Rother and Hastings LGBT Project

LGBT Equalities in Hastings, Rother & East Sussex builds on a successful Equalities Forum held in February 2010, organized by the Hastings & Rother Rainbow Alliance (HRRA) and supported by the University of Brighton, and on previous research on LGBT lives in the area, the ‘Go Hastings! ‘report (Fairley & Nouidjem 2004). In the past, interaction between LGBT communities and local services and providers has not necessarily resulted in positive action for change or response to identified needs. In response, this project offers a timely intervention into the local context.

The project aimed to improve the lives of LGBT people in Hastings, Rother and East Sussex by: creating strategic networks between academic institutions, local communities and services; impacting on the awareness and decision-making of local elected representatives, suppliers of services and employers; extending community partners’ engagement with services, public bodies etc; augmenting academic work in the area of LGBT lives beyond the metropolis.

The original proposal planned an initial activity phase (Phase One) comprising of 4 activities which was supported by On Our Doorsteps. However, the project also supported the potential development of another series of activities (Phase 2) – larger projects which could draw on the key partnerships and trust developed through Phase One.

A series of meetings ran on a roughly monthly basis. The list of forum members includes academics, students, community group representatives, activists, interested individuals, representatives of public services and representatives from the voluntary sector. The most frequent elements of meetings included: sharing information about equalities work and best practice; sharing information about local LGBT-related issues; and developing and implementing the mapping exercise. These meetings were very well-received, with numerous attendees commenting on their usefulness and the feeling of common purpose they create. The discussions at the meetings are always detailed and cast a light on the complexity of LGBT equalities in the county – because of this, ethical approval was sought and won to audio record the meetings, so that this important qualitative data might not be lost. This data will be used to inform future LGBT-related research in the local area.

A questionnaire suite (including general and organisation-bespoke questions) was developed through the forum meetings and via email and face-to-face meetings between these. Community groups and public service representatives advised on policy areas to be covered, services to send the questionnaire to and potential contacts at these services. Once the data was compiled by the academic researchers, the forum attendees worked in partnership to analyse the data and to make recommendations stemming from the report. The report was launched officially in early November, at an event organised by the LGBT Equalities Forum.

Regarding Phase Two, the potential PhD project focused on the same area and issues is now underway, with funding secured for one of the academic researchers, Nick McGlynn. This PhD began in January 2011 under the working title ‘Life in the Shadow of the Gay Capital: lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) lives, communities and service provision in Hastings, Rother and East Sussex’. This will help sustain and grow university connections and investment in the area.

The partnerships developed through this project worked to improve networks between the university, local communities in the Hastings and Rother areas, and local public services. They also encouraged a shift in focus for academic studies of sexualities, moving away from urban metropolises and recognising the important and distinctive LGBT equality work going on in non-urban areas of deprivation, such as the Hastings area.

The project produced a Mapping exercise initial findings report and hosted a LGBT community event and community questionnaire, as well as a Conference paper (RGS/IBG Annual Conference 2011) by Nick McGlynn based on the PhD research stemming from this project. A chapter outlining the project and issues arising through it, has been included in the book ‘Sexuality, Rurality and Geography’ edited by Andrew Gorman-Murray.

The project Increased partnership work, knowledge exchange and improved networking amongst partners from academic, public, voluntary and community sectors via the LGBT Equalities Forum meetings; Furthering LGBT community’s knowledge of local public services’ LGBT policy ‘promises’. Providing assistance for local LGBT communities wishing to hold their public services to account regarding LGBT equality. Improving local public services’ knowledge and awareness of LGBT community. Furthering academic awareness of LGBT equalities and issues beyond ‘the metropolis’. Further research on LGBT lives and needs in the local area through PhD project.

Nick and Kath’s book chapter can be reached by University of Brighton staff and student via the link below(university log in required)

(http://capitadiscovery.co.uk/brighton-ac/items/1333801?query=Sexuality%2C+Rurality+and+Geography&resultsUri=items%3Fquery%3DSexuality%252C%2BRurality%2Band%2BGeography)

Project Partners

School of Environment & Technology

University Centre Hastings

Rainbow Alliance

Hastings & Rother LGBT Wellbeing Group

Evaliuation report attached