Imaan
Celebrating its tenth anniversary year in 2008, Imaan has had a prolific year of activity. It has participated in two mainstream films that featured at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, including the festival's main gala film: Jihad for Love. Additionally the organisation, which is run entirely by volunteers, has done extensive inter-faith work within and without the LGBT community, organised an international conference during Black History Month, October 2008; run over 40 community speaker events across Britain, including a series of activities during LGBT History Month in February 2008; has been selected as an organising partner for the World Out Games 2009, and has been a strong advocate of Black LGBT community needs at all times. Imaan has played a valuable role in actively engaging all sections of the Black LGBT community as has been evidenced by its work with Stonewall, various Black and city Pride events, the police and Black LGBT welfare campaigns.



Kairos in Soho
KiS is a community development organisation and registered charity. KiS’s vision is of a society where every lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) person is able to fully reach their aspirations, be well and live free from prejudice, harassment and discrimination. KiS runs a number of projects from their Soho base and have developed plans for an LGBT Social Action Centre, run the Weekly Soho historic walking tour, Women’s Voices group and offer support through providing meeting space for a wide range of marginalized groups within the LGBT communities.
www.kairosinsoho.org.uk



LGBT History Month
LGBT History Month is an opportunity for all of us to learn more about the histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Britain and Northern Ireland. Until recently, most LGBT people preferred to avoid attention. Many still do. Even today, the penalties for those who refuse to conceal themselves, or fail to do so, can be severe. They can range from ostracism and victimisation to assault and even murder. In the past, the silencing of LGBT people was often reinforced by legislation. The most recent example was Section 28, passed in 1988 and repealed in 2003, which was intended to restrict debate on homosexuality, particularly in schools. LGBT History Month (February) has been an initiative which has enabled schools and others to engage with the heritages of LGBT people. LGBT History Month was begun as an intiative of School’s Out and has been keen from the outset to involve Black LGBT people and through the efforts of its committed volunteers has had a huge impact right across the country.
http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk



UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group
UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group began in 1993, as Stonewall Immigration Group, when there was no provision in UK immigration rules to allow a foreign person to live in the UK with their same sex partner and no provision allowing people to claim asylum on the grounds that they feared or experienced persecution because of their sexual orientation. The service is based in London but provides assistance to anyone who telephones their helpline, e mails or attends meetings. They are currently funded by membership fees, donations and a small grant. Although there has been enormous change over the last 12 years because of the work of the group, they continue to work for fairer rules in respect to asylum and immigration for lesbians and gay men. There is currently no other dedicated organisation tackling the multifaceted problems faced by lesbian and gay asylum seekers in the UK.
www.uklgig.org.uk