Delga
Encyclopedia
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender & sexuality minorities equality group of the Liberal Democrats
. DELGA (Democrats for Lesbian & Gay Action) was the original name when the organisation was formed. From 1996 to 2011 its name was Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action.
The organisation was founded shortly after the formation of the Liberal Democrats and is a Specified Associated Organisation, which gives it special status within that Party.
The Chair since July 2010 is Adrian Trett. The honorary president of Delga is Dr Evan Harris
, and the vice presidents are Bernard Greaves, Sarah Ludford
, and Lynne Featherstone MP.
party was formed, it was initially called the Social and Liberal Democrats, sometimes referred to by the shortened version 'Democrats'.
As such when a lesbian & gay organisation for the party was formed, as successor to the Liberal Lesbian & Gay Action and Social Democrats for Lesbian & Gay Action groups, it adopted an abbreviated form of its name "DEmocrats for Lesbian & Gay Action" as DELGA.
In the mid 1990s the remit and full name of the organisation was changed to include bisexual and transgender, becoming Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action. However, the same shortened form of the name was retained as the constitutional 'alternative name' to an unpronounceable acronym.
In September 2011 following a vote by the membership, both names were dropped in favour of "LGBT+ Liberal Democrats".
The Party leadership has been consistently in favour of LGBT equality issues. Current Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has stated that, "although civil partnerships have been a step forward, until same sex marriage is permitted it is impossible to claim gay and straight couples are treated equally." He went on to say that, "I am determined that the Liberal Democrats will remain outspoken and steadfast in our defence of gay rights, from backing same sex marriage to stopping the deportation of gay asylum seekers to countries were homosexuality is punishable by death. There has been much progress in recent years, and much to celebrate. But as long as homophobia still rears its ugly head in workplaces, in classrooms, and even in the home - politicians must continue to speak out in favour of the values of gay rights."
In 2001, 2005 and 2010 the party issued a separate LGBT manifesto, all the elements of which were also in the full party manifesto.
In 2001, Delga ran a campaign for the General Election under the slogan "Freedom To Be", highlighting six key LGBT policy areas. The campaign had print adverts in the gay press and a special website, and tied in with a launch of the Liberal Democrat campaign to win the LGBT vote held in Soho, London with party leader Charles Kennedy MP as key speaker.
In 2005, Delga ran a smaller-scale campaign where the theme was "Not the only Liberal Democrat in the village".
In 2010, the Delga campaign for the LGBT vote in the General Election, "Always been there for you, and we always will" combined postcards, print and online advertising.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
. DELGA (Democrats for Lesbian & Gay Action) was the original name when the organisation was formed. From 1996 to 2011 its name was Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action.
The organisation was founded shortly after the formation of the Liberal Democrats and is a Specified Associated Organisation, which gives it special status within that Party.
The Chair since July 2010 is Adrian Trett. The honorary president of Delga is Dr Evan Harris
Evan Harris
Evan Leslie Harris is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon from 1997 to 2010, losing his seat in the 2010 general election by 176 votes to Conservative Nicola Blackwood....
, and the vice presidents are Bernard Greaves, Sarah Ludford
Sarah Ludford, Baroness Ludford
Sarah Ann Ludford, Baroness Ludford is a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament and a nonvoting member of the House of Lords ....
, and Lynne Featherstone MP.
Organisation Name
When the Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
party was formed, it was initially called the Social and Liberal Democrats, sometimes referred to by the shortened version 'Democrats'.
As such when a lesbian & gay organisation for the party was formed, as successor to the Liberal Lesbian & Gay Action and Social Democrats for Lesbian & Gay Action groups, it adopted an abbreviated form of its name "DEmocrats for Lesbian & Gay Action" as DELGA.
In the mid 1990s the remit and full name of the organisation was changed to include bisexual and transgender, becoming Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action. However, the same shortened form of the name was retained as the constitutional 'alternative name' to an unpronounceable acronym.
In September 2011 following a vote by the membership, both names were dropped in favour of "LGBT+ Liberal Democrats".
History
The organisation was rapidly given Specified Associated Organisation (SAO) status in the party, meaning it is treated like a constituency Local Party with powers to submit policy to party conference and is formally consulted on policy-making in relevant areas.The Party leadership has been consistently in favour of LGBT equality issues. Current Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has stated that, "although civil partnerships have been a step forward, until same sex marriage is permitted it is impossible to claim gay and straight couples are treated equally." He went on to say that, "I am determined that the Liberal Democrats will remain outspoken and steadfast in our defence of gay rights, from backing same sex marriage to stopping the deportation of gay asylum seekers to countries were homosexuality is punishable by death. There has been much progress in recent years, and much to celebrate. But as long as homophobia still rears its ugly head in workplaces, in classrooms, and even in the home - politicians must continue to speak out in favour of the values of gay rights."
| Delga Chair | Dates |
|---|---|
| Adrian Trett | Jul 2010 - current (term of office expires Dec 2012) |
| Benji Starr | Jan - Jun 2010 |
| Jen Yockney | 2007–2009 |
| Kelvin Meyrick | 2006 |
| Richard Porter | 2005 |
| Alison Wheeler | 2004 |
| Denys Robinson | 2003 |
| Hannah Kaitlin-Boyer | 2001–2002 |
| Jonathan Simpson | 1998–2000 |
| Mark Baker | 1998 |
| Brian Stone | 1989 |
Achievements
The organisation rapidly achieved many of its aims and the main party itself increasingly incorporated reference to, and recognition of, LGBT issues in its policy statements.In 2001, 2005 and 2010 the party issued a separate LGBT manifesto, all the elements of which were also in the full party manifesto.
Campaigns
During the 1994 campaign to change the age of consent for sex between men, the options under consideration were keeping the age of consent at 21, lowering it to 18, or lowering it to 16 (equal to the age of consent for sex between men and women). Delga campaigned under the slogan "16 or bust", emphasising that the 18 option was still not equality, and the age of consent was either equal or not equal. This contrasted with the approach of organisations such as Stonewall who were in favour of 18, seeing it as an achievable compromise.In 2001, Delga ran a campaign for the General Election under the slogan "Freedom To Be", highlighting six key LGBT policy areas. The campaign had print adverts in the gay press and a special website, and tied in with a launch of the Liberal Democrat campaign to win the LGBT vote held in Soho, London with party leader Charles Kennedy MP as key speaker.
In 2005, Delga ran a smaller-scale campaign where the theme was "Not the only Liberal Democrat in the village".
In 2010, the Delga campaign for the LGBT vote in the General Election, "Always been there for you, and we always will" combined postcards, print and online advertising.
Notable LGBT Liberal Democrats
- Jenny BaileyJenny BaileyJenny Bailey is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was the civic leader of Cambridge City Council in Cambridge, England. Bailey served her mayoral term from 2007-2008. Bailey became a member of the city council in 2002, when she was elected to represent the suburb of East Chesterton within...
, who was the first transgender mayor in the United Kingdom. - Rodney BermanRodney BermanRodney Berman, a Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Plasnewydd ward, is leader of Cardiff Council .A Glaswegian by birth, Rodney studied at the University of Glasgow where he helped run Glasgow University Liberal Democrats before moving to Wales to study towards a PhD.He has stood for election to...
, leader of Cardiff council. - Sarah BrownSarah BrownSarah Joy Brown is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for originating the role of Carly Corinthos, which she portrayed on the American daytime drama General Hospital from 1996 to 2001, and which earned her three Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2008, she returned to General Hospital in a...
, cited in the Independent on Sunday "Pink List" 2011 as currently the only transgender activist serving as an elected politician in the UK. - Stephen Gilbert MPStephen Gilbert (UK politician)Stephen David John "Steve" Gilbert is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who was elected the Member of Parliament for the new constituency of St Austell and Newquay at the 2010 general election.-Background:...
, MP for St Austell and Newquay. - Simon Hughes MPSimon HughesSimon Henry Ward Hughes is a British politician and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He is Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark. Until 2008 he was President of the Liberal Democrats...
, deputy Lib Dem party leader and candidate for Mayor of London in the 2004 election. - David Laws MPDavid LawsDavid Anthony Laws is a British politician. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Yeovil and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury....
, Member of Parliament for Yeovil and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury. - Brian PaddickBrian PaddickBrian Leonard Paddick is a British politician, and was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the London mayoral election, 2008, coming third behind Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone...
, Liberal Democrat candidate for the London mayoral elections of 2012 and 2008 - and until his retirement in May 2007, Deputy Assistant Commissioner in London's Metropolitan Police Service and the United Kingdom's most senior openly gay police officer. - Iain Smith, MSP for North East Fife 1999-2011.
- Margaret Smith, MSP for Edinburgh West 1999-2011.
- Anna SpanAnna SpanAnna Arrowsmith , who works under the pseudonym Anna Span, is an English pornographic film director. She is also a public speaker on sex, pornography, and feminism.-Early life:...
, also known as Anna Arrowsmith, candidate for Gravesham in Kent in 2010. - Stephen Williams MPStephen Williams (politician)Stephen Roy Williams is a British Liberal Democrat politician who was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Bristol West in the 2005 general election, being re-elected with an increased majority in May 2010...
, MP for Bristol West.
See also
- List of LGBT-related organizations
- LGBT rights in the United Kingdom
- Equivalent organisations in the other major parties include
- Conservatives: LGBToryLGBToryLGBTory is a LGBT and Conservative Group linked to, but not run, directed or funded by the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom. The first LGBT Conservative group was called CGHE LGBTory is a LGBT and Conservative Group linked to, but not run, directed or funded by the Conservative Party of the...
- Labour: LGBT Labour
- Conservatives: LGBTory