Delga 646786 223528646 2008-07-04T13:40:16Z Timrollpickering 32005 /* See also */ typos; full Labour name; TORCHE is gone; LGBTory exists <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Delga ld logo.png|right|delga logo]] --> {{gay rights}} '''DELGA''' is the [[LGBT]] organisation of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] political party, the full name being ''Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action''. Delga was founded shortly after the formation of the Liberal Democrats and is a ''Specified Associated Organisation'', which gives it special status within that Party. The Chair since November [[2006]] is [[Jen Yockney]], who was re-elected as chair for [[2008]]. The honorary president of Delga is [[Evan Harris|Dr Evan Harris MP]]. == History == When the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] party was formed, it was initially called the Social and Liberal Democrats, sometimes referred to by the shortened version 'Democrats'. As such the lesbian & gay wing adopted an abbreviated form of its name "DEmocrats for Lesbian & Gay Action" as DELGA. In the 1990s the full name of the organisation was changed to include bisexual and transgender, and is now Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action. However, the shortened form of the name has been retained in preference to an unpronounceable acronym. The organisation rapidly achieved many of its aims and the main party itself increasingly incorporated reference to, and recognition of, LGBT issues in its policy statements. In 2001 and 2005 the party issued a separate LGBT manifesto, all the elements of which were in the full party manifesto. Past Chairs have included [[Kelvin Meyrick]] in [[2006]], [[Richard Porter]] in [[2005]], Alison Wheeler in [[2004]] and [[Denys Robinson]] in [[2003]]. The founding chair was [[Brian Stone]]. ==See also== Equivalent organisations in the other major parties include * Conservatives [[LGBTory]] * Labour [[Labour Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights]] == External links == * [http://www.delga.org.uk/ Delga] [[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK)|Delga]] [[Category:LGBT rights organizations]] [[Category:LGBT wings of political parties]]