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Outrage as Tories Ditch Proposals to Support Young Homeless Gays in Brighton

Green Councillors: We need the Albert Kennedy Trust in Brighton and Hove
 

BRIGHTON, April 27, 2009  –  The controlling Conservative group on Brighton and Hove Council has again voted against inviting the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) to work in Brighton and Hove.  It is the third time in two months that they have blocked the go-ahead.

At last week’s cabinet meeting of the council, Tories threw out a Green Party proposal for funding for the Trust.  The issue had previously won a majority of votes at a full council meeting. The cabinet is composed entirely of Tory councillors.

“We know that of the population who live on the streets or in temporary accommodation and who are young and LGBT are statistically more likely to self-harm,” said LGBT Green spokesperson Phelim Mac Cafferty.

“The Tories have effectively signed a charter to continue crushing the needs of this socially fragile group.

“The decision to exclude Albert Kennedy Trust – again – is absolutely outrageous for innumerable reasons.  This is a kick in the teeth for all young LGBTs: for the numbers of young LGBTs who live in our city and who face uncertainty and possible homeless in the current economic recession; and the disproportionate amount of young LGBTs still becoming homeless who migrate to Brighton. The Tory cabinet has a duty of care to all of our city’s citizens, which is sadly lacking – again.”

He asked: “Is it just more Tory heartlessness for those on the fringes of society or is it just the homophobia that we were told had been driven from the Tory Party?

“Maybe it’s both.   LGBT Greens will continue to fight for homeless and voiceless LGBTs.  The Tories have their work cut out if they think we will stop here.”

Councillor Bill Randall, the Green spokesperson for the Brighton Greens on LGBT issues said he was “deeply disappointed the Tories could not bring themselves to vote for the £3,000 needed to bring the Trust into Brighton and Hove.

“It’s barely a drop in the ocean for a council that will spend more than £700 million on services this year, and the return for the LGBT community and the city would far outweigh the cost,” he continued.

“Local homeless charities and LGBT charities work very well with young LGBT people in Brighton and Hove, but none of them possess the expertise and understanding AKT has developed in its work with this very vulnerable group of young people in London and Manchester.

“The need for AKT’s services in Brighton and Hove had been demonstrated by the ‘Count me in, too’ research project in the city

“It’s hard to fathom the Tories’ implacable position on this issue.  It makes no sense at all. Furthermore, they have paraded their contempt for democracy by rejecting a proposal voted for by the majority of councillors.

We will not give up,” Cllr Randall pledged.  “The campaign to bring AKT to Brighton and Hove will continue.”

The Albert Kennedy Trust specialises in working with young homeless people from the LGBT community and is renowned in London and Manchester for the specialism it brings to this area.

Albert Kennedy was 16 when he plunged to his death from the top of a car-park in Manchester 20 years ago.  A runaway from a children’s home, he was trying to escape from a gang of homophobic youths.

Set up in his name, the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) works in Manchester and London with young people aged 16 to 25 from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) community who are homeless or living in a hostile environment.

It provides a programme of training, policy advice, and practical support, which includes supported lodgings schemes, mentoring and befriending services. 

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