The then Diversity Group of CILIP organised a one-day Conference in Feb 2006.
John Vincent gave a keynote speech, “LGBT people and libraries – how well do we do?”, which introduced the day, and concluded with “a number of demands – which I’d like you to think about, talk to me about during the day, and add to if possible. These are:
- A full recognition of our needs at work
- Proper equality at work, eg training and support for other staff to prevent our having to deal with hostile colleagues; and proper ways of dealing with homophobic/discriminatory members of the public
- Proper consultation and involvement of staff and the community
- Provision of a full range of stock (and to get beyond the barrier of how it’s going to be arranged, by consulting and experimenting)
- Support for young people
- Provision of information, especially web-based
- Displays and promotions.
John also summed up the Conference – he included:
“What an inspiring and emotional day! The big theme of the day has been journeys, often brave journeys:
- To find ourselves – and who we really are
- To take invisible issues and make them visible
- Towards a greater understanding of the sheer complexity of life!
We have also recognised the fundamental and vital role that libraries should play as:
- Sources of information – in some cases, eg in relation to transgender issues, we may be the only source of information
- Somewhere where people can start to be themselves
- The provider of information about LGBT issues for the rest of the community.
- Providers of information and sources of support for the friends and family of LGBT people.”