Jersey Evening Post: Friday 22 August 2014

Channel Television: Friday 22 August 2014

BBC Radio Jersey: Friday 22 August 2014

Channel 103fm: Friday 22 Augusts 2014

Channel Island equality charity Liberate is pleased to announce that its Jersey branch is now up and running.

The Jersey branch of Liberate held its first meeting on 19 August 2014. Amongst other issues, the meeting discussed the forthcoming draft of the sex discrimination law, the equal marriage and partnership consultation that was launched on 20 August 2014 and the need for a social focus for LGBTQ people in Jersey since the closure of the island’s last gay nightspot a number of years ago.

Liberate was formed in February 2014 in Guernsey and it was always the intention that there should also be a Jersey branch of the charity. Liberate Chairman, Martin Gavet, is thrilled that the charity is now truly pan-island.

“We are delighted at the news that a Jersey branch of Liberate has been established. In the short time since Liberate was founded in February 2014, we have achieved a lot for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) communities within the Channel Islands.

“We have already met with both Chief Ministers in Guernsey and Jersey about reform of laws and policies to ensure that our islands treat everyone fairly and equally under the law in dignity and rights. We are committed to uniting communities across the islands, and are an inclusive and apolitical charity.

“We do not discriminate on grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, disability or belief. It is great that Jersey now has formed a branch of Liberate to help to support the LGBTQ community in our sister-isle. This is a shining example of how the islands can work together on important issues affecting Channel Islanders’ daily lives”.

Co-ordinator for Liberate’s Jersey group, Vic Tanner Davy, said:

“We are looking forward to working with the committee in Guernsey on issues that affect both islands, such as the provision of LGBTQ care in old age, and educational programmes that can be delivered in schools in Jersey and Guernsey. LGBTQ rights have come a long way but there is still work to do as demonstrated by the two big political consultations that are happening currently that directly affect our community.

“We also want to provide support to those who may be questioning their sexuality and one of the ways to do that is to create a safe social space. To start to grow that initiative, we are planning a social event on 20 September 2014 at Ce Soir to try to bring back some of the community spirit that used to exist when Cosmopolitan was a social hub where people who were just coming out could go and feel safe.

“There are a lot of positive things happening for LGBTQ people in the islands at the moment from Jersey Pride to the equal marriage and partnership consultation that was launched today. It feels like the right moment for Jersey and Guernsey’s LGBTQ communities to work together to support these initiatives and to make the change happen that we want to see.”

Details of the Ce Soir event can be found on Facebook.

Liberate Jersey can be contacted at hello@liberate.gg