Today, Stockport Liberal Democrats are marking International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Saturday, 17th May 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the decision by the WHO to remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases, and is a key time of year where we can reflect upon the growing challenges that members of the LGBTQ+ community face.
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Cllr Jilly Julian said
“Last year, there were 26,000 hate crimes committed against members of the LGBTQ+ community. 26,000 (recorded) incidents of violent acts committed against someone, simply for being who they are. This year’s theme is the “power of communities” which reminds us that while problems of this scale can often feel bigger than us, it’s important to be able to look within our own communities here in Stockport and see how we can counter the increasingly dangerous and vicious rhetoric that is being propagated every single day.”
“It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the value of the LGBTQ+ community that so many of our friends have found a home within. We recognise the importance of ensuring that every single resident in our borough feels safe to live their lives without fear of persecution. The journey towards LGBTQ+ equality continues, and we will never stop standing up for all of the communities in our wonderfully diverse borough.”
