AN EVENT highlighting the issues facing south Asian LGBT community members living in the UK was held in Bournemouth.

Indian chef Sarah Ali Choudhury spoke at the event at Bournemouth Library, which was also attended by the Mayor of Bournemouth Cllr Eddie Coope, deputy PCC Colin Pipe, chair of Dorset Humanist Association David Warden, and the Over the Rainbow LGBT centre team.

The event, organised by the LGB&T Dorset Equality Network, also saw the launch of a dedicated LGBT community noticeboard for the library.

Alan Mercel-Sanca, lead officer for the organisation, said: “The Bournemouth Library LGBT History Month event saw new breakthroughs for inclusion and anti-discrimination.

“Sarah Ali Choudhury spoke of the importance of those suffering from different forms of prejudice to work together, and about the needs of LGBT people from ethnic minorities.

“The Mayor of Bournemouth was the VIP guest of honour, and a statement of support from Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns was read out concerning the importance of the Over the Rainbow centre, which is threatened with closure.”