UK
 

Government Axe on Funding of Gay History Month ‘Despicable’, Say Lib Dems
 

■ Lorely Burt:  By endorsing funding cuts to LGBT projects, the DfES are merely seeking to reinforce the belief that LGBT rights are secondary to our society

LONDON, December 22, 2006  –  A Liberal Democrat spokesperson has described the government’s scrapping of funding of , Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month as “despicable”.

Last night, Lorely Burt, the Lib Dem Women and Equality spokesperson said:  “It is despicable that the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) no longer deems LGBT History Month worthy of funding.

“This event provides the perfect opportunity to teach pupils about the real and positive impact that LGBT people have on our society.

“It provides young people with positive role models and eases the anxiety many young people feel when coming to terms with their sexuality.  Anything which promotes positivity and questions social intolerance can only be a good thing,” she added.

The DfES has promised to invest the money cut from LGBT History Month in creating anti-homophobic bullying guidelines for schools.

Disputing this Lorely Burt said: “The creation of anti-homophobic bullying guidelines is long overdue, and should be provided as a matter of course, not in place of a celebration of LGBT lives. This should not be a matter or 'either or'.

“By endorsing funding cuts to LGBT projects, the DfES are merely seeking to reinforce the belief that LGBT rights are secondary to our society,” she concluded.

The 2006 LGBT History Month received a grant of £20,000 from the DfES.  Other grants were given by the Metropolitan Police Authority (£2,500), The Crown Prosecution Service (£2,000) and Transport for London (£1,000).

LGBT History Month is the largest national LGBT cultural event in Britain, with libraries, schools and even prisons all taking part with individual events.

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