A NORTH EAST charity which is organising three of the region’s biggest Pride events this summer is now working with Northumbria’s Crime Commissioner in the fight against hate crimes.
Out North East is behind Pride In Sunderland, Pride In South Tyneside and Pride In Gateshead, which will run consecutively from June to August.
And along with the celebrations, Out North East is also addressing the serious issues facing the LGBTQ+ community – particularly older and younger people and the trans community – to understand the difficulties they face.
The organisation successfully bid to Northumbria Police’s Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, community fund to support a Pride In Safety project.
And that includes a community survey on hate crime awareness, which is being launched to coincide with International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex-phobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)this Saturday (17 May).
Out North East will be conducting the survey via its website at www.outnortheast.org.uk throughout the summer and at its events, where people are being asked to share their experience of LGBTphobia, with the hope that the results will help inform future policies.
“Out North East do such a fantastic job pushing to end discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender orientation of those living in the region,” said the Commissioner.
“Their project really stood out to me for counteracting hate crime against LGBTQ+ people, raising awareness, educating the community, and fostering a safer environment for LGBTQ+ people across Northumberland & Tyne and Wear.
“The Hate Crime Awareness survey help shape resources to meet community needs and provide data for local authorities so together we can work to improve support services.
“I want this project to empower LGBTQ+ people to recognise and report hate crime, increase confidence in seeking help from commissioned services.
“My ultimate aim is for a community where every LGBTQ+ person feels valued, protected, and empowered to stand against hate and discrimination and get the support they need when they need it, and I will keep doing all I can to make progress towards this.”
Peter Darrant of Out North East said he was very grateful for the support of the Commissioner and was now appealing for people to respond to the survey.
“We are able to carry out this really important piece of research because of the funding from the Commissioner’s Community Fund,” he said.
“The LGBTQ+ community is facing extremely challenging times at present and it’s important for us to reach out and give those people who may not have a voice the opportunity to share their experiences.
“We would encourage everyone to share those experiences in the survey which will allow us to share the findings and hopefully help to deal with the problem of hate crime.”