LGBTQ+ Panel

LGBTQ+ Advisory Panel

About Greater Manchester’s equality panels

The Greater Manchester Equality Panels have been established to advise, support and challenge Greater Manchester’s political leaders and policy-makers to tackle the discrimination and disadvantage that cause injustice and inequality in society, and champion Greater Manchester as an inclusive city-region. They do this by working together with the GMCA and partners to:

• Provide insight into Greater Manchester’s diverse communities, enabling political leaders and public bodies to listen and engage in a more targeted and effective way
• Communicate key messages to our communities as trusted sources
• Codesign policies, programmes and strategies to ensure they work effectively for communities
• Support an asset-based approach, highlighting new opportunities (and challenges) for positive collaboration that build on the resources and strengths within our communities

The LGBTQ+ Advisory Panel is one of seven equality panels established and funded by the GMCA. Other equality panels include:

• Disabled People’s Equality Panel
• Faith and Belief Advisory Panel
• Race Equality Panel
• Older People’s Equality Panel
• Women and Girls' Equality Panel
• Youth Combined Authority

Aims of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Panel

The LGBTQ+ Equality Panel was established in August 2018, and it brings together individuals to advise and support the Mayor and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to tackle the inequalities faced by the LGBTQ+ community within Greater Manchester.

Primary work areas

• Housing: ensuring that housing and homelessness strategy accounts for the disparities faced by LGBTQ+ people, such as access to place based social housing and the LGBTQ+ ‘safety tax’.
• Healthcare: working with policy teams across the Combined Authority and Greater Manchester NHS Foundation Trust to align local healthcare services and policies with the needs of LGBTQ+ residents.
• Education: helping policy makers understand the unique pressures faced by LGBTQ+ students and contributing to inclusive education policies.

Membership

The current active members of the panel are:

1. Jake Campbell (they/them) - co-lead 2025/6
2. Martin Sherlock (he/him) - co-lead 2025/6
3. Karl Robson (he/him)
4. Danni Sharrocks (she/her)
5. Genna King (they/them)
6. Simon Jones (he/him)
7. James Edward Barnard (he/him)
8. Zekarias Maru Abera (he/him)
9. Matt Weekes (he/him)
10. Mellie-Luisi Crowley (they/them)
11. Katherine Grady (she/her)
12. Natalie Walker-Craig (she/her)
13. Conor Nixon-Herd (they/them)
14. Deborah Bhatti (she/her)

The LGBTQ+ Panel holds regular recruitment open days, where you can learn more about it’s work and how to join. You can register your interest by contacting LGBTEqualityPanel@lgbt.foundation.

Contact the LGBTQ+ Panel

The LGBTQ+ Panel is facilitated by the LGBT Foundation (external website).  

Contact the LGBTQ+ Panel by emailing LGBTEqualityPanel@lgbt.foundation.

Key documents

LGBTQ+ Equality Panel Terms of Reference (PDF, 225KB)

LGBTQ+ Equality Panel Member Roles and Responsibilities (PDF, 177KB)

LGBTQ+ Equality Panel Annual report 2023-2024 (PDF, 367 KB)