Category Archives: News

NOTE: since publication several weeks ago this article will be updated in mid-February 2023. Contacts have been made by the Network further to an email received by us from the FCDO Kigali Political Officer that indicated responses to our questions and support requests for the Rwandan LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community (communications with the UK Government presence/BHC in Rwanda by our partnering organisation the HRFRA). We have weeks on received no contact back, as we anticipated.

Given the compelling particulars we attribute this unprofessional non-communication conduct by the UK Government’s representatives in Kigali as related to a) that government’s Home Office anti-LGBT ‘hostile environment’ being ruthlessly delivered, and b) that UK Government civil servants [Whitehall] public statements concerning UK Government support for LGBT human rights overseas, being at best disingenuous.

‘No response,’ ‘no communication’ is in fact a response and is a communication of realities at variance with government policy statements. We will of course be continuing with our initiative to through/with HRFRA support LGBT community members in Rwanda.

Almost a month on from providing an email directly addressed to the Foreign Commonwealth & Development (FCDO) / British High Commissioner in Kigali, concerning Network requests for UK Government support via the FCDO/BHC to the Rwandan LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community, as an outcome of aspects of the LGBT+ Network for Change – Human Rights First Rwanda Association (HRFRA) MoU, we (nor those copied in to the communication, including our friends at HRFRA and the CEO of Stonewall) have not received a response.

This is very concerning given FCDO and Home Office statements on support for global LGBT human rights — especially in the context of Rwanda being a deportation of asylum seekers destination, many of whom have LGBT contexts, despite the country having a very poor LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ human rights and equality record.

Lead officers of our partnering organisation, the HRFRA, have last week had a meeting with BHC Kigali, in which they were provided with posts, names, and corresponding email addresses to provide to us for follow up on our questions and requests.

We are presently following up on this — giving a few further days for the courtesy of a reply to our original email, that as mentioned Stonewall are aware of — but are aware that contact, even a basic acknowledgment of receiving our email, should have been received (we doubt in the circumstances that except for the BHC – HRFRA meeting, we would have any communication back). And that this reflects not well to date on the FCDO (and by extension the UK Home Office) in regard to the disparity between departmental statements and actual action where LGBT human rights are concerned. We look forward to update soon once we have made the further contact referred to above.

LGBQ+ homeless & sofa surfing initiative:

We are very pleased to announce that not only now our friends at the the BCP and Pan-Dorset, Dorset Healthcare NHS mental health Trust’s ‘Steps 2 Wellbeing’ Programme LGBTQ+ homeless & sofa surfing mental healthcare services, based on dedicated information resources and training for the latter to Trust healthcare professionals and admin staff are live, and similarly preventative and signposting information and training we have provided to key staff groups at Bournemouth & Poole College, as a further part of our national level important initiative have been implemented, but also concerning another part of the latter.

The Network has initiated provision for direct advocacy & signposting support through the Network with a BCP Council area homeless support app. This means that when the app fully launches in early 2023, we will be able to provide direct support in the two areas mentioned to members of our LGBTQ+ homeless & sofa surfing community.

We are also progressing the counteraction and prevention of crime and criminality (abuses and exploitation of various kinds that our LGBTQ+ sofa surfing community is uniquely and gravely subject to) with Dorset Police, further to provision of related dedicated information resources and a related policing operational level use, to the Office of the Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner that is very supportive of the value of the latter in addressing a major unmet need where serious crime and exploitative ASB is concerned.

LGBTQ+ Prisons (HMPPS/Portland Prison) initiative:

The Network is very pleased to update concerning our 1+ years initiative, that one component has included dedicated collaboration with Portland Prison, specifically in support to the courageous and effective work of an Out Trans community member (prisoner) at the prison in advising in conjunction with our strategic and direct operational level delivery support building practical and processes level support for Trans communities (‘Out’ and not self-identifying/disclosing) members.

This with planning for replicating this work to other HMPPS prisons & young offender institutes in the South West, and later more broadly. A great deal of our work in this area has been based on months of support at an advocacy case level, providing the necessary on the ground , on the ‘wings’ detail necessary for the first ever initiative of this kind in the UK prison service, to become successful. We are looking forward to progress this crucial work in January/February 2023 with the Trans community in question and the Portland Prison & YOI team.

The recent International Transgender Day of Remembrance at Portland Prison was not only very successful in raising awareness of hundreds of instances of torture and brutal murder of transgender community members, but a great breakthrough for the Network in the effectiveness of its guidance, strategy, and information provision regarding Trans community support. This effected through the prison’s authorities and the Out Trans community member that we have been working with at the prison for 6+ months. In particular, in addition to the latter we wish to record our praise for the Buddhist and Pagan members of the prison’s multi-faith chaplaincy being so proactively involved in delivery of the event, that included members from other world faiths, including two Muslim community members participating.

We record our thanks to the National Lottery as the main funder of both our homeless initiative and prison initiative for the 2022 period.

Related news articles:

Seb Cousins (pronouns: they/them) brings a wealth of experience in the social media field and beyond to the LGBT+ Network for Change.  This matched by vision and major passion for  making a difference to the world and society in which we live, especially around LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community voice and needs, and on Green issues too. 

We are so Proud and delighted to have Seb as a Network team member!

You can read more about Seb at: https://lgbtnetwork4change.com/seb-cousins/

The Network is delighted to share that further to contact from the agent of Out LGBT+ pop star Ms Amelie Jat, we have instituted an official ‘Friend of’ role, with the brilliant very talented Ms Jat becoming our first official ‘Friend of the LGBT+ Network for Change’ supporter!   

We are thrilled to have Amelie’s support as our ‘Official Arts & Music Friend Of the LGBT+ Network for Change’! And to have learned of her care and passion about a number of the areas where the Network is especially active for sections of our LGBTQ+ community whose voices we have a well established Proud record of highlighting.

You can read more about Amelie at: https://lgbtnetwork4change.com/amelie-jat/

The LGBT+ Network for change is providing three important updates in regard to our engagement up to HMPPS CEO, Avon & South Dorset HMPPS prisons group, and especially the LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community proactively supportive vanguard for change & improvement governor and relevant operational lead officers at HMP & YOI Portland.  …

Firstly: the Prison’s LGBT+ Steering Group, where Network engagement with HMP & YOI Portland a year ago provided the catalyst for creation of the group, set against the 2021 action by the Network in communicating with the CEO of HMPPS, is now approaching one year of existence.  Across this year where the Network is the key, external LGBT community independent partner, has witnessed at detailed on the ground level multiple actions of the most transformational kind in changing the internal ‘culture’ of this HMPPS prison concerning safety, inclusion, safeguarding for LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community members (both prisoners and staff.  

Secondly: relating at detailed operational delivery level of a number of key areas of the Steering Group, we have found our thematic, prison service audiences information resource implemented extensively with transformational breakthroughs and success.  This has been because many aspects of that resource linked to key activity areas on LGBTQ+ inclusion, welfare, and safety in different domains of the internal and external agencies and sections, active in this area.  The information resource had an accompanying strategic component whose purpose was to link all of the latter up to the fullest extent (the creation of the steering group being the ultimate implementation of this joined up, properly coordinated approach), and in some cases advise new initiatives that had not previously existed within HMPPS in this important EDI and safety and safeguarding field.

Thirdly: we have been Proud to be supporting an Out Trans community member at the prison for several months, in extensive ways, and similarly Portland Prison’s brilliant LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ supportive (through our collaboration) ‘vanguard’ relevant leaders at multiple prison service team, who have provided incredible support to this very courageous LGBT/Trans community member, who has been directly contributing to the prison’s experience and processes base in conjunction with support from the Network, to make Portland Prison a trailblazing HMPPS institute where coming Out as Trans is concerned.  The case illustrated however that even HMPPS has limits to its effectiveness and authority in supporting such courageous LGBT+ community members, and that it has dependence on external state agencies and public service organisations in their level of competence on LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community members engagement at grassroots level. Intra-organisational effective collaboration and communication, with participation/witness function support and guidance by direct LGBT+ organisations such as the Network being indispensable for success. More details on this soon.

We will in the coming weeks provide further updates, including a communication to the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice on the achievements made and learning from the Network – Portland Prison initiative for national level HMPPS and across UK Government departments, Prison Service related trades unions and the General Secretary of the TUC, and to national agencies and private sector and voluntary sector, guidance.

We are very pleased to update that further to the recent signing of an MoU between the Human Rights First Rwanda Association( HRFRA) Government of Rwanda registered (2005) human rights organisation (http://www.rightsrwanda.com/Mission.html), the Network and the lead officers of the HRFRA have agreed to establish by the Network, through the HRFRA – Network MoU and partnership, ground-breaking support to the LGBT+ and especially LGBTQ+ Rwandan community members first, and subsequently to mental healthcare providers in Rwanda. 

This ahead of support guidance assistance to the Government of Rwanda and British High Commission Rwanda in regard to basic to more applied grassroots level supportive engagement. This being at policy level in regard to not only LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ Rwandan community members, but also for global/international LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community members – UK asylum and refugees applicants — that under the Governments’ of the UK (’Home Office’) and Rwanda are envisaged to be sent to Rwanda in 2023.

We are aware in the case of the UK Government that due to the deportations agreement with the Government of Rwanda, that the UK Government has in terms of ethics and under relevant UK laws and policies, and policy statements from the FCDO (Foreign and Commonwealth & Development Office) and especially the Home Office – which has a long established well-documented and evidenced record of controversial decisions on LGBT related immigration applications by incontestably genuine international LGBT+ community members in positions of extreme oppression, including risk to life because of their sexual orientation or gender identity – the UK Government has an obligation to honour their words, and to support the Government of Rwanda in regard to transformational support for all sections of the LGBT community of Rwanda. 

In addition, our intervention will provide a measure of support to ensure institution of protections for LGBT+ international members whom the UK Government is planning to deport to Rwanda that has a 90% ‘not a good place for LGBT people’ rating (https://www.equaldex.com/region/rwanda). 

We have therefore made a representation to the British High Commissioner for Rwanda in regard to obligations ethical and legal, and have the strong support ay CEO level of the Stonewall organisation that has long warned the UK Government of the complete unsuitability of Rwanda as a location for LGBT+ community members to be deported to.  Uniquely in our Network case, we have been kindly provided by HRFRA with direct evidence of the grim realities in Rwanda for LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community members. 

Because of the Home Office agreement, and the obligations it imposes on the Home Office directly AND at a secondary level the FCDO (the FCDO plays at admin level a major function in regard to visa/asylum/refugee status applications for those outside of the UK) we will be pressing to TAKE RWANDA, THAT HAS AN ALMOST ZERO LEVEL ‘ON THE GROUND’ LGBT COMMUNITY LEVEL SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT STRUCTURE, TO TAKE RWANDA WITHIN NOT LESS THAN TWO YEARS TO A MEDIUM RANKING INTERNATIONAL COMPETENT LGBT COMMUNITY [evidenced] SUPPORTIVE STATE.

The Network will provide an update on this action later in November.

The LGBT+ Network for Change congratulates the brilliant Bourne Free Team for their great work in enabling a fantastic Pride! Bourne Free 2022 received wonderful attendance and acclaim from community members and LGBT+ allies, and also in the local news media: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20268114.pictures-bournemouth-hosts-bourne-free-pride-event/

One of our volunteer/advisor team whose ‘drag artiste’ name is ‘Venezuela D’Viña’ provided fantastic ‘drag’ performances (we/the Network were very pleased to introduce to the Bourne Free Team earlier this year when performance line-ups were being considered), sharing not only glamour but great artistic talent. Venezuala D’Vina, was also enabled to represent the Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in the Parade. This opportunity marking the major work and success of collaboration between the Trust and the Network, through Dorset Healthcare’s Steps 2 Wellbeing programme, that has been receiving information resources and training from Network lead Alan Mercel-Sanca, with major transformational impacts.

Outside of Pride itself, Bourne Free’s support to the Network — as with other organisations and LGBT+ and Allies work and causes — plays a greatly appreciated part in contributing to our work which is focused on meaningful effective support to some of the most vulnerable, persecuted, and overlooked sections of our LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ community, AND in regard to giving Network partners such as Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust healthcare professionals and other staff at programmes and services, such as Steps 2 Wellbeing, the support they need to make a difference to LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ lives! Well done again to the Bourne Free Team!

The Network, with funding support from Bourne Free, Dorset Community Foundation for aspects of our BCP area initiative, and also including for the larger pan-Dorset and related national level outreach work for the initiative, helped us to provide and deliver next phase key elements of the latter, particularly through resources development for FE colleges, and for other programmes, such as CAMHS and CMHT for the NHS, developing a police resource for criminality and exploitation aspects

Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT): AKT is  the UK’s most respected LGBT homeless and at risk of homelessness community support organisation.  The Network has had meetings with AKT in the past few months in regard to the relevant areas of the Network’s LGBTQ+ multi agency, mental health/NHS support orientated homeless and at risk of homelessness and sofa surfing initiative. A number of very positive outcomes concerning this dialogue have emerged, with elements of the Network initiative being viewed by AKT as breaking new ground; we are providing support on these. 

The winding down of a very short-lived BCP Council Homeless Reduction Board diverse communities (particularly both LGBT, and ethnic minorities) and younger homeless community members support sub-group: this development whilst disappointing to the Network, that had for more than a year strongly argued for the BCP Council group to support the Network’s dedicated multiagency initiative due to the exceptional and extreme special factors causing the phenomenon and severity of LGBTQ+ homelessness and sofa surfing.  This was rigorously, albeit politely, refused until the sub-group mentioned was instituted – this has now withered away, with the Network not being informed, nor, we understand, Dorset Race Equality Council.  This experience has reinforced the Network premise that such approaches have not worked, nor will work, and only initiatives of the kind created by the Network take seriously LGBTQ+ lives at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

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Network initiative with the Prison Service, through pilot work at HMP & YOI Portland:

The initiative, which features monthly Steering Groups meetings, has continued to witness major advance and improvement for LGBT+ and LGBTQ+ community members at Portland Prison through the Network guided multiple stakeholders ‘joining up’ approach – one outcome was that the prison’s Pride 2022 has made national news within the Prison Service/HMPPS in terms of approach and impact. 

In addition, the Network has been providing multiple forms of support through the steering group monthly meetings and email correspondence on various development and support points, and Network information resources, aspects of which have been aiding group stakeholders at strategic and operational delivery level, are currently being reviewed at national HMPPS level, with a view to final state version being developed with the Network for national use. 

Rwanda’s Human Rights First Rwanda Association (HRFRA) contacted the Network in June with the request that we could assist with their LGBTQIA+ community support remit development.  This is a major task, and has been strongly welcomed by the LGBT+ Network for Change, which we are very pleased to announce has just signed a partnership agreement/MoU with HRFRA.

For context on this challenge, and opportunity for delivering meaningful change and improvement, please see this page on Rwanda from the brilliant Equaldex website: https://www.equaldex.com/region/rwanda  — Rwanda is rated, from an LGBT inclusiveness, equality, and safety point of view as ‘90% Not a Good Place’: this must have been known by senior Home Office Whitehall officials, architects of the Rwanda deportation destination for refugees crossing the English Channel, which is the latest chapter in the human rights abusive UK immigration ‘Hostile Environment.’  It has certainly been widely noted in the UK and international LGBT news media, and by the Network that has done so much to challenge the anti-LGBT dimension of the latter. 

The opportunity to work with HRFRA is therefore an exciting one, and we applaud their courage in wanting to do something about the plight of our LGBT+ and LGBTQ+ community in Rwanda; on this we are going to be providing assistance in a number of areas agreed with HRFRA, such as education, international profiling, mental health impacts of anti-LGBT persecution and prejudice, and solutions to those needs. 

The partnership has an Ireland (as per the Network constitution) as much as UK dimension, something greatly welcomed by HRFRA. 

The Network is delighted to provide this commendation statement to our and Dorset Race Equality Council’s, fantastic BU team:

The LGBT+ Network for Change (https://lgbtnetwork4change.com/) wishes to formally commend  Bournemouth University’s Events Management Team for their enablement of the LGBT+ International Film Festival project.  
This was developed at the request of the Network in conjunction with Dorset Race Equality Council (https://www.dorsetrec.org.uk/) to enable in the BCP and Dorset area, and nationally, an appropriate educational information initiative that effectively highlights the complex nature of the ethnic minority (including international level and LGBT+ refugee and asylum applicants) LGBT+ & LGBTQ+ ‘intersectional’ community’s experience of prejudice and minimal practical support.  

This LGBT+ community is one of the most, to date, marginalised of all LGBT+ communities, with particularly high experienced poor mental health caused by prejudice and a dire wont of structured, practical easily accessed statutory sector support — for reference, as an example, ethnic minority LGBT+ community members constitute a highly disproportionate percentage of the LGBT+ homeless community. 

The film festival project, as developed by the fantastic — ALL female! — BU Events Management Team, gives both Bournemouth/BCP & Dorset, and Bournemouth University itself, a unique place for building in the 2020s a truly LGBT+  & BAME/BME/ethnic minorities intersectional community welcoming, inclusive, truly Prejudice-Free society and country.  The BU Events Management Team in this are with the Network and DREC literally making history — the project is therefore the start of an exciting new phase of meaningful equality diversity inclusion. 

The project’s timing could not be more appropriate given the grim realities of 2+ decades of brutal oppression of LGBT+ community members in Russia — more LGBT+ community members will be seeking refuge from that land and of course from the Ukraine currently menaced by the regime of the latter.  
This project will help therefore in a tangible way to ensure that such LGBT+ community members come to a UK that is more informed at general public and UK Government given department officials levels about our ethnic minorities – LGBT+ intersectional community’s needs, and indeed courage in the face of particularly intense and often brutal prejudice & persecution. 

Next steps, and thanks to the main funder (National Lottery, Awards for All) of the Network that made our work possible:

Directly, the project will help us with our NHS mental health services (DHC ‘Steps 2 Wellbeing) staff and LGBTQ+ patients support work, with our prisons/Portland Prison/HMPPS, and our LGBTQ+ homeless initiatives as in all three areas the particular additional support and awareness needs of our intersectional community members are especially clear. Finally, we wish to thank the National Lottery (Awards for All) for the crucial role their funding contributed to the project for the Network.

Alan Mercel-Sanca
LGBT+ Network for Change 

This badly needed project has a social media profile — for Twitter, please see: https://mobile.twitter.com/AllForOne_bu