The Bristol mayor, WECA mayor and police and crime commissioner on LGBTQ+ communities

With a new regional mayor elected, a change of police and crime commissioner and Rees re-elected as Bristol mayor, Bristol24/7 finds out the stances of these elected officials on LGBTQ+ rights, the community and what they will do to make the city and the wider South West area a better place to live for queer people.

Marvin Rees – Bristol mayor (Labour)

In his election manifesto, Rees committed to commission a Mayoral Equalities Report to look into and address LGBTQ+ discrimination in Bristol.

He also said that he would work with LGBTQ+ groups to “champion their cause and interests”, and work with schools, the NHS, the police and other groups to ensure Bristol is a safe place for LGBTQ+ people to live.

He added to his promises post-election, saying:

“I’m proud that Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community have, for generations, enriched the life of our city. There are the visible expressions of Bristol Pride festival and parade, which do so much to highlight different groups and organisations within the community.

“It’s tempting for a lot of people to think that discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is a thing of the past, but sadly we know that’s not the case. We’ve worked hard to improve our city-wide response to hate crime, and we’ll continue to work with the police and organisations like SARI to help make Bristol a city that is safe for everyone.”

Rees was recently re-elected as mayor of Bristol. Photo: Aphra Evans

Rees adds: “I’ve pledged to commission a Mayoral Equalities report to look into and address anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in Bristol. We want that to be a collaborative process, working with LGBTQ+ organisations and communities in the city, schools, the police, NHS, and other groups to make sure Bristol is a safe city where LGBTQ+ people can thrive.

“We also want to make sure that transgender people in Bristol can access services in safety. I support the right to self identity, and we support the right for everyone to feel safe. We want to make sure our health services in particular are inclusive and meet the needs of trans people across Bristol.”

Read more in an opinion piece written by Rees: ‘I’m proud that Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community have, for generations, enriched the life of our city’

Dan Norris – West of England Combined Authority mayor (Labour)

While Norris didn’t specifically mention the LGBTQ+ community in his manifesto prior to be elected; his role largely focuses on transport, business and the economy, he aims to make the South West more connected for queer people, especially for individuals living in rural communities.

“The West of England is a great mix of urban and rural areas. There is a vibrant LGBTQ+ population that is largely based in our urban cities of Bristol and Bath, with Bristol often being seen as one of the most open and LGBTQ+ friendly places in the country.”

Dan Norris is the new WECA mayor, taking over from Tory Tim Bowles. Photo: WECA

Norris adds: “However, there are some serious issues with LGBTQ+ representation in our rural communities and it’s often the case that some individuals feel isolated and detached from their community – with many making the decision to relocate away from friends and family.

“That’s why a focus should be put on connecting these areas so that everyone can benefit from the same sense of community, no matter where they live in the West of England.

“We have seen positive with events like Midsomer Norton Pride and if LGBTQ+ communities feel safe and secure with the way they choose to identify in their own communities then they are less likely to develop mental health issues as a result.

“I look forward to working with LGBTQ+ communities during my term as mayor.”

Mark Shelford – Police & Crime Commissioner (Conservative)

Police and crime commissioners (PCC) aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their force area, holding chief constables and the force to account and effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve.

The new PCC is a Conservative, a party that has historically imposed harmful laws, such as Section 28, on LGBTQ+ people.

However, in April 2015, PinkNews found 26 per cent of British LGBTQ+ people supported the Conservative Party.

Mark Shelford formally served in the army. Photo: Mark Shelford

Shelford did not receive the majority of votes in Bristol, instead many of the votes came from the neighbouring areas of Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. People represented by the Mendip, North Somerset, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset councils also voted.

In Bristol, he came third, receiving around 28,000 votes. Labour’s Kerry Barker won almost 46,000 votes and Green’s Cleo Lake received more than 37,000.

Shelford says he wants to make sure the Avon and Somerset Police are inclusive and representative of their communities.

“I believe in being respectful of others, no matter their creed, colour, sexual or gender, and the focus of the police should be on crime prevention and the safety of all communities.

“We need and want to ensure the police are inclusive and representative of the communities they serve and this means better representation of people; this has and continues to be a core focus in Avon and Somerset Police’s and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (OPCC) recruitment.”

Bristol24/7 asked Rees, Norris and Shelford what they are going to do for LGBTQ+ in the area. Photo: Dan Regan

Shelford adds: “It is priority to support and help anyone who is a victim of crime, including those with protected characteristics. We need to ensure that all local people have the confidence to come forward and report the crime or incident to the police and also offer them support afterwards.

“Swan Advocacy Victims of Crime Advocacy Service (VOCAS) – a service commissioned by the OPCC – delivers free, independent advocacy to adult victims of crime and anti-social behaviour who have been targeted because of their sexuality, gender identity, mental health, race and religion.

“The service also offers practical and emotional support to help victims recover from their experience and to engage with the criminal justice system if they choose to do so; the service works with victims whether or not they have reported to the police and no matter how long ago the crime or anti-social behaviour took place.”

Main photo: Martin Booth/Mark Shelford/CB Bristol Design

Read more: ‘One day, I will live in a world where all people are deemed equal – including trans people’