Leicester academic appointed to first ever Government LGBT Advisory Panel

Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy has been appointed to the Panel by Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt.

Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy, Associate Professor in Hate Studies within the Department of Criminology, has been appointed to the Government’s first ever LGBT Advisory Panel by Penny Mordaunt, the Minister for Women and Equalities.

The announcement was made on Sunday 17 March, with the Government Equalities Office hosting an inaugural LGBT conference the following day, Monday 18 March. The LGBT Conference brought together Government ministers, civil servants and LGBT sector organisations to discuss the work the Government is doing to improve the lives of LGBT people.

The LGBT Advisory Panel has been established to fulfil the Government’s commitment to improving lives as set out in their LGBT Action Plan, and will advise the Government on its policies concerning LGBT+ people.

The Panel will act as a link between Government and civil society, presenting evidence on the experiences of LGBT+ people and acting as a sounding board, providing practical advice to the Minister on policy decisions and publications.

Dr Hardy said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the Government’s first LGBT advisory panel which will advise the Minister for Women and Equalities on how to implement the commitments set out in the 2018 LGBT Action Plan.

“In particular, I’m looking forward to shaping new policies and practices which seek to tackle the prejudice, discrimination and abuse facing LGBT people in everyday life, and which will improve access to and the quality of support services for LGBT people, including victims of domestic abuse, hate crime and sexual violence, those who are homeless and those seeking asylum.”