Deputy mayor calls for more LGBT inclusion in Sandwell

Councillor Richard Jones said the council has previously lacked the “political will” to provide the same level of LGBT+ services compared to Birmingham City Council.

He said: “I don’t know if austerity over the last decade has meant LGBT+ services that could have been put in place weren’t in Sandwell.

“A lot of council officers possibly don’t understand issues that affect the LGBT+ community and will tell people to go to Birmingham as they have a dedicated LGBT+ sexual health service, for example.

“When I have asked: ‘What is there in Sandwell?’, officers have often redirected them to Birmingham city centre.”

But Sandwell currently has no specific LGBT+ youth service provision, where once there was a LGBT+ youth group, according to councillor Jones. He said many children are being told to go to Birmingham or Wolverhampton to access similar provisions.

“You’re telling vulnerable children sometimes to go miles away to these cities because we haven’t got the right services within Sandwell and it’s just really disappointing.”

Councillor Jones, who was appointed as deputy mayor of Sandwell last May, said that he wanted Sandwell to be a “positive place” ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

He said: “I was very surprised to see a lack of LGBT representation in Sandwell.

“And when I say that, I don’t just mean elected to the council. I know I’m not the first LGBT+ member elected in Sandwell, I mean actively putting forward motions, and ideas, and asking, what actually is there within Sandwell for LGBT+ people?

“Up until last year the council did very little to celebrate LGBT+ history month but this year has made positive steps forward.

“I don’t know whether that is because there’s previously been a lack of understanding, or greater importance placed on other issues, or even not the desire politically to push LGBT+ issues. But we are a Labour council, and we’re supposed to be for equality and diversity.”

Councillor Jones said he went through reports from years ago that made recommendations to improve LGBT+ services in Sandwell, and claimed “it seems none of those recommendations have ever been put in place”.

He added: “I see LGBT+ provision has been raised at scrutiny committees a few times in the past, but nothing has been pushed forward. While I am now pleased to see the commitment that Sandwell council and it’s officers have made recently, I want that to continue and go further.”

It comes as homophobic and transphobic comments were made online about drag queens reading stories for children at three local libraries in Sandwell.

The event was held as part of LGBT+ History month, held every February nationally to observe and recognise gay rights and related civil rights movements.

Sandwell Council is celebrating it with a series of events and activities.

For Councillor Jones, it reminded him why positive role models are still needed.

“The post just lit up with homophobic and transphobic comments, all sort of bile against the drag queen storytelling event all weekend.

“I’ve had to turn all sorts of comments off so no one can comment on it, and hide all the horrible comments that were made.

“This is not what I wanted for the LGBT+ history month and stuff that we are doing as a council.

“I see what we are now doing at the council as really positive, but then it just reminded me that there are still really horrible people out there who don’t want to see the progress we are making.

“It’s made me think this is why we need more positive role models within Sandwell.”

Councillor Jones has put himself forward as one of the candidates to be appointed mayor of Sandwell to fight back against LGBT+ discrimination.

He said: “There’s never been an openly gay male mayor in Sandwell, and there hasn’t been an openly gay couple as mayor and consort. I don’t even think there’s been an openly gay male couple within the Black Country as well.

“Normally the role is given to one of the more experienced long standing councillors.

“However in the past traditionally these were white straight males. It’s only very recently we started having a diverse chamber.

“Some members feel an entitlement to this position, but in my opinion the mayor represents the first person of the borough, and should reflect all people in the borough.

“Our community is diverse. The mayor’s role should reflect that. By sticking to this traditional constraint, we won’t be breaking these barriers for equality and diversity.”