LGBT+ Commission
Chaired by former Women and Equalities Select Committee Member and MP, Ben Howlett alongside a civil society committee chaired by Chief Executive of Just Like Us (a charity for LGBT+ youth) Dom Arnall and representatives of local and regional government, the Commission aims to provide research, policy recommendations and an implementation plan to leading decision makers across the diversity and inclusion ecosystem. Taking a bottom up approach, the Commission will take data, insights and recommendations from civil society, business, and local and regional government to the national level.
By highlighting how examples of best practice have changed peoples lives, the Commission aims to provide an implementation plan for changes within four key areas of policy: health inequalities, housing and homelessness, hate crime and violence, and employment.
Commission Team
Ben Howlett
Our commission chair, Ben was formerly an MP for Bath, during his time in Parliament he was a member of the Equalities Select Committee and remained committed to building a society that works for the LGBT+ community.
Dominic Arnall
Dominic is the Chair of the Civil Society Committee for the commission. His day job is Chief Executive of Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people's charity focused on improving the lives of LGBT+ young people across the country. Additionally Dominic has held several non-exec roles including serving as Chair for Mind Out and sits on the board at London Bisexual Network.
Dolly Theis
Dolly is the primary policy consultant on the commission. She is a policy consultant and researcher, focused on how governments make policy, including what and who is most influential, and the conditions that most likely lead to policy change. Her interests span a number of policy areas including planetary and population health and issues related to social justice.
Commission Posts
Trans Women Could Face Ban From Some Female-Only Spaces
UK Government considering law changes which would see trans women banned from female-only spaces.
Leeds City Council Secures a Spot on Stonewall’s Top 100 List for Leading LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employers
Leeds City Council has once again been named one of the most inclusive employers in Britain by Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans equality charity Stonewall.
4 Year Struggle to Ban “Conversion Therapy”
In 2018, when Theresa May promised to ban so-called, “conversion therapy” against the LGBT+ community, it signalled a real and concrete commitment to further LGBT+ rights.
Reasons to be Optimistic: ‘Opt-out’ HIV testing in emergency rooms is saving lives and saving money
Richard Angell, Campaigns Director at Terrence Higgins Trust writes on how opt-out HIV testing can save lives and money
“We Must Keep Going”: Lord Fowler on the Global Fight Against AIDS
This World AIDS Day, Chamber sat down with Lord Fowler to discuss the global fight against AIDS
Being Trans in 2022: Leaning into the Nuance
Chamber UK recently sat down with Jay Stewart, CEO and Co-Founder of Gendered Intelligence (a charity working to improve the understanding of gender diversity and improve the lives of trans and gender diverse people), to discuss the current climate for trans people and his hopes moving forward
Intersectionality in the Workplace: LGBT+ Commission Inquiry Session
The final section of the LGBT+ Commission Inquiry Session looked at how businesses can effectively approach intersectionality in the workplace
How can businesses promote LGBT+ inclusion? LGBT+ Commission Inquiry Session
In it’s final inquiry session, the LGBT+ Commission asked how businesses can effectively advance LGBT+ inclusion
LGBT+ Commission Inquiry Session: Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence
Chaired by Alison Lowe OBE, the third inquiry session of the LGBT+ Commission took place on 29th March. This session focussed on the issues that
LGBT+ Commission Inquiry Session: Hate Crime
The third inquiry session of the LGBT+ Commission considered the problem of hate crime against the LGBT+ community and what can be done to address this growing issue
What does a Liz Truss premiership mean for the LGBT+ Community?
Liz Truss was nicknamed the ‘Minister for Inequalities’ by many in the LGBT+ community. Will she able to recover credibility and deliver?
LGBT+ people twice as likely to face bullying in school and rates may be worsening
LGBT+ adults are twice as likely to have been bullied in school and avoided going – and anti-LGBT+ bullying rates are worse today – new independent research by Just Like Us reveals
Human rights are for everyone – no matter who you are or whom you love!
In this feature Sue Pascoe details her views on LGBT+ rights and today’s issues on inclusivity and the protection of human rights for all individuals.
50 Years of Pride: the future for LGBT+
With the 50th anniversary of Pride this year, we examine the current outlook for the LGBT+ community in the UK and the rights and liberties which need advancing moving forward.
IVF for All: Women’s Health Strategy brings huge win for LGBT+ Families
In a huge step for LGBT+ equality, access to IVF treatment has been equalised for lesbians, bisexual women and trans people across England
50 Years of Pride: veteran LGBT+ activists retrace their steps
50 years after the first pride march, LGBT+ activists retraced their steps
Pride 50 Years on: How far have we come? How far to go?
With 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of Pride in the UK, Chamber UK held a special edition of Levelling Up the Conversation to discuss the
LGBT+ Commission: 2022 Interim Findings Report Launched
The interim findings of the LGBT+ Commission have today been launched
1 in 10 UK parents “would never” talk about LGBTQ+ topics
A new survey found that 10% of parents would never talk about LGBTQ+ topics with their children
50 years of pride: optimism ahead?
Chief Executive of youth LGBT+ charity, Just Like Us writes about how all LGBT+ people can take pride in ourselves for future generations to benefit from.
Foxtons champions LGBTQ+ safes spaces for Chelsea in Bloom
Foxtons Sloane Square has burst into bloom for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to spread the word that Foxtons 57 offices are LGBTQ+ safe spaces.
Non-Binary Recognition Debate Strikes Depressingly Binary Tone
Parliament yesterday began its debate on whether to make non-binary a legally recognised gender identity in the UK. The debate comes after more than 140,000
The ‘Beautiful Game’: LGBT+ inclusion in modern football
On International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Britain’s only openly LGBT+ professional footballer has came out as gay.
LGBT+ Commission Inquiry Session: Housing
The LGBT+ Commission recently held an inquiry session on LGBT+ housing with a particular focus on supported living for older LGBT+ people
A New Generation: Developing LGBT+ inclusive approaches to supported living
As a new generation of older LGBT+ people look into arrangements for supported living, there needs will need to be accounted for.
LGBT+ Homelessness: More Common, More Hidden, More Neglected
The state of LGBT+ Homelessness in the UK today reflects key failures in the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy.
Submit your LGBT+ Commission Case Studies
The 2022 LGBT+ Commission, which will publish a ground-breaking assessment of the state of the nation for the UK’s LGBT+ community, with actionable recommendations for
LGBT+ Health Inequality: A Chronic Crisis
The health inequalities facing the UK’s LGBT+ community are clear and well-established. With the UK’s Safe To Be Me Conference approaching this summer, can the Government show