David Lepper MP, Des Turner MP, Simon Fanshaw and councillors from all parties in Brighton & Hove joined other supporters and local drag queens for a display on Wednesday August 6th, adding their voice to the Sussex-wide ‘Stamp Out Discrimination’ campaign.

Over 400 hundred rainbow footprints, exposing and opposing the discrimination that lesbians and gay men face everyday were displayed at the Dolphin Statue.

The footprints were collected from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LBGT) people, plus straight supporters via email and through gay venues around Sussex during the two weeks before the display. Charles Hendry MP (Conservative), Shadow minister for young people, contributed a footprint by mail.

The principal experiences of discrimination reported by LGBT people on their footprints are : -
• Homophobic attacks in Sussex

• Discrimination at work on the grounds of HIV and sexuality

• Discrimination and stigma around HIV status, or assumption of HIV status.

The most common statements from straight people’s footprints are: -

• declarations opposing discrimination against lesbians and gay men,

• support for equal rights,

• parent’s concern for the rights and welfare of their gay children.

Perry French – Terrence Higgins Trust, Sussex Regional Manager for Social Care says:
“At the time of Pride celebrations in Brighton & Hove it can be easy to lose sight of the discrimination that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people face every day.  The Stamp Out Discrimination campaign gives gay and straight people the opportunity to expose and oppose the discrimination, which hasn’t gone away."

Everyone, regardless of their sexuality, can contribute to this campaign by signing a footprint and underlining their commitment to equality.

THT South encourages the population to show support for the 35,000 resident LGBT community, and welcome those visiting for the Pride festival on Saturday 9th August.”

The collected ‘rainbow footprints towards equality’, will again be displayed at Pride in Brighton & Hove on August 9th.

Ends

Notes for editors

• Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is the UK’s largest HIV/AIDS organisation.
• Terrence Higgins Trust South, the regional office of THT, has offices in Brighton and Eastbourne.