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<p class="MsoBodyText">At the Equality Network we have long recognised that far more has to be done to address the intersectionality of race and sexual orientation and gender identity, which has been an under-explored and under-addressed area in Scottish equality discourse and practice. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We were particularly concerned in Scotland that not only has there been a lack of dedicated activity but there has not been the leadership at a national level to encourage or inform such activity. The relationship between race and sexual orientation had too often been obscured by government and other national bodies, while transgender identity within ME communities was almost entirely unaddressed. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The aim of this research was to promote greater recognition within the Scottish equalities environment of the needs of Minority Ethnic people, who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender. In order to achieve this it had to main objectives</p><p class="MsoNormal">1. To develop a knowledge and theoretical base for future work in Scotland to promote the equality and rights of Minority Ethnic people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (ME/LGBT people).</p><p class="MsoNormal">2. To map the level of recognition and understanding of the needs of ME/LGBT people within national Scottish equality and rights organisations and those organisations’ approaches to promoting intersectional working</p><p class="MsoNormal">In order to achieve the above objectives the following activities were undertaken and this report has been structured around these:</p><p class="MsoNormal">· a literature review</p><p class="MsoNormal">· visits with eight UK organisations and groups specifically or significantly representing ME/LGBT people</p><p class="MsoNormal">· interviews with eighteen leading Scottish national organisations </p><p class="MsoNormal">· a roundtable discussion</p><p class="MsoNormal">This project exists within the particular context of an equalities environment which is fundamentally changing. The ‘Renewed Social Agenda’ and the proposed harmonisation of equality law at a European level; the creation of the single Equality and Human Rights Commission; the development of the Single Equality Bill at a UK level; and the concordat at a Scottish level; have all created at least a greater potential for more effective measures to tackle multiple and intersectional discrimination than existed under the previous segregated ‘silo approach’ to equality.</p>

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