February marks LGBT History month. Tameside is hosting Tameside Pride event on 6 and 7 July.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face a number of health inequalities. Experiencing lower levels of mental health, being more likely to feel lonely in older years, and feeling less able to participate in physical activity are just some of the ways LGBT people can be disadvantaged. Local support for LGBT people comes in many forms, including specialist services, peer support groups, and initiatives like Pride in Practice, where GPs have worked towards an accreditation to show they understand the specific needs of LGBT patients. Click here to read this month’s Picture of Health and understand more.
We know that homophobia is just one of the reasons LGBT people face challenges in day to day life. A hate crime is when someone commits a crime against you because of your disability, transgender identity, race, sexual orientation, religion or alternative subculture. It doesn’t just mean physical violence. Someone using offensive language towards you, or harrassing you because of who you are (or who they think you are) is also committing a hate crime. A hate crime doesn’t have to be directed at you for you to report it. To report a hate crime anywhere in Greater Manchester call 101, or if it happens on a train text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40. Call 999 if you’re in immediate danger. Find out more at LetsEndHateCrime.com.