date: 29 June 2005

embargo: 00.01hrs Thursday 30 June 2005

True gay equality still some way off, says TUC

Gay people deserve the same kind of protection from discrimination and prejudice outside work as they now get whilst doing their jobs, says the TUC today (Thursday) as it calls for the law to be changed to give lesbians and gay men true equality in every aspect of their lives.

Speaking at the annual TUC Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual Conference, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber will demand that the Government amends the current Equality Bill so that lesbians and gay men can no longer be turned away or refused services by companies that don’t want gay people as customers.

There are instances of lesbians and gay men whose adverts for clubs or events have been refused by local newspapers and of gay couples whose bookings have been declined by hotels or holiday firms. Delegates attending the two-day conference at the TUC’s central London HQ will also be reminded of Bromley Council’s recent decision to ban gay couples from holding civil partnership ceremonies on municipal premises.

Brendan Barber will say: 'The Government is to be congratulated for outlawing gay discrimination at work. Now any employer foolish enough to treat an employee unfairly because of their sexual orientation will feel the full force of the law.

'But whilst bigotry and homophobia can now be challenged in the workplace, it is going to take much longer to change social attitudes. The owners of shops, bars, restaurants, hotels and other service providers are still at liberty to discriminate if they choose to do so. The law stops companies from treating black, female or disabled consumers unfairly, yet it is still completely within the law to turn away gay customers. This unfair treatment could be outlawed easily, with a simple amendment to the Equality Bill currently making its way through Parliament.'

Brendan Barber will also say that employers are not doing enough to make their workplaces equal: 'The law change has not made homophobia and prejudice disappear from UK workplaces. Many gay employees are still terrified to come out, fearful of the taunts and bullying that might ensue if their sexuality becomes known to their workmates or supervisors.

'Employers must do more to show that this kind of appalling behaviour has no place in the modern workplace. If they haven’t done so already, firms should be developing equal opportunities policies to cover sexual orientation. Where homophobic bullying occurs, the perpetrators must be dealt with so that everyone at work realises that prejudice of any kind will not be tolerated.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The annual TUC Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Conference takes place on Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July at Congress House, Great Russell Street. Speakers over the two days include Equalities Minister, Meg Munn MP, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, Commission for Racial Equality Chair, Trevor Phillips, and a representative from the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays. If you would like to attend all or part of the conference, please contact the TUC press office.

Thursday 30 June

11am Equalities Minister, Meg Munn MP

2.30pm TUC President Jeannie Drake

2.35pm CRE Chair Trevor Phillips

4pm Standing Advisory Committee on the Care and Selection of Blood Donors Chair, Dr Frank Boulton

5.20pm Co-chair, J-FLAG, Gareth

Friday 1 July

9.30am TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber

9.40am Session on homosexuality and religious fundamentalism with Richard Kirker, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, a representative from Imaam, and Gareth from J-FLAG

2.30pm Caroline Jones from Broken Rainbow (a support group for same sex couples suffering domestic violence)

TUC President Jeannie Drake and a representative from J-FLAG will also be amongst the speakers addressing the crowd’s attending this year’s Pride Festival in Trafalgar Square at 2pm on Saturday 2 July. The TUC is one of the festival’s main sponsors this year. Earlier in the day, at 1pm, the Pride parade will set off from Hyde Park heading for Victoria Embankment.

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 30 Jun 2005