'She cared about our LGBT community' - Manchester's first openly gay mayor remembers laughing with the Queen

Manchester's first openly gay Lord Mayor says the Queen 'cared' about the LGBT community as he recalls her last visit to the city in the summer of 2021. Carl Austin-Behan, who was made Lord Mayor in 2016, shared his 'beautiful' memories of meeting Queen Elizabeth II, who died yesterday (September 8).

The community activist who in the 1990s was forced out of the RAF for being gay said the Queen took an interest in his story and the charities he supports. The ex-councillor also revealed that Buckingham Palace called him to request that an LGBT choir perform during her visit to Manchester Cathedral last year.

Serving as Andy Burnham's LGBT advisor at the time, he laughed with the Queen after she remarked on how young he looked for a former Lord Mayor. He told her about LGBT charities in Greater Manchester and said she was particularly interested in the LGBT+ military charity Fighting With Pride.

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Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester this morning (September 9), he said the Queen was 'very knowledgeable' about the city-region's LGBT community. They spoke about changes over the last two decades, from him being kicked out of the air force, to equal marriage and same-sex couples having children.

He said: "It was such a bizarre and unique moment. When she walked over she was like your grandma coming to you. You just wanted to give her a hug."

Speaking later to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the former Greater Manchester Deputy Lieutenant said the Queen 'cared' about the community. He believes the reason for the request for an LGBT choir to perform was because the Queen knew how big the community