Queen Elizabeth a queer ally according Mayor

Carl Austin-Behan, Manchester’s first out gay Lord Mayor (and Mr Gay UK 2001), has stated that the late great monarch “cared about our LGBTIQ+ community”.

Austin-Behan served as Lord Mayor of Manchester from 2016 to 2017 and is currently the LGBT advisor to the Lord Mayor of Greater Manchester. He had the opportunity to meet the Queen in July 2021 when she visited Manchester Cathedral for the 600th anniversary of the Collegiate Church.

He said, “She was very knowledgeable as well about Manchester’s LGBTIQ+ community”, having a keen interest in the work of queer charities in Manchester, particularly that of the queer veterans organisation Fighting With Pride. Queen Elizabeth II passed away on the 8th of September aged 96, having been the longest reigning monarch in British history.

Mr Austin-Behan was awarded an OBE in 2020 for his work for charity and the LGBTQ+ community.

Mr Austin-Behan was elected as Manchester's Lord Mayor in 2016 and appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester in 2019 and in 2020 he was awarded an OBE for his services to charity, LGBTQ+ equality and the community in Greater Manchester.

He said he "cherishes" the memory of meeting the queen and has the photographs of the meeting displayed on the wall of his home.

FIND WHAT YOU WANT EASILY WITH LGBTIQ.DIRECTORY

LGBTIQ SUPPORT PATHWAYS
LGBTIQ SOCIAL & COMMUNITY GROUPS
LGBTIQ FRIENDLY BUSINESS & SERVICES