In this episode, Hannah is joined by Laura Clarke, who is the Stakeholder Engagement Officer for the LGBT National Partnership. Laura discusses some specific issues that affect the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people, what services are available to them, and how our public services are failing this population. She and Hannah talk about data and monitoring of LGBTQ+ people in the recent 2021 census as well as the phrasing of the questions asked about gender. Finally, Hannah and Laura discuss trans men and non binary people accessing pregnancy and birth services, and how COVID and the pandemic has affected LGBTQ+ people.

✨MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL LGBT PARTNERSHIP✨ The National LGBT Partnership was established in early 2010, in order reduce health inequalities and challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within public services. The Partnership combines the expertise of a number of key LGBT organisations across England, and works closely with many more. The Partnership is a Sector Strategic Partner of the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England, collaborating with a wide range of organisations as part of the Health and Wellbeing Alliance. It has experience of successfully influencing policy, practice and actions of Government, statutory bodies, and others

The partners have a long history of service delivery, working with LGBT people both locally and nationally. Services include 1-2-1 counselling, befriending, peer-support groups, helplines, community leader programmes, testing, advocacy, youth-work, HIV, housing support, drug and alcohol interventions, and much more. This enables the Partnership to act as a catalyst and connector, putting LGBT people and their issues firmly on the agenda of a wide range of decision makers.

- http://twitter.com/LGBTPartnership - instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lgbtpartnership/

✨MORE ABOUT LAURA CLARKE✨ Laura is the Stakeholder Engagement Officer for the National LGBT Partnership. She works with the health and voluntary sector across England, bringing together services to increase the visibility of LGBT+ health inequalities and developing resources to increase awareness.

Laura has vast experience of working in the charity sector and has previously worked with LGBT+ youth, mental health, loneliness and sexual violence projects.

Laura is from Barry, South Wales (and is well used to the Gavin & Stacey references by now). She moved to Bath for her undergraduate degree and then resided for two years in Brighton, where she obtained her MA in Gender Studies. She is now lives in Bath again with her partner.

Laura can often be found laughing at stand-up comedy or crying at musical theatre. She also enjoys poetry (both reading and writing) and has a borderline obsessive love of Taylor Swift. When taking a break from work, Laura is likely moseying around European cities, looking at art and struggling to find gluten-free food.

- https://twitter.com/thelauraclarke - https://www.instagram.com/thelauraclarke/

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