BACKGROUND
The Highland LGBT Forum started life as the Inverness Pride Committee in 2002 when Pride Scotland decided to take its annual event outside Edinburgh and Glasgow for the first time. Inverness Pride was a huge success (with some 300 people attending the main Pride party) and proved that members of different groups within the LGBT community could work together and achieve very positive results.
When Pride was over, the committee decided to stay together to take forward all the more serious issues facing us as a community such as geographical and social isolation, lack of access to information and lack of positive images. We submitted a report on these and other matters to the Scottish Parliament as part of their consultation entitled 'Taking Stock (Sexual Orientation Issues)'.
Over the next few years we made connections with the Equality Network, Stonewall Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland and Reach Out Highland.
COMMITTEE
The current committee of the Highland LGBT Forum comprises members of the LGB community and we are actively seeking involvement from the local transgender community.
The most recent AGM of the Highland LGBT Forum and Social Group took place on Tuesday 12th February 2008 at the Netley Centre, Inverness. Annabel Mowat (former manager at REACHOUT Highland) stood down as chair while Maria Henderson (chair until 2006) took on the role once again. Rachel Koktava was re-elected as Secretary, and Rory Stewart was elected to be the new Treasurer. An additional 4 committee members including Annabel Mowat were also elected. Further members may be co-opted to the committee in future.
Highland LGBT Forum Constitution (PDF, 30 KB)
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CHARITABLE STATUS
In April 2008, The Highland LGBT Forum was awarded charitable status by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
The Highland LGBT Forum is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC039528.
AIMS
In accordance with its Constitution, the aims of the Highland LGBT Forum include:
- providing advice and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Highland area;
- providing information on health and other services available locally and nationally;
- providing a link between its members and other agencies involved in working in LGBT issues and initiatives;
- taking educational initiatives to combat discrimination on the grounds of gender and/or sexual orientation;
- providing training and support for local businesses and organisations in preventing and dealing with discrimination on the grounds of gender and/or sexual orientation;
- looking at ways to deal with the problems of social and geographical isolation faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Highlands.
- raising awareness, locally and nationally, about the LGBT community in the Highlands and the various constituent groups;
- identifying the needs of the LGBT community throughout the Highland area and the specific needs of the various constituent groups within the community;
- promoting a positive image of the LGBT community in the Highlands;
- working with Scottish Executive, Highland Council, Highland Health Board and Northern Constabulary in the creation of policies and guidelines on all LGBT issues;
- working with the Equality Network, Beyond Barriers and other agencies in achieving the above aims.
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