We stand with our LGBTQ+ community in Waltham Forest

As Pride Month has come to a close, and we prepare to celebrate Waltham Forest Pride on Saturday 19 July, Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, has drafted the following statement of solidarity to our transgender and wider LGBTQ+ community.

At Waltham Forest our greatest strength is our diversity, and we have always had a deeply welcoming sense of community and togetherness. 

We know our residents want to live in a more equal borough with social justice at its heart. We are a borough brimming with civic pride, where people trust their neighbours, and where we recognise that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported. As your council we have a vital role in ensuring communities rally together and support each other, and in fostering a spirit of respect, understanding, and togetherness.

We want to affirm our solidarity to our LGBTQ+ and specifically transgender community. It is impossible to ignore the discrimination, victimisation and hostility trans people face simply for being who they are. ONS data shows reported hate crimes against trans people rose by 186 per cent nationally in the five years up to 2023. We remain committed to standing against any harassment and discrimination of trans people and stand unequivocally against transphobia. 

The council is committed to providing inclusive and accessible services for all, ensuring anyone who needs to can use services as easily as possible. We know that some residents will be concerned about recent developments following the Supreme Court Ruling and interim guidance issued by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). As a council, we have submitted a response to the public consultation on Monday 30 June, and wait with interest to see how public bodies will be required to respond to the Supreme Court judgement once guidance is passed in law. Currently no changes have been made as to how we operate. 

The council’s foremost concern is to our residents. And we will always support and celebrate members of our community who have long faced marginalisation and abuse.

Join us at Waltham Forest Pride 

Join us on Saturday 19 July to celebrate Waltham Forest Pride at Lloyd Park, hosted by elop.

Support for hate crime

If you are the victim of or witness to a hate crime, please report it as soon as you can. This will help authorities take steps to prevent it happening to others.  You can make a report to Stop Hate UK 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 

• call Stop Hate UK free on 0800 138 1625
• text ‘Stop Hate UK’ to 07717 989 025
• relay for those with a hearing impairment: 18001 0800 138 1625
• report in BSL using InterpreterNow (username: stophate and password: stophate)
• if you or anyone else is in immediate danger, please call 999 straight away. 

To talk to PC Sam Mason, the local police LGBT+ Community Liaison Officer, you can email him confidentially.