This Thursday (17th of May) marks the International Day Against Homophobia; a global day of recognition to commemorate the World Health Organisation’s decision to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

Whilst great progress has been made in tackling the oppression and discrimination that the LGBT community faces in London – progress that capitals around the world should aspire to – homophobia remains a shameful fact of life.

Whilst the last twelve months has seen a drop in homophobic crime across Greater London as a whole, attacks in certain parts of the city have soared.  Latest figures from the Metropolitan Police show that gay hate crime has increased by a staggering 104% in the Borough of Greenwich, 69% in the Borough of Hackney and 20 per cent in the Borough of Westminster.

With IDAHO just around the corner, it is timely to renew our pledge to continue the fight for true LGBT equality here in the capital.  We all have a role to play in developing a society in which this kind of intolerance and violence is rejected outright.