Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender group to attend Redbridge carnival for the first time
Redbridge Rainbow Community will be joining Redbridge Carnival this year for the first time in recent history. They will be joining the procession and will have a stall on both days the carnival is on. Rick Pataky, Co-Chair of the voluntary group said “We are all very excited about the prospect of joining the carnival this year as it is the first time an openly LGBT group based in Redbridge has done so. We want to stand up and be counted as part of the diverse community that is Redbridge”
The group formed at the beginning of this year believing that many LGB&T people within Redbridge may be very isolated, and often due to fear, are not publicly "Out" to others about their sexuality or gender identity. With the financial backing of London Borough of Redbridge and help and support from the Met police Safer Neighbourhood team, RAMFEL and Redbridge CVS they hope to be as strong as their counterparts in other neighbouring boroughs. Unlike many Inner London Boroughs, Redbridge does not have any obvious Meeting Focal Points where less confident LGBT people can feel free to gather and be open about themselves. The groups aim is to allow the voices of LGBT people living, working, socialising and studying within the borough of Redbridge to find their voice and have a say about their community.
At present the Redbridge Rainbow Community Forum is small in number, but we are most keen to attract lots of people from our community in Redbridge. This is a Forum primarily for Lesbian and Bisexual Women, Gay and Bisexual Men, and Trans-gendered people [LGB&T people for short], Living, Working, Studying and/or socialising within the London Borough of Redbridge. People from organisations within Redbridge, who are supportive of LGBT people and the issues they face, are also encouraged to attend.
We are very keen to advocate for Social Inclusion of LGBT people within the borough; to work with local public services, be it Council Services, Police, Health Services, Beauticians, Dentists, etc, fully taking the needs of LGBT people into account. We are committed to raising Public Awareness of our issues within the borough, working with public authorities to reduce the incidents and harm caused by Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic behaviour; and to create focal points where LGBT people can meet and feel comfortable to air their issues.
