It was a real pleasure to attend the LGBT conversation cafe at Ayrshire College today. LGBT young people and their supporters and allies including representatives of Police Scotland, The Fire Service and Ayrshire College Student Association gathered in Kilwinning to spend some time in conversation. Topics covered included Education, Health, Friends and Family and Community.
It was really well organised, a relaxed and comfortable environment evidenced by how much everyone shared and contributed. Whilst we reflected on things that had improved it’s clear to me we’ve a way to go – hearing from young LGBT folk that friends don’t always feels safe in their community and that they have no places to go is a stark reminder of that.
Points of view and ideas gathered will form part of The Ayrshire LGBT development groups action plan. I look forward to seeing it and using it as a guide for what we can all do to improve the lives of our LGBT people here in Ayrshire.
Ruth Maguire MSP 