Landmarks in rainbow colours to support of LGBT community
Wearside landmarks glowed in rainbow colours in a show of solidarity with its LGBT community.
Sunderland City Council is backing International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB)byraisingtherainbow flag at the civic centre.
The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor David Snowdon, joined in the efforts to show solidarity for sexual and gender diversity ahead of today.
Landmarks including National Trust owned Penshaw Monument, Northern Spire bridge, Hylton Castle, Fulwell Mill and Keel Square and the white lighthouse at Seaburn were lit up in rainbow colours yesterday,insupportoftheday.
Councillor Snowdon, said: "It is wonderful to witness the Rainbow Flag flying prominently across the city and I feel that this year’s theme ‘Together, resisting, supporting, healing’ has particular resonance given the struggles that we have all faced over the last 18 months.
"Many of us have suffered from loneliness and isolation over the last year, but it must beevenmoredifficultifyouare from the LGBT community in an unsupportive family environment from which you can’t escape.
"Sadly, intolerance does exist,andwemustworktogether to ensure that everyone in our city feels and is safe. Nobody should have to put up with discrimination and intolerance.
"LGBTyoungpeopleinparticular are at high risk of intolerant attitudes and hostility,
andinrecentyears,onlinebullying and hate speech has added to their plight.
"Collectively we must work to address these attitudes where they come to the fore and I would encourage anyone who is subject to hate speech to report it.”
IDAHO (International Day against Homophobia) was launched in 2004 and in 2009 became IDAHOT when transgender was added to recognise the different issues between sexual orientation and gender expression.
In2015,biphobiawasadded to acknowledge the specific issues faced by bisexual people.
Anyonewhohassufferedviolence or hostility because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, disability, age,raceorfaithcancall:(0191) 520 5550 confidentially. Incidentscanbereportedtopolice in a non-emergency on 101 or 999 if someone is in immediate danger.
Visithttp://dayagainsthomophobia.org/.