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.
