LGBT in Rochdale to highlight International Day Against Homophobia

Adrian Palmer (LGF), Ryann Ormer, Sarah Harper and Emma Salloway from Rochdale Council at the information stall

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) were in Rochdale Town Centre today (Saturday 17 May) on what is International Day Against Homophobia.

The group were on The Butts to offer information and advice to people and the police were also on hand to discuss issues of hate crime.

The day is also set aside to recognise biphobia and transphobia as well as highlighting hate crime.

Adrian Palmer, Community Development worker for the LGF, said: “It is really just about raising awareness and letting people know that we are here. People don’t have to tolerate hate crime and we would like to make communities a place where people can live without this crime.”

This is the first time that Adrian has done something like this in Rochdale. He added: “I have been in my role for about year so I wasn’t here last year to be able to deliver something like this.”

In Rochdale last year, 39 incidents of hate crime were reported.

“The numbers may not seem big but only half of those people actually reported the crime,” said Adrian.

Today the group were working in partnership with Rochdale Council, the Police, Mind, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and Rochdale Boroughwide User Forum.

“Hopefully we can hold other partnership events throughout the year and there are events in the calendar that will be on going in the future,” said Adrian.

The rainbow flag was raised at the Town Hall on Friday (16 May) and is flying for the weekend.

Adrian said: “The council is showing its support for us as well. We asked for the flag to be raised and we are having it up over the weekend to mark today and what it is about.”

For their first information stall in Rochdale, Adrian said the group received a positive response.

He said: “We have had around 30 people come along and ask what is going on and speak to us and we have seen people go in and speak to the police so that has been good. People just need to know that we are here because a lot of people don’t know that we are.”

Anyone who wants to contact Adrian and the LGF can do so by contacting 0845 3 30 30 30 or via adrian.palmer@lgf.org.uk