environments for gender- questioning children and young people is ground-breaking. The young people are responsive, interested, respectful, and engaged. They live in a diverse world and feel intrigued by the differences they encounter and they gain real benefit from hearing Allsorts peer educators' stories. Allsorts provide school staff with training and provide children and young people with someone they can talk to - whether that is a school staff member or an Allsorts worker.

Education is key to making the city more inclusive for everyone. Children and young people can experience gender-identity issues from a young age. Locally, a group has been established for parents - and the stories shared in it underline the fact that the school environment is vital to ensuring wellbeing, starting at primary and continuing into secondary school, college and university.

Dr Sam Hall, chair of the Clare Project, said: 'The city council, Sussex Police, and Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group are showing us through their actions that they are truly committed to improving the lives of the local Trans population. We hope the ongoing work will influence the whole of the UK and be recognised as a point of change in history.

"This is critical when we give thought to the fact that Sunday, November 23 is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Held every year, this remembers all Trans people around the world killed as a result of transphobia. In Brighton and Hove, this event will be held in Dorset Gardens Methodist Church from 3pm to 5pm.

"Transphobia '“ and its consequences '“ are real and life- threatening. That's why this work is life-saving.'