A Greener Festival (AGF), which is an international non-profit organisation, has recently announced the recipients of the Greener Festival Awards of 2018. The Manchester Pride Festival collected an award in the “Improver” category.
Events and Festival from 14 countries all walked away with the prestigious award back in 2018. This accolade is awarded to the festivals and events that have demonstrated scrupulousness in regards to sustaining and reducing the environmental impacts of waste, power, transport, water and local area impacts. The applicants undergo a series of rigorous assessment, site visits and post-festival analysis of how their events took sustainable actions.
A Greener Festival Co-founder, Claire O’ Neill, said,” 2018 saw extraordinary action and awareness of the importance of making industries and our daily lives harmonious with nature.” He explained that the events that they had the honour to assess and award had shown great strides in assisting to shape the transition. This has positive repercussions not only to the operations of the event but also they get to deliver the message and set an example to the world.
The AGF practised what they preach as the awards ceremony itself was made wholly from reused materials including salvaged tents. The next round of award winners will be announced at the Green Events and Innovation Conference in London. The winners will include the winter events in the north and the summer events taking place in the south.
The Inclusion and Equality Charter
The Manchester Pride opened its doors to an innovative project aiming to drive real change and commitment to the inclusion and equality of the LGBT community. The commitment is aimed at getting rid of inequality experienced by the LGBT community in Greater Manchester.
The project will take the form of a charter that the organisation has asked partners, grant recipient and suppliers involved with Manchester Pride to pledge. The initiative is set to reach the wider community of organizations and companies across the whole of Manchester. The charter asks for organizations to appreciate the diversity amongst the LGBT community and the differences in needs, life experiences and aspirations.
The will mean that the organizations and companies have to recognize that some LGBT individuals face inequality and discrimination based on their gender identity, sexual orientation and also religion, race and/or disability. The charter is the first of its kind and is taking a collaborative approach to finalize it following discussions of the initial draft.
Importance of the Inclusion and Equality Charter
Operations director of The Proud Trust, Sally Carr MBE, shed light on the matter saying,” in the age, we live in is easy to spread hate and spew insults at the touch of a button.” This has nurtured fear of coming out in the workplace as an LGBT+ person. The unspoken words, however, can speak volumes. Those minute aggressions LGBT people face can affect their mental state which in turn affects their physical health.
An example of this is a condition known as hypertension which leads to high blood pressure. Such incidences are not good for employers who wish to have the best talent and get maximum productivity out of all their employees. This means that the workplace environment needs to be safe and inclusive for everyone.
However, there is a difference between inclusion and diversity. A company or organisation may hire an LGBT person, but this might not mean the company is inclusive. Some companies may hire minorities but never put them in senior positions leaving them without a voice.
A massive problem with inequality in the workplace is that many young people who are part of the LGBT community lack role models to look up to. LGBT people especially in sports and other prestigious positions in society do not speak publicly about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some may be afraid of how their colleagues will react or how the information might impact their careers.
Once businesses in Manchester feel comfortable and safer to the LGBT people, they are more likely, to be honest, and open about their sexuality. This will gradually change the experience of future generations. The charter is set to provide safe spaces and encourage positive role modelling for the younger generation while at the same creating an inclusive and diverse city. The process may be long and the charter may not be the answer to everything but it is a step in the right direction.
The Terrence Higgins Trust
Charities like the Terrence Higgins Trust, which is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, is in full support of the charter. Terrence Higgins Trust helps to end the stigma and discrimination on HIV patients especially those in LGBT communities. The charity runs several clinics and pharmacies that offer both medical and psychiatric services in the UK.
LGBT people are encouraged to lead a healthy life both mentally and physically. LGBT supplements are rich in Vitamin C, B, D and E and essential minerals like iron, iodine, zinc and magnesium. This combination of ingredients is impressive and has delivered unmatched results. LGBT Vitamins contain an all-round multivitamin that is great for individuals of all ages. The LGBT community is among the minorities the Trust seeks to support and help them change the world with cultural advancements.
LGBT supplements are eco-friendly and based on vegetables like beetroot, acai berry, acerola, alfalfa, and artichoke leaf.
A great amount of work has already gone into the development of the Inclusion and Charity charter to build a trailblazing initiative. The initiative will hopefully bring the workplace policy level to the expected norm. It will also shine a bright light on the brilliant practices that have been employed by businesses across Manchester.
Many organizations have already worked to ensure they create a comfortable and supportive system for LGBT people in all aspects of their lives. Despite this, there are several occasions of prejudice and a lack of education of the needs and wants of LGBT people.
Manchester has always led the way when it comes to LGBT history and there is still hope that their commitment to the charter will bring about real change concerning equality and discrimination.