Assembly flags up LGBT history month by flying rainbow standard outside Senedd
22 February 2012
The National Assembly for Wales is marking Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month by flying the rainbow flag on 22 February above its estate in Cardiff Bay and in Colwyn Bay in north Wales.
It is being flown to coincide with an event in Cardiff being organised by equal rights organistion Stonewall, which will see Stonewall’s Diversity Champions in Wales, (including those from the National Assembly for Wales), get together to mark LGBT history month.
This follows the National Assembly for Wales being ranked 20th in Stonewall’s list of top 100 gay-friendly places to work in the UK, up 22 places from last year’s position.
The National Assembly was also ranked number one in Wales for its LGBT employee network.
“The National Assembly represents all communities in Wales,” said the Assembly’s Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM.
“The LGBT community is perhaps one that is perceived as being under-represented in mainstream politics.
“I wanted to mark LGBT history month in this way in order to demonstrate that we are there for all
communities across Wales.
Sandy Mewies, the Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for Equalities, said: “ I am delighted and privileged to take part in this ceremony with Out-NAW to raise the Rainbow Flag.
“The LGBT history month is all about celebrating diversity and cultural pluralism which is something that we strive to do in the Assembly through our equalities objectives.”
In the past year, the National Assembly has undertaken the following work to make the Assembly a more gay-friendly place to work:
Our LGBT staff network have started a mentoring programme
We continue to work with local partners to celebrate LGBT History Month
We continue to have a presence at the Cardiff Mardi Gras – this year, the Presiding Officer spoke on the main stage
We have started to produce a monthly equality bulletin which contains information on LGBT news, publications, conferences etc
We promote LGBT equality internally, through our inclusive staff policies, training and awareness-raising
We have a senior LGBT champion and a number of senior straight allies who promote LGBT equality internally and externally