Travers Smith LLP has joined Stonewall in supporting the National LGBT+ Police Network's first national campaign focused on offering the LGBT+ community reassurance and protection in the wake of the Orlando attack.
Focusing on messages of support for the LGBT+ community, the campaign, which launches today across social media, will provide key advice on reporting a hate crime and keeping safe this Pride season. It will also see the National LGBT+ Police Network attending the Pride festivals up and down the country to drive home the message that the police will be keeping them safe with Pride.
Travers Smith regularly runs a number of initiatives, both internally and across the legal sphere, to raise the awareness of the LGBT agenda, and has a LGBT+ group in place that provides a welcoming and supportive space for people to discuss issues relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.
In support of the campaign, Travers Smith has made a donation to the National LGBT+ Police Network and provided pro bono advice in the run up to its launch. It has also enlisted services of design agency Module, who offered graphic design services to the campaign, on a pro bono basis.
Daniel Gerring, CSR Partner at Travers Smith and chair of its LGBT+ group commented: "Travers Smith is delighted to be working with our friends and colleagues in the police and at Stonewall to best share these important messages with LGBT people across the country.
In the face of the sadness, fear and anger provoked by Orlando, it is heartening to see the LGBT community pull together still further and we feel privileged to be able to play a practical part in supporting this."
Speaking ahead of the campaign launch, Louis Provart and Tracy O’Hara, Co-Chairs of the National LGBT+ Police Network said: “We are delighted to be working in Partnership with Stonewall, supported by law firm Travers Smith, on a campaign to reach out to LGBT communities across the UK to offer reassurance and guidance following the recent tragic events in Orlando.
Our message is clear, as LGBT officers and staff from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland we stand together with you, to protect you and keep you safe. We will be at Pride festivals up and down the country and commit to being #ByYourSide, because the public are the police, and the police are the public.
We are here for you and with you. In the coming weeks we will be sending out messages to support people in reporting LGBT hate crime, driving out homophobia, bi-phobia and transphobia, and some key advice about staying safe this Pride season. We want to also raise awareness of how you can get involved to support our work in police service as we strive to make policing a service which truly reflects the public it serves.”
Robbie de Santos, Head of Campaigns at Stonewall, added: "After the tragic events in Orlando, this year’s Prides will be especially poignant. Pride is a time for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people to stand in solidarity with allies and reflect on the work that is still left to do.
This is why we’re pleased that police are making this show of support and standing by the side of all LGBT people. It sends a reassuring message to those who are attending Pride, as well as demonstrating that we can all step up and play a part in changing attitudes towards LGBT people."
The campaign will be predominantly run across the National LGBT+ Police Network's Facebook and Twitter accounts, with support from Stonewall and Travers Smith to help share these positive messages as widely as possible.