An LGBT+ staff network is to be set up by Powys County Council as part of a motion being put to the council to support equality for its staff and the community as a whole.
Council staff in Newtown will be able to become part of the network which will be discussed at a full council meeting on Friday.
It is part of a motion that also condemns the rise in hate crime towards the LGBT+ community.
The motion has been put forward by Cllr Matthew Dorrance and seconded by Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe.
It states: "This Council believes that LGBT+ rights are human rights. We support the positive strides made by successive governments towards achieving real equality for members of the LGBT+ community including Sexual Offences Act 1967 which decriminalised Homosexuality; Repealing Section 28 in 2003; The Civil Partnership Act 2004; Equalising the age of consent; The Gender Recognition Act 2004; The Equality Act 2010; and Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013."
The motion also states: "This Council condemns The rise in hate crime towards minority groups including the LGBT+ community; and The decision of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei to introduce harsh capital and corporal punishments that make sex between men punishable by stoning to death and sex between women punishable by 40 strokes of the cane or 10 years in prison."
The motion resolves to: "Make clear its support for the LGBT+ community, call out hate in all forms and be a vocal ally for the LGBT+ community; Write to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs urging him to stand up for LGBT+ rights around the world and support calls to suspend Brunei from the Commonwealth because it has breached the Commonwealth Charter in respect of human rights; and establish an LGBT+ Staff Network.
Councillors will vote on the resolution at the meeting on Friday.
