Sexual orientation

Dramatic progress towards gay equality at work

Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index was launched on 9 January 2008.

  • The RCN is a Stonewall Diversity Champion and improved its overall scoring significantly.

Employers in the index are ranked according to criteria ranging from implementation of an effective equality policy, to granting equal benefits for same-sex partners, to having openly gay staff on their board of directors. Entries come from across the board in private, public and third sector organisations.

Top of the 2008 index is Nacro, the national crime reduction charity. The Greater London Authority (GLA) comes second and two police forces – Hampshire and Staffordshire - tie at third place. Law firm Pinsent Masons is recognised as most improved employer and the Prison Service wins the award for employee network group of the year.
Standards have risen dramatically this year. In 2005 an organisation had to have a minimum score of 40 per cent to make the top 100, this year it's 71 per cent.

The health and social care sector are represented in the top 100 employers by Tower Hamlets PCT, Bromley PCT and the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

For more information visit the Stonewall website: Workplace Equality Index 2008

TUC - Trans with Pride conference report

In October 2007, trans communities from across England came together to discuss a wide range of topics from health choices to the workplace and young people.

Press for Change

Press for Change is a lobbying and educational organisation, which campaigns to achieve equal civil rights and liberties for all trans people in the United Kingdom, through legislation and social change. Further information can be found on their website. http://www.pfc.org.uk

Being the gay one: experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual people working in the health and social care sector.

The DH commissioned Stonewall to undertake a project to identify the key barriers to reporting of homophobia against health and social care employees. Stonewall's report, Being the gay one: Experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual people working in the health and social care sector, published on 15 June 2007, includes a series of recommendations to the Department for overcoming these barriers.

Commeting on the publication, the Tina Donnelly, the RCN's Sexual Orientation Equality Champion said: "The report outlined some of the most appalling and distressing forms of behaviour that clearly violates and demeans the dignity of colleagues.

"Employers must now ensure that they take decisive and concerted action to challenge such discriminatory behaviour  as well as actively embed approaches that value the full diversity of the health care workforce"

Further information is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/

National LGBT Network launched at Congress

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members will now have access to a National LGBT Network which will exist to provide support as well as a strong campaign and lobbying function on LGBT issues within the health and social care sector.

Email: diversity.team@rcn.org.uk for more information about the Network

RCN working with leading gay equality organisation

The RCN is now a member of Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. This means that we are working with Britain’s leading gay equality organisation, and other members of the programme, to improve our working environment for our lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) staff and members.

Stonewall Diversity Champion

We need workplace cultures that enable individuals to be valued for themselves. Work has started on developing our first sexual orientation equality strategy. In the coming weeks, we will be seeking your feedback on the kinds of issues that we need to tackle within the scope of the strategy. Further information on the programme is available on the Stonewall website: www.stonewall.org.uk/workplace

Send us your views

What should our first sexual orientation strategy contain? What are the issues that are facing you at work in this area? We want to know what you thinks, so email: diversity.team@rcn.org.uk with your views.

Preventing the harassment of gay employees

Stonewall's third workplace guide is available from its website, giving examples of best practice. The guide deals with:

  • building the business case
  • effective policy and procedure
  • improving reporting.

Offered is indepth research into organisations that are taking steps to address bullying and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation.  Researchers interviewed 11 organisations of varying sizes and operating in a variety of sectors, which are all members of Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme. Stonewall research enables organisations to build reputation, improve performance and avoid risk. The guide is available now from the Stonewall website.

Employment equality regulations

The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations, which came into force in December 2003, make it unlawful to discriminate against employees because of their sexual orientation or sexuality. The regulations define sexual orientation in the following way:

  • same sex (lesbians and gay men)
  • opposite sex (heterosexual men and women)
  • same sex and opposite sex (bisexual men and women).

The regulations apply to all employment and vocational training, including terms and conditions, promotions, training and transfers and make it unlawful to:

  • Discriminate directly or indirectly against employees or potential employees because of their sexual orientation or what is thought to be their sexual orientation, or because they associate with someone of a particular sexual orientation.
  • Harass an individual because of their sexual orientation or sexuality. Harassment covers a wide range of behaviours and includes behaviour that is offensive, frightening or distressing. There is recognition that such behaviours can often be subtle, covert and unintentional but have the effect of upsetting the individual.
  • Victimise someone because they have or intend to make a complaint or give evidence in relation to a complaint of discrimination because of sexual orientation

LGBT health summit

The first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) health summit was held in 2006. A conference report is now available which includes examples of good practice and useful links to other organisations. Aimed at individuals who were unable to attend the summit or are approaching LGBT Health issues for the first time, the report is available from the website: http://www.lgbthealth.co.uk/page7.htm

Core training standards for sexual orientation

This DH commissioned report provides best practice training standards for sexual orientation, to assist health and social care organisations in promoting equality. The report is available to download on the DH website.