London Gay Pride parade makes its way down Whitehall. Photo: PA Archive/Press Association Images. All rights reserved.Austerity cuts may be broad-reaching, but their impact remains uneven. The increased dependency of LGBT people upon public services such as housing and healthcare means that the decimation of such services disproportionately affects the these communities. A study by the Albert Kennedy Trust estimates that roughly 24% of the youth homeless population is LGBT, a problem compounded by proposed cuts to housing benefits for under-21s, which could further disadvantage those who may lack support and shelter from their family. Despite speculation that Cameron’s administration saw Westminster become the “gayest parliament in the world,” the above figures suggest that a legacy that has failed LGBT communities.
So, the pressure is on for Jeremy Corbyn to provide a convincing counter-vision to the current challenges faced by LGBT services and spaces. The launch of Labour’s LGBT manifesto, ‘Proud of our Diversity’ on the eve of the leadership voting deadline, promises exactly that, forecasting in its introductory pages that “there is still much to do to build a society that is equal for all.” In a climate in which press-friendly gestures towards LGBT-friendliness are rarely followed by material benefit to these communities, it's important to peer into the meat and potatoes of Corbyn's policies. Here is a run-down of six key areas from the manifesto, and the challenges these policies may face:
Protecting gay spaces
Corbyn’s LGBT manifesto recognizes the role that LGBT nightlife spaces play in the lives of their communities. Gay bars often serve as sanctuaries and important community hubs where alienated people can come to feel safe, welcome, and not in the minority. These spaces are not only vibrant centres of LGBT life, but often also sites of DIY welfare support. Punters of the Joiner’s Arms notably came together to fund treatment for asylum seekers with HIV.
