Co op Respect event - A retrospective

The latest in a series of events organised by Respect (Co-operatives own LGBT group )highlighted the important issue of Transgender in the workplace.The event took place at the iconic Angel Sq building in Manchester.

Guest speakers were Ruth Hunt of Stonewall and Jacqui Gavin of the DWP who both gave different,but insightful accounts of their experiences,taking questions from the floor and a debate thereafter.

Ruth Hunt is Chief Executive of leading UK-based lesbian, gay and bisexual equality organisation Stonewall, the largest gay equality body in Europe. She was formerly President of the Oxford University Student Union,and became the first British Fellow of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship in 2011, in recognition of her ability to campaign for social change.

Jacqui Gavin has been involved in Transgender issues since 1988. A former Armed Forces Officer Cadet, she left the Services in 1985, and transitioned in 1988.

During the early ‘nineties her promising modelling career was brought to a premature end when she was out-ed by a number of tabloid papers, and her current and future modelling commissions were all cancelled.

Jacqui became a Civil Servant in the Department for Work & Pensions in 2009, after a successful career in the Service Delivery sector. In early 2010 Jacqui volunteered to become involved with a:gender, the cross-Civil Service support network for staff who identify as Transgender and Intersex. She was also instrumental in establishing the Department for Work & Pensions own Transgender staff support network.

In August 2010 she became a member of the Steering Group of the cross-Civil Service staff support network , a:gender. The network is involved with the promotion transgender issues through delivery of speeches and the production of presentations to Government departments and external agencies. She was also involved in reviewing Civil Service and Government Policies, for example contributing to some aspects of the content for the Equality Act 2010.

In March 2012 Jacqui became the Vice-Chair of a:gender, and her workload and influence increased. She was invited to give several keynote addresses on Transgender issues, notably speaking at the launch of the LGBT History Month celebrations at the Department for Business Innovation & Skills. Jacqui was also responsible for dealing with the Permanent Secretaries Network on matters of Civil Service Equality & Diversity Policy, and her team was tasked with organising and providing Awareness Training for various Government departments and agencies.

Jacqui became the Chair of a:gender in March 2013 Follow her here.

Sharon Pegg, Group Diversity & Inclusion Manager told us...

“The focus around International Women’s Day provided a great platform for Respect to show case females in the LGBT community.  It was a great honour to welcome Ruth Hunt CEO of Stonewall and Jacqui Gavin, both are great role models, both understand the barriers in existence and it is amazing that both were willing to share their very personal experiences to break down even more barriers, so that one day we can all enjoy equality'

‘Our speakers Ruth and Jacqui were both genuinely inspiring – both opened up and told their stories honestly and with integrity. Their experiences have helped me to see how far we have truly come but also where we as a community need to come together and address some of the ridiculous divisions we have created between our different elements. Thanks both speakers and to the Co-op for hosting such a fantastic and thought provoking evening!’

Said Michael Forsyth (Group Strategy) Co-operative.coop

The next such event will be announced soon and we will let you know the details.

Published: 26-Mar-2015: (2984)