Liberate highlights ‘huge change’ for LGBT+ people as it marks 10 years

The founding of the CI Pride annual festival and introduction of same sex marriage are two major LGBT milestones in the island over the last decade, but there have also been changes in islanders’ attitudes.

‘It’s been a privilege to be a part of the huge change that we’ve seen for LGBT+ people in the Channel Islands over the past 10 years,’ she said.

‘We’ve seen same-sex marriage introduced, anti-discrimination legislation laws enacted, many legal “rights” equalised, as well as new equity in health care for LGBT+ people and we also get to throw Channel Islands Pride, which is now Guernsey’s biggest free community event.’

She said there had been a huge shift in community attitudes since the charity was formed in 2014.

‘Its hard to measure societal impact,’ she said.

‘But a lot of people who left the island in the early 2000s and returned in the last five or so years have noticed a palpable change in the island's attitude to the LGBT+ community.’

She added that visibility had been key to that change.

‘I like to use the term “usualise” for things becoming accepted.

‘The more people see everyday things, be that a gay couple holding hands, say, the more usual and acceptable it becomes.

‘That is the big change for the LGBT+ community, they feel they can be open and be themselves.’

Ms Jones, who is queer, lived in Guernsey on and off from the age of five before moving to the island permanently at the age of 18.

‘I then moved to London where there was a vibrant gay community and I had lots of rights,’ she said.

‘When I returned to live in Guernsey it was a shock to find there was still not even the right to have a civil partnership.

‘I thought I can’t complain if I’m not willing to be involved.’

‘We’ve still got some major milestones to go, but today we are focusing on the progress we’ve made over the past decade. It’s been a heck of a journey so far.’