Gscene News Archive

The Conservative Group on Brighton and Hove Council have voted against inviting the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) to work in Brighton and Hove for the third time in two months despite a majority of councillors voting for it at the last full council meeting.

The Albert Kennedy Trust specialises in working with young homeless people from the LGBT community and is renowned in London and Manchester for the specialism it brings to this area.

Phelim Mac Cafferty on behalf of LGBT Greens stated:
“We know that of the population who live on the streets or in temporary accommodation and who are young and LGBT are statistically more likely to self-harm. The Tories have effectively signed a charter to continue crushing the needs of this socially fragile group.

“The decision to exclude Albert Kennedy Trust- again - is absolutely outrageous for innumerable reasons. This is a kick in the teeth for all young LGBTs: for the numbers of young LGBTs who live in our city and who face uncertainty and possible homeless in the current economic recession; and the disproportionate amount of young LGBTs still becoming homeless who migrate to Brighton. The Tory Cabinet has a duty of care to all of our city’s citizens, which is sadly lacking. Again.

“Is it just more Tory heartlessness,” concluded Phelim “for those on the fringes of society or is it just the homophobia that we were told had been driven from the Tory Party? Maybe it’s both. LGBT Greens will continue to fight for homeless and voiceless LGBTs. The Tories have their work cut out if they think we will stop here.”

Cllr Bill Randall, the Green’s council spokesperson on LGBT issues said:
“We are deeply disappointed the Tories could not bring themselves to vote for the £3,000 needed to bring the Trust into Brighton and Hove.

“It’s barely a drop in the ocean for a council that will spend more than £700 million on services this year, and the return for the LGBT community and the city would far outweigh the cost. Local homeless charities and LGBT charities work very well with young LGBT people in Brighton and Hove, but none of them possess the expertise and understanding AKT has developed in its work with this very vulnerable group of young people in London and Manchester.

“The need for AKT’s services in Brighton and Hove had been demonstrated by the Count Me In Too research project in the city.” said Cllr Randall. “It’s hard to fathom the Tories’ implacable position on this issue. It makes no sense at all. Furthermore, they have paraded their contempt for democracy by rejecting a proposal voted for by the majority of councillors. We will not give up. The campaign to bring AKT to Brighton and Hove will continue.”

For more information about AKT view:
www.akt.org.uk

For more information about Brighton Greens view:
www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk

To see the Count Me In Too Reseach view:
www.spectrum-lgbt.org/cmiToo/downloads/