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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Members Group

What Everyone Needs to Know About Gays and Lesbians at Work (continued)

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What is Devon County Council doing?

From Sep to Nov 03, the Council, through its Equality Steering Group, ran a number of focus groups for LGBT employees to explore their experiences of living in Devon, receiving services from the Council and working for the Council.

32 employees participated in the Project which was the first of its kind in the Council. Key themes drawn from people's experiences were:

a feeling of isolation
the lack of a public profile of LGBT people
the prevalence of heterosexism (i.e. everyone thinks you're straight unless you make a point of saying you're not)
that LGBT is an uncomfortable subject (to bring up)

The Council is currently taking forward the 18 recommendations arising from the Project and supporting the development of the LGBT network formed as part of the Project.

Progress has been made in the following areas:

Youth group for young LGBT people in Exeter
Commitment ceremonies available for same-sex couples
First level of the Local Government Equality Standard has been met and extended to include sexual orientation (which the national framework didn't include). Council policies and plans will therefore take account of LGBT people's needs.

What can you do?

Ignorance breeds fear - fear prompts intolerance - intolerance ensures ignorance - ignorance breeds fear ... how can the vicious circle be broken?

Since June 1969, when the Stonewall Rioters first demonstrated the power to be gained by being open and honest about sexuality, recent history has shown that the more we are out and open about our lives the more everyone else realises how much we are a part of the fabric of society. We're people's relations - sisters, cousins, uncles, parents and children. We're doctors, street sweepers, lawyers, factory workers, pilots, singers, fire-fighters - in other words we're as ordinary and interesting as the next person.

But it's still a Catch 22 situation. Say nothing and the world will assume you're heterosexual. Speak out, or dress and act in a way that has become stereotyped, and who knows what degree of backlash, including assault, you might meet? No wonder that 'coming out, being out' is a subject of immense meaningfulness to us.

First you have to come out to yourself. Then maybe to a close friend. Do you tell your parents? And if you do - how? Do you announce it dramatically, or will your family and friends cope better if you allow their awareness to grow at their pace? And even when you're out to family and friends the rest of the world will go right on assuming you're a heterosexual. Unless you make it obvious ... and then you end up being accused of 'flaunting it'. You have your sexual orientation become the first and sometimes only thing about you that people see.

When do we (both heterosexual and LGBT) reach the point where it's no big deal?

Socially there has already been a degree of movement away from ignorance, fear and prejudice. One intent behind the December 1st Regulations is to make employers and workers accept that degree of progress in the workplace. The hours spent at work are a huge part of everyone's life. What the Regulations mean is that those workers who continue to express their ignorance and prejudice about us will be called to account by their line management for it. Since 1 Dec 03 it must no longer be us who feel obliged to be silent and secret.

The legislation has opened the door. Here we are. The culture of our workplaces has to stop being solidly heterosexual and reflect our existence too. There is no magic formula. The development of a comfortably inclusive work culture needs a commitment from each of us. Your Union and your Employer are saying - please make that commitment.