South Wales Police LGBT Network Supports National Campaign To Keep The LGBT+ Community Safe With Pride

Today, The National LGBT+ Police Network, in partnership with Stonewall and supported by Travers Smith LLP, launches a summer campaign to offer reassurance and guidance to the LGBT community in the aftermath of the Orlando attack. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new campaign aims to reach out to the LGBT community across the UK to offer reassurance and guidance following the events in Orlando. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the campaign, the National LGBT+ Police Network will be at Pride festivals up and down the country to drive home the message that the police will be keeping them safe with Pride. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Focusing on messages of support for the LGBT+ community, the social media-based campaign will provide key advice on reporting a hate crime and keeping safe this Pride season. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lou Provart and Tracy O’Hara, Co-Chairs of the National LGBT+ Police Network said: “We are delighted to be working in Partnership with Stonewall, supported by law firm Travers Smith, on a campaign to reach out to LGBT communities across the UK to offer reassurance and guidance following the recent tragic events in Orlando. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our message is clear, as LGBT officers and staff from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland we stand together with you, to protect you and keep you safe. We will be at Pride festivals up and down the country and commit to being #ByYourSide, because the public are the police, and the police are the public. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are here for you and with you. In the coming weeks we will be sending out messages to support people in reporting LGBT hate crime, driving out homophobia, bi-phobia and transphobia, and some key advice about staying safe this Pride season. We want to also raise awareness of how you can get involved to support our work in the police service as we strive to make policing a service which truly reflects the public it serves.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Scot Anderson, South Wales Police LGBT Network Chair said: “The events in Orlando had a huge impact to the LGBT community around the world. South Wales Police flew the LGBT flags across all main stations throughout South Wales. Officers and staff also chose to wear their rainbow laces and epaulette to show pride and defiance against those who commit such atrocities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The campaign will be predominantly run across the social media using the hashtag #ByYourSide. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​