Council Promises Better Support Of LGBT Rights Following Harrassments From Black And Muslim Locals

Following the publication of a study that highlighted the gay community of Waltham Forest were being harassed by local black and Muslim ethnic minorities, Waltham Forest Council has pledged to offer better support to the their LGBT communities.

The report, which was put together by Waltham Forest Council via questioning 270 members of the local LGBT community, found that LGBT residents not only felt they need to modify their behaviour in public to prevent harassment and discrimination, but that they felt the area lacked social and community venues for gay residents.

Speaking about the report’s findings, Councillor Marie Pye, who is the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said:

“Over the last few months, we have undertaken one of the largest surveys of its kind in the country, specifically targeting our LGBT community to find out how we can better support their needs”

“The report has established where we need to work to help the LGBT community to thrive and improve their experience of working and living in the borough.”

Suggestions made on what could be improved included making reporting hate crime clearer and easier, as well as finding more opportunities to celebrate the LGBT community within the area.

Pye did add that whilst the Council were putting a lot of effort into educating those in school about embracing difference the report had acted to show that they now needed to put more focus on those who are actually suffering from the harassment they were trying to prevent.