Cheshire fire stations flying the flag for LGBT History Month

If you’ve wondered why the Rainbow Flag is flying outside Cheshire fire stations and headquarters, they are being flown to mark LGBT History Month.

LGBT History Month is an annual celebration, marked every February, with the aim of raising awareness and increasing visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, their history, lives and experiences.

Cheshire’s Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin explains: “Raising awareness of, and supporting, diversity is very important to us. For example, research shows that many LGBT people still do not readily engage with public agencies like the fire and rescue service, out of fear of discrimination, which may result in them being more at risk. Furthermore, it is well understood that some of the key risk factors for dying in a house fire such as age, isolation, mental health and alcohol use can be significantly higher among older LGBT individuals (65+) than the population as a whole. It is therefore important that we continue to show a visible commitment to our LGBT communities.

“Equally, it is important that our staff are able to be themselves at work. Supporting all our staff, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, enables them to give their best at work without fear of discrimination, armed with the knowledge that they are fully supported.”

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has a proud history of being committed to equality and inclusion and LGBT History Month is an important date in their annual calendar.

CFRS has been the top performing emergency service in the UK for the past five years, ranking third in a pool of over 500 organisations in the Stonewall Workplace Top 100 Employers list in 2020.

Ruby Kwong, Client Account Manager at Stonewall, said: “As the highest-performing emergency services organisation in our Workplace Equality Index since 2015, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has continually demonstrated their commitment to LGBT+ inclusion, both in the workplace and the wider community. In 2020, CFRS was named as one of our top trans employers, further demonstrating their commitment to supporting the LGBT+ community.”

Cllr Marilyn Houston, Cheshire Fire Authority Equality Champion said: “On behalf of the Fire Authority, we are fully supportive of the Service’s commitment to LGBT+ inclusion. Although the Service focuses a lot of attention on LGBT+ inclusion during LGBT History Month and Pride Month, it is good to see everyone, from the young cadets through to the senior leaders, all supporting different LGBT+ campaigns all year around.”

Pictured - Knutsford Station Rainbow Flag.