Carl Austin-Behan is a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and a passionate advocate for equality, community and inclusion. A former LGBT Advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, Carl is currently Greater Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Community Ambassador, working closely with charities, organisations, schools, youth groups and workplaces across the city-region. His work focuses on promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and respect, alongside projects with Community Action, Public Sector partners and LGBTQ+ networks throughout Greater Manchester.
Carl served in the Royal Air Force from 1991 until 1997. During his service he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Award for Bravery after rescuing a pilot from a burning Hawk aircraft following a crash at RAF Chivenor in 1992. He was also mentioned in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 1996, receiving a Commander-in-Chief’s Commendation in recognition of his exemplary service. Despite this record, Carl was discharged in 1997 under the UK Armed Forces’ ban on LGBTQ+ personnel, with his sexuality deemed “incompatible with service life”.
After leaving the RAF, Carl joined Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in 1998 before moving on in 1999. In 2001, he became a national figure when he won Mr Gay UK, using the platform to speak openly about resilience, visibility and equality.
From 2011 to 2018, Carl served as a Manchester City Councillor representing Burnage, and in 2016–2017 he made history as Manchester’s first openly gay Lord Mayor. Alongside his public service, Carl is also a business owner, running VA Clean, a cleaning company specialising in communal areas of apartment blocks and working with property management companies across the region.
Carl has devoted much of his life to LGBTQ+ advocacy and community leadership. He is Patron of George House Trust, Manchester Proud Chorus and Contact Theatre, Ambassador for The Proud Trust and Broughton House, Chair of the pro-Manchester EDI Network, and Chair of City of Trees Trust. He was also a founder member of Fighting with Pride,
In November 2019, Carl was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, and in the 2020 Queen’s New Year Honours List he was awarded an OBE for services to charity and the LGBTQ+ community.
Over the last 5 years Carl has been dedicated and committed to the work that Fighting with Pride has managed to achieve,
Warm, authentic and deeply committed to social justice, Carl continues to turn lived experience into positive change, championing dignity, visibility and inclusion for communities across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Carl is married to Simon and lives in Manchester with their daughter Willow and their two much-loved Maltipoos, Scrappy and Oleg 🐾
Responsive site designed and developed by
