Flying the flag for IDAHO
Rainbow flags will be flown and supporting banners displayed at all fire stations, the Service Development Centre and the Headquarters of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) on Thursday 17 May 2012, to show the organisation’s support for International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).
This visible and colourful support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities emphasises the organisation’s commitment to promoting an inclusive workforce.
The Service supported the day in 2011 by flying rainbow flags at its Headquarters and four of its fire stations. This year, in addition to flying rainbow flags at all NFRS buildings, the Service is also displaying a supporting rainbow coloured banner with the message ‘Flying the flag in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’.
IDAHO Day calls for the end to violence and the criminalisation of people on the basis of their sexual orientation, their gender identity, and/or their sex difference. The event also marks the occasion in 1990 when homosexuality was taken off the list of mental disorders by the World Health Organisation.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has worked hard in recent years to promote LGBT equality in employment and the way it delivers its services to the public. As a member of Stonewall, NFRS measures its achievements against other organisations through the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and has climbed more than 130 places on the index in the last 12 months, ranking 119 out of 363 organisations.
The Service and all representative bodies have signed a Joint Commitment on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality, which supports the promotion of LGBT equality in the community and in the workplace. This includes challenging homophobia at work.
“This is another great example of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service supporting its LGBT staff and service users across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire,” said John Buckley, Assistant Chief Fire Officer. “The Service is proud to support IDAHO and Nottinghamshire Pride again in 2012.”
Local IDAHO Day activities are being organised by Nottinghamshire Pride, which NFRS has supported for a number of years. They include rainbow flags being flown from various locations across the county.
