Diplomatic | Initiative

Embassy Network | 30th April 2017

Shannon West of the British Council makes his opening remarks

Caleb Orzoco explains his campaign to champion LG BT rights in Belize

The London Gay Men’s Chorus in full flow

Rainbow diplomats

London’s LGBT diplomats joined forces with colleagues in the FCO and the British Council to relaunch the Diplomatic Initiative – a network where LGBT officials in embassies and international organisations can meet, make friends and discuss practical steps to overcome challenges facing LGBT diplomats.

The guest speaker was Caleb Orzoco, the Executive Director of United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) who spoke of his six-year battle to overturn anti-LGBT laws in Belize, for which he was awarded the David Kato Vision and Voice Award.

The British Council’s Shannon West introduced diplomats to fiveFilms4Freedom, a British Council social media campaign in partnership with the British Film Institute to promote equality and diversity by encouraging people around the world to share five short films from the London LGBT Film Festival.

Guests got to see a touching short film, followed by a roof-raising performance by the London Gay Men’s Chorus.

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS