New Chair of Lib Dem LGBT group takes up post
Ed Fordham has taken over from Adrian Trett as the new Chair of LGBT+ Liberal Democrats.
In a Facebook message, Mr Fordham said: “There is a huge amount to do and I have been gradually shedding other roles and committees to ensure that I could give this role the time and attention it deserves.”
His priorities for the group include championing LGBT rights in the UK and around the world, along with making sure Northern Ireland is not left behind the rest of England, Wales and Scotland, when it comes to LGBT equality.
He said: “Too many people have described same-sex marriage as the ‘final’ campaign – this is not the case and many people still face discrimination – most obvious examples are the poor support and understanding of the trans community, the misunderstanding of many issues facing bisexuals and also with homophobia and transphobia in schools and in sport.”
He added: “It’s also worth noting the battle [for equal marriage] has not been won in Scotland or Northern Ireland yet either.”
Mr Fordham, who lives in Kilburn, north London, hit the headlines in May, after he became one of the first same-sex couples in the country to announce his intentions to marry his partner, Russell Eagling.
The couple, who have been together for 15 years but have not been in a civil partnership, were outside the House of Lords taking part in a vigil to put pressure on peers to approve the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
When word came out that the legislation had been approved without a vote, Mr Fordham got down on one knee and asked Russell to make their relationship formal.
TalkTalk subsequently apologised and corrected the error.
