Agenda item

Notice of Motion Regarding "Pride in Sheffield" - Given By Councillor Sophie Thornton and To Be Seconded By Councillor Simon Clement-Jones

That this Council:-

 

(a)      wishes to thank the charitable and voluntary sector for the support they already provide to the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year;

 

(b)      reaffirms its commitment to keep all people safe in our City, no matter their gender or sexual identity, secularity, skin colour or disability;

 

(c)      notes the need to improve the safety of our LGBTQ+ community, noting that homophobic and transphobic violence is increasing and trans or non-binary Sheffielders are especially at risk of violence, depression, self-harm, and suicide;

 

(d)      acknowledges the greater risk to LGBTQ+ people of colour, especially transgender women of colour;

 

(e)      believes that this Council’s support for Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ community should go well beyond painted rainbow crossings, and as such -

 

(f)       supports LGBTQ+ cultural events in Sheffield through:-

 

(i)       Sheffield holding an annual Pride event going forward from 2022, as at present no such event is organised to take place, celebrating Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ community, in a similar vein to Pinknic and Barnsley Pride;

 

(ii)       acknowledging the importance of holding Pride events due to the heritage of Pride as a protest, and that there is still work to be done towards equality; and

 

(iii)      supporting community groups involved in and facilitate spaces for dates across the LGBTQ+ calendar, including but not limited to Pride Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR), and International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT);

 

(g)      believes in the importance of how this Council’s economic development work can support the LGBTQ+ community and support diverse business owners by asking the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee to consider looking at starting consultation work with the LGBTQ+ community to develop an LGBTQ+ ‘quarter’ in Sheffield with the spaces LGBTQ+ people in Sheffield both want and need; and this should include:-

 

(i)       supporting LGBTQ+ owned business, charities, nightlife and safe spaces in the same way other cities have done, including Manchester (Canal Street area), Birmingham (Hurst Street area) and Leeds (Freedom Quarter);

 

(ii)       taking into account the importance of non-alcoholic (dry spaces) and child friendly spaces in an LGBTQ+ quarter – with a desire for any such area to be fully inclusive, including for disabled people, and safe, with good street lighting among other considerations;

 

(iii)      agreeing to the principle that any LGBTQ+ quarter shouldn’t just be bars and clubs, noting the real problems of drug abuse and alcoholism in the community, for which this Council must support schemes that focus on harm reduction with these issues; and

 

(iv)      looking at places such as Common Press in London and the Queer Emporium in Cardiff as examples of good practice of inclusive, diverse spaces;

 

(h)      expresses its disappointment that Sheffield’s Gender Identity Clinic is only now starting to see appointments for those referred to them in 2018 and calls on the Government to do more to support these crucially important services for trans and non-binary people;

 

(i)       supports the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Sheffielders by asking the Policy Committees, in considering Public Health functions, to have regard to:-

 

(i)       supporting existing and new spaces, clinics, and pop-up clinics that support LGBTQ+ Sheffielders’ physical, mental, and sexual health;

 

(ii)       providing information about sexual health, housing, and support for LGBTQ+ people, with specific information about support available for LGBTQ+ people of colour and those who are HIV+;

 

(iii)      including information and support for those who have been sexually assaulted or experienced domestic violence as a result of their sexual or gender identity;

 

(iv)      existing established health services needing to ensure staff are trained in supporting LGBTQ+ Sheffielders who have sadly gone through sexual assault or domestic violence as a result of their sexual and/or gender identity;

 

(v)      investigating ways this Council can help the HIV+ community access support and the support around the wide variety of other issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community and raised within this motion; and

 

(vi)      our belief that good services supporting young LGBTQ+ people, such as SAYiT, that provide them with a safe space and the ability to make lifelong friends in the community, are critical;

 

(j)       believes in supporting inclusive housing and LGBTQ+ Sheffielders who face homelessness, and that no one in Sheffield should be made homeless as a result of coming out or being rejected by their families by virtue of who they are, and asks the Housing Policy Committee to consider investigating ways this Council can:-

 

(i)       help reduce homelessness in young LGBTQ+ people by supporting LGBTQ+ youth services, as well as providing information and support;

 

(ii)       give considerations for LGBTQ+ supported housing for older LGBTQ+ people in Sheffield, dependent on need, as has been done by councils such as Lambeth, as we look to expand our social housing stock; and

 

(iii)      continue supporting projects that help people that are homeless and/or rough sleeping in any way we can; and

 

(k)      believes that Sheffield Council, as an inclusive organisation:-

 

(i)       should include a gender neutral toilet facility whenever possible in Council buildings, separate to disabled toilets so as to not impact or restrict on disabled toilet access for disabled people, with private and safe locking cubicles for all, and therefore asks the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider this as and when they consider any policy or capital decisions on our corporate estate or future capital works;

 

(ii)       needs to advertise information on support that is already available to the LGBTQ+ community more, highlighting support services wherever they are available; and

 

(iii)      stands firmly against conversion therapy in all forms and is dismayed to see the Government excluding trans people from the ban on conversion therapy for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people, as well as using trans people as part of a culture war.

 

 

Minutes:

7.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Sophie Thornton, and formally seconded by Councillor Simon Clement-Jones, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)      wishes to thank the charitable and voluntary sector for the support they already provide to the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year;

 

 

 

(b)      reaffirms its commitment to keep all people safe in our City, no matter their gender or sexual identity, secularity, skin colour or disability;

 

 

 

(c)      notes the need to improve the safety of our LGBTQ+ community, noting that homophobic and transphobic violence is increasing and trans or non-binary Sheffielders are especially at risk of violence, depression, self-harm, and suicide;

 

 

 

(d)      acknowledges the greater risk to LGBTQ+ people of colour, especially transgender women of colour;

 

 

 

(e)      believes that this Council’s support for Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ community should go well beyond painted rainbow crossings, and as such -

 

 

 

(f)       supports LGBTQ+ cultural events in Sheffield through:-

 

 

 

(i)       Sheffield holding an annual Pride event going forward from 2022, as at present no such event is organised to take place, celebrating Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ community, in a similar vein to Pinknic and Barnsley Pride;

 

 

 

(ii)       acknowledging the importance of holding Pride events due to the heritage of Pride as a protest, and that there is still work to be done towards equality; and

 

 

 

(iii)      supporting community groups involved in and facilitate spaces for dates across the LGBTQ+ calendar, including but not limited to Pride Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR), and International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT);

 

 

 

(g)      believes in the importance of how this Council’s economic development work can support the LGBTQ+ community and support diverse business owners by asking the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee to consider looking at starting consultation work with the LGBTQ+ community to develop an LGBTQ+ ‘quarter’ in Sheffield with the spaces LGBTQ+ people in Sheffield both want and need; and this should include:-

 

 

 

(i)       supporting LGBTQ+ owned business, charities, nightlife and safe spaces in the same way other cities have done, including Manchester (Canal Street area), Birmingham (Hurst Street area) and Leeds (Freedom Quarter);

 

 

 

(ii)       taking into account the importance of non-alcoholic (dry spaces) and child friendly spaces in an LGBTQ+ quarter – with a desire for any such area to be fully inclusive, including for disabled people, and safe, with good street lighting among other considerations;

 

 

 

(iii)      agreeing to the principle that any LGBTQ+ quarter shouldn’t just be bars and clubs, noting the real problems of drug abuse and alcoholism in the community, for which this Council must support schemes that focus on harm reduction with these issues; and

 

 

 

(iv)      looking at places such as Common Press in London and the Queer Emporium in Cardiff as examples of good practice of inclusive, diverse spaces;

 

 

 

(h)      expresses its disappointment that Sheffield’s Gender Identity Clinic is only now starting to see appointments for those referred to them in 2018 and calls on the Government to do more to support these crucially important services for trans and non-binary people;

 

 

 

(i)       supports the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Sheffielders by asking the Policy Committees, in considering Public Health functions, to have regard to:-

 

 

 

(i)       supporting existing and new spaces, clinics, and pop-up clinics that support LGBTQ+ Sheffielders’ physical, mental, and sexual health;

 

 

 

(ii)       providing information about sexual health, housing, and support for LGBTQ+ people, with specific information about support available for LGBTQ+ people of colour and those who are HIV+;

 

 

 

(iii)      including information and support for those who have been sexually assaulted or experienced domestic violence as a result of their sexual or gender identity;

 

 

 

(iv)      existing established health services needing to ensure staff are trained in supporting LGBTQ+ Sheffielders who have sadly gone through sexual assault or domestic violence as a result of their sexual and/or gender identity;

 

 

 

(v)      investigating ways this Council can help the HIV+ community access support and the support around the wide variety of other issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community and raised within this motion; and

 

 

 

(vi)      our belief that good services supporting young LGBTQ+ people, such as SAYiT, that provide them with a safe space and the ability to make lifelong friends in the community, are critical;

 

 

 

(j)       believes in supporting inclusive housing and LGBTQ+ Sheffielders who face homelessness, and that no one in Sheffield should be made homeless as a result of coming out or being rejected by their families by virtue of who they are, and asks the Housing Policy Committee to consider investigating ways this Council can:-

 

 

 

(i)       help reduce homelessness in young LGBTQ+ people by supporting LGBTQ+ youth services, as well as providing information and support;

 

 

 

(ii)       give considerations for LGBTQ+ supported housing for older LGBTQ+ people in Sheffield, dependent on need, as has been done by councils such as Lambeth, as we look to expand our social housing stock; and

 

 

 

(iii)      continue supporting projects that help people that are homeless and/or rough sleeping in any way we can; and

 

 

 

(k)      believes that Sheffield Council, as an inclusive organisation:-

 

 

 

(i)       should include a gender neutral toilet facility whenever possible in Council buildings, separate to disabled toilets so as to not impact or restrict on disabled toilet access for disabled people, with private and safe locking cubicles for all, and therefore asks the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider this as and when they consider any policy or capital decisions on our corporate estate or future capital works;

 

 

 

(ii)       needs to advertise information on support that is already available to the LGBTQ+ community more, highlighting support services wherever they are available; and

 

 

 

(iii)      stands firmly against conversion therapy in all forms and is dismayed to see the Government excluding trans people from the ban on conversion therapy for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people, as well as using trans people as part of a culture war.

 

 

7.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Ben Miskell, and formally seconded by Councillor Jayne Dunn, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (l) to (o) as follows:-

 

 

 

(l)       (i) notes that the current climate for LGBT+ people in the UK means that nearly half - including 64 per cent of trans pupils - are bullied for being LGBT+ in Britain's schools;

 

 

 

          (ii) further notes that the repeal of Section 28 was a pivotal moment for LGBT+ rights, and believes that the UK must never move backwards on LGBT+ rights by stopping LGBT+ inclusive education in schools;

 

 

 

          (iii) notes that people of all faiths and none are LGBT+ and it is vital that all children receive age-appropriate inclusive relationships and sex education, regardless of their parents’ beliefs;

 

 

 

          (iv) welcomes the introduction of statutory Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), which all primary and secondary schools in England are now required to teach; and

 

 

 

          (v) affirms unequivocally its support for compulsory LGBT+ inclusive Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education in all state funded primary and secondary schools, and commits to ensuring that schools are delivering RSE in line with new Government guidance, supported by teaching material already produced by Learn Sheffield;

 

 

 

(m)     (i) calls on all employers in Sheffield to create workplaces free from LGBT+ harassment;

 

 

 

          (ii) further notes that the TUC’s report on sexual harassment of LGBT people in the workplace reports that nearly 7 in 10 (68%) LGBT+ people have been sexually harassed at work;

 

 

 

          (iii) welcomes the vital work carried out by trade unions to organise LGBT+ workers in the workplace to campaign for their rights; and

 

 

 

          (iv) affirms that workplaces that are trade unionised are more likely to support the human rights of workers;

 

 

 

(n)      (i) notes that 2022 marks 40 years since the first cases of HIV were reported globally;

 

 

 

          (ii) further notes the progress that had been made through the tireless and tenacious efforts of people affected by HIV, HIV activists, allies, and people living with HIV, which has taken us to the point where it is now scientifically possible to end new HIV transmissions in the UK;

 

 

 

          (iii) affirms that this Council wants to see an end to new HIV transmissions in Sheffield;

 

 

 

          (iv) notes that the UK Government has pledged to make this a reality by 2030 and achieve an 80% reduction in new HIV transmissions by 2025; and

 

 

 

          (v) calls on the Government to make good on this promise; and

 

 

 

(o)      (i) is disappointed by the divisive rhetoric used by candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party and future Prime Minister when discussing transgender and non-binary people;

 

 

 

          (ii) believes that this rhetoric fuels transphobia and prejudice against LGBT+ people; and

 

 

 

          (iii) affirms that this Council unequivocally supports transgender and non-binary people.

 

 

7.3

It was then formally moved by Councillor Angela Argenzio, and formally seconded by Councillor Martin Phipps, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

 

 

 

1.       the replacement throughout the Motion of all the references to LGBTQ+ by LGBTIQA+;

 

 

 

2.       the addition of a new paragraph (a) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (a) to (k) as new paragraphs (b) to (l):-

 

 

 

(a)      requests the Chief Executive to consider adopting the term LGBTIQA+ within the Council and replacing all existing references in other forms;

 

 

 

3.       the addition, in the new paragraph (j) [original paragraph (i)], of new sub-paragraphs (vii) and (viii) as follows:-

 

 

 

(vii)     community learning being about building community and confidence and voluntary and community organisations are often the best placed to offer the safe spaces that are so important; and

 

 

 

(viii)    the commissioning of community-based learning to support LGBTIQA+ people when coming out and at all points along their journey;

 

 

7.4

The amendment moved by Councillor Ben Miskell was put to the vote and was carried.

 

 

7.4.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 66 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.  Councillor Lewis Chinchen voted for, but against sub-paragraphs (o)(i) & (ii) of the amendment.)

 

 

7.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Angela Argenzio was then put to the vote and was lost.

 

 

7.5.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 10 Members; AGAINST - 26 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 30 Members.)

 

 

7.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)      wishes to thank the charitable and voluntary sector for the support they already provide to the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year;

 

 

 

(b)      reaffirms its commitment to keep all people safe in our City, no matter their gender or sexual identity, secularity, skin colour or disability;

 

 

 

(c)      notes the need to improve the safety of our LGBTQ+ community, noting that homophobic and transphobic violence is increasing and trans or non-binary Sheffielders are especially at risk of violence, depression, self-harm, and suicide;

 

 

 

(d)      acknowledges the greater risk to LGBTQ+ people of colour, especially transgender women of colour;

 

 

 

(e)      believes that this Council’s support for Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ community should go well beyond painted rainbow crossings, and as such -

 

 

 

(f)       supports LGBTQ+ cultural events in Sheffield through:-

 

 

 

(i)       Sheffield holding an annual Pride event going forward from 2022, as at present no such event is organised to take place, celebrating Sheffield’s LGBTQ+ community, in a similar vein to Pinknic and Barnsley Pride;

 

 

 

(ii)       acknowledging the importance of holding Pride events due to the heritage of Pride as a protest, and that there is still work to be done towards equality; and

 

 

 

(iii)      supporting community groups involved in and facilitate spaces for dates across the LGBTQ+ calendar, including but not limited to Pride Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR), and International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT);

 

 

 

(g)      believes in the importance of how this Council’s economic development work can support the LGBTQ+ community and support diverse business owners by asking the Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee to consider looking at starting consultation work with the LGBTQ+ community to develop an LGBTQ+ ‘quarter’ in Sheffield with the spaces LGBTQ+ people in Sheffield both want and need; and this should include:-

 

 

 

(i)       supporting LGBTQ+ owned business, charities, nightlife and safe spaces in the same way other cities have done, including Manchester (Canal Street area), Birmingham (Hurst Street area) and Leeds (Freedom Quarter;

 

 

 

(ii)       taking into account the importance of non-alcoholic (dry spaces) and child friendly spaces in an LGBTQ+ quarter – with a desire for any such area to be fully inclusive, including for disabled people, and safe, with good street lighting among other considerations;

 

 

 

(iii)      agreeing to the principle that any LGBTQ+ quarter shouldn’t just be bars and clubs, noting the real problems of drug abuse and alcoholism in the community, for which this Council must support schemes that focus on harm reduction with these issues; and

 

 

 

(iv)      looking at places such as Common Press in London and the Queer Emporium in Cardiff as examples of good practice of inclusive, diverse spaces;

 

 

 

(h)      expresses its disappointment that Sheffield’s Gender Identity Clinic is only now starting to see appointments for those referred to them in 2018 and calls on the Government to do more to support these crucially important services for trans and non-binary people;

 

 

 

(i)       supports the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Sheffielders by asking the Policy Committees, in considering Public Health functions, to have regard to:-

 

 

 

(i)       supporting existing and new spaces, clinics, and pop-up clinics that support LGBTQ+ Sheffielders’ physical, mental, and sexual health;

 

 

 

(ii)       providing information about sexual health, housing, and support for LGBTQ+ people, with specific information about support available for LGBTQ+ people of colour and those who are HIV+;

 

 

 

(iii)      including information and support for those who have been sexually assaulted or experienced domestic violence as a result of their sexual or gender identity;

 

 

 

(iv)      existing established health services needing to ensure staff are trained in supporting LGBTQ+ Sheffielders who have sadly gone through sexual assault or domestic violence as a result of their sexual and/or gender identity;

 

 

 

(v)      investigating ways this Council can help the HIV+ community access support and the support around the wide variety of other issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community and raised within this motion; and

 

 

 

(vi)      our belief that good services supporting young LGBTQ+ people, such as SAYiT, that provide them with a safe space and the ability to make lifelong friends in the community, are critical;

 

 

 

(j)       believes in supporting inclusive housing and LGBTQ+ Sheffielders who face homelessness, and that no one in Sheffield should be made homeless as a result of coming out or being rejected by their families by virtue of who they are, and asks the Housing Policy Committee to consider investigating ways this Council can:-

 

 

 

(i)       help reduce homelessness in young LGBTQ+ people by supporting LGBTQ+ youth services, as well as providing information and support;

 

 

 

(ii)       give considerations for LGBTQ+ supported housing for older LGBTQ+ people in Sheffield, dependent on need, as has been done by councils such as Lambeth, as we look to expand our social housing stock; and

 

 

 

(iii)      continue supporting projects that help people that are homeless and/or rough sleeping in any way we can;

 

 

 

(k)      believes that Sheffield Council, as an inclusive organisation:-

 

 

 

(i)       should include a gender-neutral toilet facility whenever possible in Council buildings, separate to disabled toilets so as to not impact or restrict on disabled toilet access for disabled people, with private and safe locking cubicles for all, and therefore asks the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider this as and when they consider any policy or capital decisions on our corporate estate or future capital works;

 

 

 

(ii)       needs to advertise information on support that is already available to the LGBTQ+ community more, highlighting support services wherever they are available; and

 

 

 

(iii)      stands firmly against conversion therapy in all forms and is dismayed to see the Government excluding trans people from the ban on conversion therapy for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people, as well as using trans people as part of a culture war;

 

 

 

(l)       (i)        notes that the current climate for LGBT+ people in the UK means that nearly half - including 64 per cent of trans pupils - are bullied for being LGBT+ in Britain's schools;

 

 

 

(ii)       further notes that the repeal of Section 28 was a pivotal moment for LGBT+ rights, and believes that the UK must never move backwards on LGBT+ rights by stopping LGBT+ inclusive education in schools;

 

 

 

(i)             notes that people of all faiths and none are LGBT+ and it is vital that all children receive age-appropriate inclusive relationships and sex education, regardless of their parents’ beliefs;

 

 

 

(ii)            welcomes the introduction of statutory Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), which all primary and secondary schools in England are now required to teach; and

 

 

 

(iii)          affirms unequivocally its support for compulsory LGBT+ inclusive Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education in all state funded primary and secondary schools, and commits to ensuring that schools are delivering RSE in line with new Government guidance, supported by teaching material already produced by Learn Sheffield;

 

 

 

(m)      (i)       calls on all employers in Sheffield to create workplaces free from LGBT+ harassment;

 

 

 

(ii)       further notes that the TUC’s report on sexual harassment of LGBT people in the workplace reports that nearly 7 in 10 (68%) LGBT+ people have been sexually harassed at work;

 

 

 

(iii)      welcomes the vital work carried out by trade unions to organise LGBT+ workers in the workplace to campaign for their rights; and

 

 

 

(iv)      affirms that workplaces that are trade unionised are more likely to support the human rights of workers;

 

 

 

(n)      (i)        notes that 2022 marks 40 years since the first cases of HIV were reported globally;

 

 

 

(ii)       further notes the progress that had been made through the tireless and tenacious efforts of people affected by HIV, HIV activists, allies, and people living with HIV, which has taken us to the point where it is now scientifically possible to end new HIV transmissions in the UK;

 

 

 

(iii)      affirms that this Council wants to see an end to new HIV transmissions in Sheffield;

 

 

 

(iv)      notes that the UK Government has pledged to make this a reality by 2030 and achieve an 80% reduction in new HIV transmissions by 2025; and

 

 

 

(iv)          calls on the Government to make good on this promise; and

 

 

 

(o)      (i)        is disappointed by the divisive rhetoric used by candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party and future Prime Minister when discussing transgender and non-binary people;

 

 

 

(ii)       believes that this rhetoric fuels transphobia and prejudice against LGBT+ people; and

 

 

 

(iii)      affirms that this Council unequivocally supports transgender and non-binary people.

 

 

 

 

7.6.1

(NOTE: The result of the vote was FOR - 65 Members; AGAINST - 0 Members; ABSTENTIONS – 0 Members.  Councillor Lewis Chinchen voted for, but against sub-paragraphs (k)(iii) and (o)(i) & (ii) of the Substantive Motion.)