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LGBT sexual harassment

LGBT people should be safe and supported at work. But instead they’re experiencing shockingly high levels of sexual harassment and assault.  
Our objectives

Workplace culture needs to change. No one should think that a colleague being LGBT is an invitation for sexualised comments or inappropriate questions – let alone serious acts of assault. 

Existing legal protections and workplace initiatives are not addressing the scale and seriousness of this issue. Additional legal protections and new ways of tackling sexual harassment are needed. 

Government must change the law to put the responsibility for preventing harassment on employers, not victims. And anyone worried about sexual harassment at work should join a union.

It’s all seen as jokes about turning me straight
'She’s such a waste of a woman’ referring to the fact I am in a committed relationship with a woman....One of the men asked me ‘is it because you’ve never had a real man?’ He laughed and then they both wolf-whistled at me. I haven’t been back to the work gym since.
Helen, 31

Sexual harassment of LGBT people in the workplace - TUC report

This report – the first major study into LGBT sexual harassment at work in the UK – found that: 

  • Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people have been sexually harassed at work.
  • More than 4 in 10 (42%) LGBT people who responded to the survey said colleagues made unwelcome comments or asked unwelcome questions about their sex life.
  • More than a quarter (27%) had received unwelcome verbal sexual advances.
  • Two-thirds (66%) did not tell their employer about the harassment, and quarter of those said they didn’t report because they were afraid of being ‘outed’ at work.

Read full report 

Help and support

Anyone worried about sexual harassment at work should join a union. Our research showed that LGBT union members were more likely to report harassment, and have it dealt with properly. Find a union for you.

Workplace advice and support

Acas Tel: 0300 123 1100
Citizens Advice Tel: 08451 264 264
Equality Advisory and Support Service Tel: 0808 800 0082

General Support

Victim Support If you’ve been affected by crime and you need confidential support or information, call our Supportline for free on 08 08 16 89 111.
Rape Crisis  Tel: 0808 802 9999
National Stalking Helpline Tel. 0808 802 0300

Support for Women:

Southall Black Sisters Helpline Tel: 020 8571 0800
Rights of Women offers free legal advice to women. Tel: 020 7251 6577 

Support for LGBT people

Birmingham: Birmingham LGBT Centre
South West: Intercom Trust 
London: LGBT+ Wellbeing Centre 
London: London Friend
London: Switchboard - LGBT+ Helpline 
Brighton: Brighton & Hove Switchboard 
Manchester: LGBT Foundation
Oxford: Oxford Friend LGBTQ+ Helpline
MindOut LGBTQ Mental Health Service
MindLine Trans
Galop: Information and support around hate crime and domestic abuse: 

 

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