Historic Environment Scotland achieves LGBT Charter Mark

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has been awarded the LGBT Charter Foundation Award, which recognises the organisation's commitment to becoming an LGBT+ inclusive organisation. The LGBT Charter Mark Programme is run by LGBT Youth Scotland, a leading LGBT+ organisation in Scotland.

Achieving the charter mark saw an extensive analysis of HES’s policy and practices by LGBT Youth Scotland to ensure that the organisation works with an inclusive framework. As part of the project to achieve the charter mark, HES delivered training and live workshops to staff across the organisation.

HES will continue to build on the lessons learned during the process to further develop an inclusive organisation for staff and all visitors that come to Scotland's most popular attractions, like Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, and more.

As part of LGBT History Month throughout February, HES will continue to highlight how LGBT histories are part of our cultural heritage, from Anne Lister’s 1828 tour of Scotland to Harry Whyte, the Scot who challenged Stalin.

Anila Mirza, Equality Manager at HES, said:

"We're excited to have achieved this Charter Mark, but this is only part of our journey to achieving our Equality Outcomes and further developing an inclusive organisation, both for our visitors and our colleagues."

"This award is not just about achieving equality for one group, it is about improving equality and inclusion for everyone regardless of gender, age, socioeconomic status, religion, race, ethnicity, or other identities.

Dr Mhairi Crawford, Chief Executive at LGBT Youth Scotland, said:

"We are delighted that Historic Environment Scotland are the first heritage organisation in Scotland to have achieved the LGBT Charter. Their dedication to inclusion was clearly visible with excellent practice and campaigns taking an intersectional approach to platforming underrepresented communities and highlighting some of Scotland's LGBTQ+ heritage."

We're the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We are at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future. Across Scotland, we investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also working with sector partners to deliver Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.

Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.

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Historic Environment Scotland Communications Office
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