The forum has evolved as a formal engagement mechanism and has been consulted on a range of key policies and initiatives from organisations including the Police, Council and Primary Care Trust, and more recently on the Crown Prosecution Services Phobic Hate Crime Policy.
The relationship that has formed between the Police and LGBT Forum is currently closer than ever and many projects aimed at improving safety for LGBT people in Blackpool are now very much joint ventures. The good work that has been carried out by Blackpool Police and LGBT Forum with the local LGBT community was acknowledged and commended last year at a National Police LGBT Practitioners Group meeting last year where other forces were eager to learn how the relationship between the Police and Forum works and how issues are tackled jointly. The joint working between the Police and forum has only enhanced the headways that the Police have made into the LGBT community which was proved last year when the killers of Malcolm Benfold, a murder victim on the Middle Walk, were brought to justice.
So what does the future hold for the LGBT Forum?
The forum is ambitious and has a number of aspirations for the future ranging from making the Middle Walk area more attractive with art installations and murals to fully supporting Blackpool Pride 2008 and having a presence in the parade and stall at the event. But simply, and most important of all, a brighter future for the LGBT community in Blackpool.
The forum started as a small group but month-by-month it has got bigger and stronger and now with everyones help the forum finally has a voice in Blackpool.
The forum meets every second Thursday of the month at 6:30pm at Blackpool Town Hall