Pride in leadership

The LGA provides a unique learning and support event for LGBTQ+ councillors

The LGA’s LGBTQ+ Councillors’ Weekender event is back in February, after its highly successful inaugural year in 2022. 

This Focus on Leadership event, especially aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer-plus councillors, is timed to recognise LGBT+ History Month. 

The event will provide LGBTQ+ councillors with a safe space to explore the challenges of being a LGBTQ+ elected member, as well as offer sessions on building support networks, personal resilience, and developing personal leadership styles.

It will be a fantastic opportunity for councillors from across the country to network and share experiences and stories with each other.

The 2022 programme was co-facilitated by Cllr Simon Bound, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Council, and Grace Collins MBE, LGA Leadership Adviser. 

Cllr Bound, Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, and Cllr James-J Walsh, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at Lewisham Council, offer some reflections on the benefits of the programme.

‘Effecting positive change for the LGBT+ community’

In 2022, I was lucky enough to be an attendee at the inaugural LGA LGBTQ+ Councillors’ Weekender, which took place during the historic 50th anniversary year of the Pride movement in the UK.

The event provided an incredibly useful space to be able to talk about how local government can effect positive change for the LGBT+ community locally and nationally. 

It helped attendees to use the often-unrealised potential and support available within our authorities by not only offering practical tools and support to attendees to develop action plans, but also preparing them to be leaders in their authority by building their skills, knowledge, and confidence. 

Many attendees have since gone back to their councils, applied what they learned, and been recognised by their authority and group for the positive impact they have had.

The course also uniquely offers councillors the space to discuss challenges we may face from being out LGBT+ public office holders, whether in our communities, political groups or authorities. 

The coming out process for most never ends and, by being a councillor, you have to navigate, additionally, a very specific – and quite often public – journey. Being able to talk this through with others who have similar experiences was invaluable.

The cross-party, but still politically grounded, nature of the cohort really offered a significant difference from other LGBT+ training and development spaces that I have been in, which have often been single party or apolitical in nature. 

The event in 2022 was richly peppered with inspirational thought leaders, facilitators who were able to give pragmatic advice and tools to effect change, and the opportunity to network with an amazing range of diverse councillors from across the political spectrum and country – both in the conference centre and socially.

‘Spaces to support each other’

First elected to Manchester City Council in 2011, I’ve held a range of roles across the council over the past decade. 

My first was as the lead councillor for LGBT+ women, before chairing a scrutiny committee, followed by Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, and Deputy Leader.

In December 2021, I had the great honour of becoming Leader of Manchester City Council and running one of the UK’s most exciting cities.  

Since my election, much press attention has focused on me being the first woman – and first openly gay – leader of the city, one of all too few out LGBT+ women local government leaders.

Growing up gay on a council estate outside Belfast, I always worried that my identity would hold me back. 

But after the hard fight for equality and social change, we have made considerable progress. While the media coverage was mostly positive, the fact that this remains ‘news’ demonstrates that we still have some way to go. 

That’s why it is important that, as councillors, we have spaces where we can support each other, develop ourselves and improve our councils – and, in turn, help them improve the lives of LGBT+ people in our communities. 

The LGA’s LGBTQ+ Councillors’ Weekender is a great example of how we can do that, and I would encourage councillors at any stage of their journey to get involved. 

‘The importance of role modelling’

Attendees at the 2022 weekender were able to share their experience of what it is like to be a LGBTQ+ elected member, the issues they have encountered – and, in some cases, the abuse they have received – and, to varying degrees, the amount of participation they have in championing and campaigning on LGBTQ+ issues.

All delegates described the importance of holding the weekender, and the continuing significance of LGBT+ History Month, Pride events and other very visual ways of supporting the community and educating others about what still needs to be done to prevent marginalisation.

Some of the main issues that LGBTQ+ councillors faced and that were highlighted by delegates in 2022 were:

• abuse on social media
• still feeling uncomfortable in being their true self in their authority
• unsure about how to support LGBTQ+ issues without acquiring a label
• acceptance of who they are by colleagues and officers
• the importance of visibility and role modelling. 

Internal culture in some local authorities, and the lack of language and experience in both LGBTQ+ and other marginalised communities, was highlighted on several occasions. 

This was an area where everyone thought the LGA could provide help, with lots of offers to assist from those attending the weekend. 

Councillors who attend next month’s 2023 weekender at the Warwick Conferences venue, Coventry, are guaranteed to be a part of this ongoing conversation, and will be joined by inspiring and memorable guest speakers – so don’t miss your chance to book a space.