Labour councils criticised over LGBT events funding

TWO Labour-run councils have been criticised by campaigners for spending thousands of pounds on activities including “Cooking with Pride” lessons and LGBTQ+ Paddlesport events.

Since 2019, the charity forum+ has received £627,710 in government grants, with Camden and Islington councils alone giving £250,000 in total for 2022 and 2023.

Forum+ states its aim as promoting “equality for LGBTQ people in Camden and Islington” through “hosting social groups and events which celebrate LGBTQ life in the boroughs” and “supporting victims of homophobic and transphobic hate crime”.

The charity also held a LGBT History Month Art Workshop in February, and offers trips to the cinema and a monthly spoken word event, as well as the “Cooking with Pride” sessions.

Kate Barker, the chief executive of LGB Alliance, told The Telegraph: “Councils should have a clear idea of who they’re funding and what they’re up to. Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals would be as keen as every other ratepayer to understand what the T, the Q and especially the ‘+’ actually stand for.

“The forced teaming of disparate groups serves none of the individuals within them well.”

Neil Garratt, the leader of City Hall Conservatives, said: “When we look at the budget pressures on councils, paying for a fun day on the water can’t be the priority. Assuming gay Londoners are all impoverished and oppressed and unable to fund their own watersports is a patronising negative stereotype.”

Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Council bosses moan that there’s no fat to trim, yet it’s clear to residents that they’ve barely even begun to crack down on the huge waste that goes on in town halls.”

An Islington council spokesperson said: “We work with forum+ and other groups as part of our commitment to

‘Councils should have a clear idea of who they’re funding and what they’re up to’

standing alongside our LGBTQ+ community. This is a key part of our work to make Islington a more equal place.”

Camden council said: “We are proud to support all our residents and we work closely with Forum+ to stand up to discrimination and hate our LGBTQ+ residents experience.”

forum+ said: ““Our annual events programme and outreach connects with up to 6,000 people each year from young people up to those in their 70s. It promotes understanding and social cohesion and it breaks down social isolation within the LGBT+ community.”