Bath Guildhall has flown the rainbow flag all week to mark LGBT History month. This is the first time that BathNES Council has celebrated the lives and achievements of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people this way.

In recent years, rights and recognition for gay people have improved hugely. The Equalities Act 2010, the partial lifting of the ban against gay men giving blood in 2011, and now the opportunity for equal marriage have been delivered by Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat governments.

At party conference in 2011, the Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone announced that the government would introduce equal civil marriage for same sex couples. Sitting in the audience, I have never felt prouder to be a Liberal Democrat, and part of the movement delivering equal marriage. Same sex couples will be able to wed from next month, thanks to the Liberal Democrats in government.

However, growing up and discovering one’s sexuality is still difficult for many adolescents. BathNES Council’s programmes to tackle homophobic bullying in schools have recently won an award from Stonewall. To mark LGBT History week, the council has produced a video highlighting support services.

Such progress in LGBT rights strongly reflects an increasingly socially liberal society in Britain, driven in part by increased visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people.

I’m gay. I’ve always known, and I’ve been out to my friends, family and colleagues for many years. My sexuality has little relationship with my political or professional life, but I think that it is worth stating nonetheless. Anyone struggling with their own sexuality, or others treatment of them because of it, should know that it gets better.

– Nicholas