Leading magazine the Pink Paper has shortlisted Brighton & Hove city council as one of the best at serving its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The publication is now asking people to vote for a national winner in its 2007 readers' awards.

Voting forms are available online www.pinkpaper.com/awards or in the paper's editions of November 30, December 7 and 21.

Results are due to be published on January 7.

Four rivals for the award are Islington, Southwark, Manchester and Birmingham.

In its claim for the title the council is stressing a portfolio of services for its 25,000-plus LGBT community. This includes special housing support, a dedicated homelessness strategy, hate crime and LGBT awareness training for frontline staff and setting up an older persons' group.

The authority also established an LGBT domestic violence group and a staff forum with around 150 members.

Special teams have been looking at matters such as equalities polices, pensions, and transgender issues.

New recruits get an LGBT welcome pack with a message from chief executive Alan McCarthy. It underlines the council's commitment to ensuring "services are delivered in an anti-discriminatory way and in which LGBT people's lives and the work they do are fully valued".

Mr McCarthy said: "It's an honour just to be shortlisted. We'd never claim to be 100 per cent perfect on this issue, but we are striving and improving. If people feel they want to recognize that effort and ambition by voting for us I think staff would find that hugely encouraging."

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Further information: Alan Stone 01273 291034