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Section E:
Involving Socially Excluded or Harder to Reach Groups

Gay & Lesbian Community

This section is a basic guide on how to consult more effectively with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) people. Non-LGB people often assume that LGB people will get involved in local or neighbourhood based consultations because "there's no problem, you don't need to tell people you're gay". However, understanding how LGB people feel about 'being Out' and 'passing' is vital for effective consultations with LGB communities.

• 'Being Out' refers to making others, particularly non-LGB people, aware that you are Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual.
• 'Passing' is a term used to describe when individuals (historically, Jewish, Black and Disabled people) do not reveal their identity in order to escape hostility or persecution.

In our society non-LGB people widely assume that someone is heterosexual unless they are contradicted. This means that LGB people have to decide to 'Pass' or be 'Out' each time they meet a new heterosexual i.e. several times a day. This can be very tiring and stressful and LGB people may not wish to be in situations where they have to do this e.g. at a consultation forum with lots of potentially hostile strangers. It is also appropriate to approach the issues of confidentiality as a matter of personal safety rather than assuming a person wishes to be private about their sexuality.

In order to be sensitive to the above, it is worth noting the following when consulting with LGB communities.

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Setting up and delivery

• Use a twofold approach - ensure generic consultations are as accessible as possible to LGB people AND provide targeted consultation for LGB communities.
• Involve LGB organisations as partners - some organisations are willing to facilitate a bridge between the statutory sector and local LGB communities e.g. Bradford LGB network. Remember however, the LGB community sector is very underdeveloped. You will need to support this work with resources including - secretarial support, expenses, publishing and distribution facilities and 'gay friendly' support from paid workers.
• Train all staff that work on the project in LGB equalities issues - particularly ensure they use appropriate language and are familiar with the issues. People using inappropriate language, appearing ignorant or uncomfortable are very off-putting to potential participants. (see end for training contacts)
• Give LGB staff on your team an opportunity to take a lead in this work but do not expect them to want to do so. (if you are not aware of any LGB staff, ask yourself why? You may have a problem with homophobia in your department)

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Publicity

• Use the LGB press - local and national magazines and local newsletters.
• Publicise your consultation widely in the local press, GP surgeries, libraries etc.
• If you use posters, make sure the contact information is readable from several yards distance so LGB people can read it safely without obviously doing so.
• Ensure a contact number goes directly to the person dealing with the consultation - not a receptionist who may ask the person to explain why they are calling. Consider using a well-known LGB organisation as the contact point.
• Ask LGB organisations to send ready prepared postings through their own mailing lists - pay for this valuable service
• Advertise in LGB pubs and clubs and other social venues. However this will only reach LGB people who use the 'gay scene'

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Meetings

• Use central venues - choose ones where people can leave anonymously and safely
• Make it clear if non-LGB people will be present or not
• Make registration simple - ensure the first person to meet participants is 'gay friendly', preferably LGB themselves and not general reception or security staff (unless they meet the criteria - do groundwork on the venue).
• Don't use signing in sheets - ask participants to sign up voluntarily for a mailing list for future information (make sure this is kept confidential)
• Remember that general good access principles still apply - provide access for Disabled people, interpreters, signers, child and other care expenses.
• Make sure assistant staff e.g. crèche workers and personal assistants and interpreters are LGB people. Non-LGB staff may compromise participants' personal safety by inadvertently 'Outing' them. People may prefer to make their own arrangements for childcare which you can pay for.
• Do not meet in work hours - LGB organisations rarely have paid staff to come to meetings. Many LGB individuals and volunteers in groups cannot get time off work for LGB consultations.

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Time scales

• Avoid tight time scales, however in exceptional circumstances it is better to consult at shorter notice than not at all. Contact LGB network for advice on how to contact people with less notice.
• Good practice means allowing at least 3 months preparation time - sending out publicity in at least two stages a month apart. This allows trust to build up, changes to be made and most importantly time for information to reach people.
• In LGB communities the most effective mode of communication is word-of-mouth and personal contact. This takes time.
• Many LGB organisations only meet monthly and will only be able to help you slowly.

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Organising principles

• Much of LGB life is 'homosocial' i.e. it is organised through separate women's and men's networks and often, organisations. This needs to be reflected in planning. Target Lesbians and Gay men separately and signal that Bisexual men and women are specifically included.
• Single gender consultation and the provision of women-only spaces at mixed events works well.
• LGB people may belong to other communities also. The complexities of LGB people's identities in Bradford needs to be reflected in targeting. For example Black and Minority ethnic LGB people often have different networks to white LGB's and are often more isolated.
• Consider holding focus groups for LGB people who experience additional discrimination and exclusion.

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