Pride in London – Advisory Board report questions organisers approach on diversity

“the current Pride organisers have failed to grasp the importance of diversity, nor of the intersectionalities that many LGBT+ people experience around race, gender, age, disability, and even their sexual orientation and identity”

Bi people having been fighting for LG&T equality for decades – a response to @PhilipHensher

In seeing the title of Philip Hensher’s Guardian.com article about the recent LGBT Pride events in London: How the straight majority still silences gay people (21 July 2017), I was looking forward to a thoughtful discourse on how the voices of people marginalised in our society because of their sexual orientation are so often unheard because… Continue reading Bi people having been fighting for LG&T equality for decades – a response to @PhilipHensher

The #LGBT Rainbow Flag will fly above the City of London Guildhall every year from now on! 

The City of London’s governing Court of Common Council agreed on Thursday 20 July to adopt a motion which means that the LGBT Pride Flag, the Rainbow Flag, will fly above the ancient Guildhall every year to mark Pride week in London. In proposing the motion, which was signed by 40 elected Members of the… Continue reading The #LGBT Rainbow Flag will fly above the City of London Guildhall every year from now on! 

Why today’s #LGBTQ+ #PrideinLondon is a day of mixed emotions for me and for many

Today is Pride in London, the United Kingdom’s largest gathering of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer people together with their allies and friends and others whose life, love, or identity is marked in some way by difference. For me and for many it is a day of great celebration for the achievements of equality… Continue reading Why today’s #LGBTQ+ #PrideinLondon is a day of mixed emotions for me and for many

Recent events a wake-up call to politicians: austerity must end, we need a kinder, fairer way

In My Opinion piece written for The Smithfield Gazette, June 2017 The last twelve months in British and global politics, along with incidents of domestic and international terrorism, and the horrendous fire at Grenfell Tower in West London must surely be the wake-up call needed for those of us involved in public life to think… Continue reading Recent events a wake-up call to politicians: austerity must end, we need a kinder, fairer way

St Paul’s Remembrance: “Brexit and Trump were won with lies and fear. Two world wars were won with truth and courage.”- I agree.

Yesterday’s Remembrance Sunday service at St Paul’s Cathedral was, as usual, a moving and solemn occasion. It was attended by the City’s new Lord Mayor, the Aldermen and Common Councilmen, as well Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and many representatives of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and countless old comrades from former… Continue reading St Paul’s Remembrance: “Brexit and Trump were won with lies and fear. Two world wars were won with truth and courage.”- I agree.

My message at Pride in London: celebrating, loving, and fighting discrimination together

On Saturday 25 June, I had the privilege of speaking from the main stage of London’s LGBT+ Pride as Deputy Chair of Pride’s Community Advisory Board, representing bi people and communities. This is what I said: “It is twenty years since I first got involved in Pride in the Capital. And it was in that… Continue reading My message at Pride in London: celebrating, loving, and fighting discrimination together

Ruth Davidson – a new kind of politician, a new kind of politics

Writing a post like this is liable to inflame some of my fellow Liberal Democrats and other friends who simply dislike Tories, but the results of Thursday’s elections to the Scottish Parliament  deserve comment, not least because of the extraordinary revival of the Scottish Conservatives under their leader Ruth Davidson. I am proud and fortunate to… Continue reading Ruth Davidson – a new kind of politician, a new kind of politics

Diversity Champion: It is time for me to ‘come out’ – I am a Freemason

I like to think of my life as being an open book. Whether it be my membership of the Liberal Democrats (or even that I used to be a Tory), my passion for Rochdale Football Club, or my sexual orientation; it is all out there clearly on public display. I’m even reasonably open that I… Continue reading Diversity Champion: It is time for me to ‘come out’ – I am a Freemason

Delighted to see so many friends and colleagues in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List

The UK’s honours system sometimes comes in for criticism, (not least when I received an OBE for public service four years ago!) but today’s list yet again recognised people from every station in society including school crossing attendants, teachers, carers, and community activists. I was particularly delighted to see so many friends and colleagues listed… Continue reading Delighted to see so many friends and colleagues in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List