Four years ago openly gay Simon Hall was elected to serve the Fieldway ward in New Addington.

With a new exhibition to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) history month set to begin on Monday, the councilor tells reporter Gareth Davies about his experiences as a gay man in the public eye Simon Hall says he has received nothing but support from his constituents, since being elected in 2005.

He feels his sexuality is not an important issue or barrier for those he serves.

The 44-year-old, who says he is one of few openly gay members on Croydon Council, told The Advertiser: "To be honest, I doubt many people even know about it.

"When they do I am met with total acceptance because that is what the people of Fieldway are like."

Cllr Hall says the only awkward moments have come on occasions when residents have asked about his partner.

He laughed: "A few ask me about my other half and ask how she is, so I say 'actually she is a he'.

"That is about it because it's never been something that I have needed to make an issue of.

"There will always be some people who have a problem with it, but the community as a whole have been incredibly accepting."

Cllr Hall also runs a drop-in for the LGBT community, much like the councillors' surgeries held in each ward, on the last Saturday of each month.

He is also the LGBT representative on the council's quarterly equality and cohesion partnership meetings.

And he acts as an unofficial representative of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Group on Croydon Council.

Cllr Hall said: "Residents from other areas often come to me with their problems, rather than their own ward councillor, because they feel I will have more understanding and knowledge of their situation."

"On these occasions I urge them to first visit their own councillor but I'm also happy to raise any issues they have and advise them on how they can get the support they need."

Simon married long-term partner Robert Elliott in a civil partnership ceremony in 2006, and says his support, as well as that of his fellow Labour councillors, has been unquestioned.

He says other gay people should not be afraid to venture into public life.

"Do not be put off," he urged. "If you want to get involved for the right reasons you should not let anything deter, regardless of whether you are gay, lesbian or straight.

"But you have to realise that, even at local level, you become a public figure and people will scrutinise you, but that is the case for more than just your sexuality."

Cllr Hall was speaking ahead of LGBT history month, an event held every February to celebrate the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.

As part of the festival, CROCUS, the gay and lesbian group in Croydon, has organised a series of events running from Monday 16 to Friday 20, including a special screening of critically acclaimed film Milk, which depicts the story of American civil rights activist Harvey Milk.

Cllr Hall, a prominent figure within the network, explained: "It's the first time for about seven years there has been a real series of programmes and events in Croydon aimed at the LGBT community."

The Met Police has also been doing its bit to change attitudes towards gay people in Croydon.

PCSO David Kay became Croydon Police's LGBT liaison officer in August 2007.

His task is to provide a full-time point of contact with police for the gay community.

In the past 16 months, he believes there has been a significant shift in the Met's attitude toward LGBT issues.

He said: "I do not think we have any serious issues with discrimination or homophobia in Croydon, and it is probably a testament to the work of CROCUS that more people feel comfortable enough to come forward and report incidents."

His work includes running "hate crime workshops" at Croydon College during which students are are taught about historical gay rights figures, including Bayard Rustin, who counselled Martin Luther King on techniques of non-violent resistance, and Alan Turing, the man who is considered by many to be the founding father of modern computer science.