On 19 August, the LGBT+ rainbow flag was raised at County Hall in Hertford and the Herts Pride Festival took place the following day at Cassiobury Park in Watford. Services for Young People (SfYP) youth workers and young LGBT+ people who attend SfYP projects took part in both events.
The flag raising event was organised by the Hertfordshire County Council LGBT+ Staff Network and UNISON. Councillor Annie Brewster, Chair of Hertfordshire County Council, launched the event with a welcoming speech on the steps of County Hall and introduced the theme of this year’s Hertfordshire Pride events, ‘Love Wins’. Many members of HCC staff and guests then watched as the rainbow flag was raised.
A presentation was then given by Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies called ‘Protest and Change’ which featured an exhibition on the LGBT rights movement from 1965 to the present day. Temi Fawehinmi, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at HCC, also gave a talk on ‘Do we need more rights or the right remedy?’
A member of the SfYP Who Not What project for young LGBT+ people read a poem from the ‘How to be me’ anthology of 50 poems written by young LGBT+ people in Hertfordshire. People in the audience commented on how powerful and moving it was.
Who Not What is a project for LGBT+ young people who represent the voice of young LGBT+ people in Hertfordshire and, supported by SfYP youth workers, work to improve services for the young LGBT+ community. The group has worked with many businesses and organisations such as Hertfordshire Constabulary, Public Health Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire County Council, helping them to become more inclusive.
The next day, SfYP LGBT+ youth workers and young people from the Who Not What project ran a stand at the Herts Pride Festival and spoke to more than 250 people about the support we provide for young LGBT+ people in Hertfordshire.
Young LGBT+ people can:
- Join an SfYP LGBT+ project in their area
- Join the Who Not What project
- Get one-to-one advice and support at SfYP Access Point Projects
- Visit the Young Pride in Herts website
Professionals who work with young people and parents/carers can refer a young person to our projects here: Make a referral.