The Coalition on Sexual Orientation (CoSO)
Statement of Objectives
CoSO has been established to promote equality and to advance education for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community in Northern Ireland. In order to achieve this CoSO will provide a voice for the LGBT community in debates and consultations surrounding the rights of the community.
CoSO aspires to represent the LGBT community. It is a coalition of foundation organisations which provide services to the community and is open to any organisation, whether organised across Northern Ireland or in a particular region of it, which is proposed by a constituent organisation and which agrees to conform to the principles of this Statement of Objectives. It is also open to individual members of the community who agree to abide by the principles of this statement.
The immediate aim of CoSO is to provide a representative forum within which the views of the community can be articulated. Meetings will be organised on as informal a basis as possible. Every effort will be made to reach a consensus. Further details of the organisation of CoSO are available in its Constitution and its associated protocols.
In consequence, CoSO seeks to act as the appropriate body with which public authorities will consult in order to
fulfill their statutory duty to promote equal opportunities irrespective of sexual orientation. It will seek to ensure that all concerns of the entire LGBT community are adequately articulated and acted upon, with respect for the diversity within the LBGT community. CoSO strives to be sensitive to this diversity and to redress subsequent inequality within our community.
CoSO will also extend this representative function into other areas of immediate concern to the LGBT community. In particular, it will represent the community in consultations with the Equality Commission on matters concerning issues of sexual orientation. It will also enter into dialogue with the Human Rights Commission on issues of human rights for sexual minorities, such as within the proposed Bill of Rights
Beyond the achievement of these objectives, CoSO intends to be a forum within which wider issues of concern to the LGBT community can be articulated, debated and acted upon in an open and constructive environment.
All LGBT organisations which satisfy the terms of the Constitution and which seek to enhance the rights and interests of the LGBT community as a whole are welcome to put themselves forward for nomination to membership of CoSO; all concerned individuals who are prepared to respect the concerns and interests of the entire LGBT community are invited to participate in its meetings and activities.
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