Sexual orientation

Sexual identity was once seen as a peripheral issue of little relevance to the core business of local authorities. However, it has now been brought centre stage by legislative and societal developments. The Equality Bill will mean that public authorities will have a single public duty, extending the current public duties to age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender reassignment. It also includes pregnancy and maternity. Public authorities will have a duty to promote 'positive action'.

More information on the Equality Bill

The IDeA’s 'Sexuality: The new agenda' – this publication aims to cover:

• service delivery and customer care
• community development and involvement
• local authority employees
• monitoring and evaluation.

Sexuality: The new agenda

Case studies, features and articles

LGBT Matters– London Borough of Waltham Forest

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month 2010

Putting Pride into Brighton and Hove

Further information and useful links

Stonewall is the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity. There are many free to download guides available on the website relevant to local authorities.

Stonewall

The Department for Health (DH) has produced a document which gives practical advice to NHS organisations. 'Sexual Orientation: A practical guide for the NHS' outlines equality legislation helps health practitioners understand the role of sexual orientation in healthcare. It will also help integrate this knowledge into single equality schemes (SES).

Sexual Orientation: A practical guide for the NHS – on the DH website

The Refugee Support Trust has published a report which examines the housing and homelessness issues specific to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers.

Over Not Out – on the Refugee Support Trust website

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has developed further guidance for schools. The aim is to build understanding around what sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying is and how it is relevant to schools. It aims to provide schools with the information they need to prevent and tackle this form of bullying. This includes the development of whole school policy and effective practice.

DCSF sexist, sexual and transphobic bullying guidance for schools – on the DSCF website

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published a suite of publications detailing the extensive research into the experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain. The main 'Beyond Tolerance' paper reports on what needs to be done to tackle the damaging discrimination and disadvantage lesbian, gay and bisexual people face. It also shows where organisations will need to focus in order to address the changes required.

Beyond Tolerance: Making sexual orientation a public matter – on the EHRC website

Page published February 2010.