Agenda item - Chairs Communications

            “My Pronouns Are …”

66.1    The Chair welcomed all to the meeting and referred to “My Pronouns Are” explaining that the following week the council and other partners in the city would be encouraging staff to voluntarily wear badges pointing out that you could not assume what someone’s gender or pronouns were. That afternoon’s meeting was being used as an opportunity to launch this campaign and those attending the meeting may have noticed that badges and postcards explaining this were on display at the entrance to the meeting room.

66.2    Everyone defined their own gender and we should respect other people’s identities and rights. These days there was more freedom and safety to be yourself but there was still more work to do. We needed to increase education and awareness in the city and beyond as a person might not match what you expected and might not be defined easily. Making assumptions could be hurtful and distressing, so it was helpful to know what pronouns people used. If someone’s pronouns differed from what you assumed it was for you to adapt and to remember that it was ok to ask. These badges were a small step towards making positive change happen and sent a message that people should be free to be who they truly were.

66.3    The Chair stated that she would like to encourage everyone at the meeting including speakers and partners to wear a badge if they wished and to share their support on Twitter and Facebook using # MyPronounsAre.

66.4    The Chair stated that in closing she just wanted to say that this had been a team effort by many organisations in the city, and that she wanted to personally thank the support and collaboration from the council’s campaigning partners including local NHS trusts, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, the Universities, American Express, Healthwatch, Trans Alliance, LGBT Switchboard, All Sorts Youth Project, The Clare Project and the council’s very own LGBT Worker’s Forum.

66.5    RESOLVED - That the content of the Chair’s Communications be received and noted.