GMP flies rainbow flag for IDAHO

ACC Ian Wiggett and representatives from LAGSA (Lesbian and Gay Staff Affiliation) about to raise the rainbow flag outside the Force Headquarters

Greater Manchester Police is flying the rainbow flag at the Force’s new headquarters at Central Park and at divisional headquarters across the county today, Thursday 17 May, to support IDAHO 2012 (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia).

The Forces participation in the annual event marks its support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities in Greater Manchester and across the world.

IDAHO takes place every year on 17 May to mark the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett said: “We want everyone in our county to be able to go about their legal business in safety and free from the fear of crime.

“Supporting events like IDAHO helps to show LGBT communities that we take their concerns seriously and are committed to robustly tackling hate crime against them.

“Hate crime is under reported by many vulnerable communities. By flying the IDAHO flag we want to encourage people to report incidents so that we can help bring an end to homophobia and transphobia.”