Photo Paul Mattsson

Photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Michael Johnson, Socialist Party LGBT group convenor

The new budget has ushered in sweeping attacks on the working class as a whole in Britain but also disproportionally affects the LGBT community. Against this backdrop, the Socialist Party LGBT group met on 5 July.

We discussed the reality for LGBT people living under austerity in Britain, facing attacks on housing and healthcare, with Trans healthcare especially affected.

We heard about the loss of specialised homeless services for LGBT people in Southampton and specialist accommodation for LGBT youth and migrants in Manchester, removed so that they could be sold as luxury apartments!

The tasks for LGBT activists and the Socialist Party in fighting back against these attacks through our interventions in Pride events across the country were discussed.

Also, the importance of building our work in the more vulnerable sections of the LGBT movement such as the Trans community and LGBT asylum seekers who face massive struggles in fleeing persecution.

While Pride organisers were too busy inviting UKIP and bankers to lead their parades, the Socialist Party will be ready to help build campaigns to fight austerity that puts LGBT people at real risk. Socialist Party members interested in LGBT issues should get in touch and get involved!