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On Friday 28 December 2007 the Bristol Evening Post printed a story
on the funding of the ‘Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Equality in the Fire Service – an Absolute Taboo?’ conference
hosted by Avon Fire & Rescue Service in October
2007.
The Chair of Avon Fire Authority (AFA), Councillor Terry
Walker, has since written the following letter to the Editor in
response.
Dear Editor
Ref '£30,000 cost of 'gay slur' conference'.
I am writing in response to your front page headline of Friday
December 28 2007. Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) should
be praised, not criticised for taking the lead in raising
understanding of these
issues (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in the
workplace).
As a member of Avon Fire Authority (AFA), I am astonished that
Councillor Murphy seems unaware of his responsibilities as an
employer. Not only do we have a statutory duty to promote equality,
we also have a moral responsibility to tackle and eradicate all
forms of prejudice.
It is a disgrace that Cllr Murphy questions ‘What has this got to
do with the fire service?’ as it publicly demonstrates his
ignorance of the legislation he has a responsibility to comply with
as an employer and must raise questions as to his suitability to
hold office.
In my view discrimination has fear and ignorance at its heart, and
it is right and proper that we do all that we can to raise
awareness and improve understanding of people’s difference, in
whatever form that may be.
As the Chair of AFA I was proud to host the LGBT Conference and I
was equally proud of the true leadership shown by the Chief Fire
Officer and others who put the programme
together.
In all my years of association with the fire service, I have never
been to a conference that was so well attended, with virtually
every fire and rescue service in the UK sending delegates. From my
perspective that demonstrates how important and serious such issues
are for the modern fire and rescue service.
It is a shame the Cllr Murphy chose not to attend, as he would have
been enlightened to hear the views of speakers and
delegates.
The responses we had included: Charlie Hendry, Vice President,
Chief Fire Officers' Association said: "AF&RS has taken a bold
step in championing this issue at a national level which, I am
sure, has given all attending the conference added impetus to push
forward and make the changes required to enable Fire Services to be
better organisations."
Pat Carberry, The Fire Brigades Union National Gay and Lesbian
Committee said: "AF&RS has risen the challenge by being the
first fire service to host such a conference and therefore the
honours for taking the necessary progressive step must go to your
authority and all the staff who worked so hard to make the event
the success it was.
"I wish to remind you of the enormous contribution that your fire
authority has made by hosting this conference. If you are not sure
as to the significance of what you have achieved allow me to state
a personal observation based on my own
experiences.
"It
is a total tragedy to lose a firefighter whilst they are
engaged in the emergency services they provide, it is a total
disgrace when firefighters take their own lives as a result
of how their colleagues treat them. The consequences of
ignoring this issue have allowed this to happen and now
hopefully we shall see an end to such
instances."
As for the cost, the benefit gained by all fire and rescue service
staff far outweighed the £2,000 we spent.
Regards
Councillor Terry Walker
Chair of Avon Fire Authority.
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