RAINBOW PARTNERSHIP Building a Unified Voice for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Sector
SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS
ARE YOU PREPARED? LEGISLATION AFFECTING LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANS PEOPLE HAS CHANGED!
The recent developments in sexuality and equality legislation have made it more important than ever to ensure that employers are aware of these changeS…and more importantly how they will affect you, your staff, your volunteers and the goods and services that you deliver. Lack of knowledge or intent will not be tolerated as an excuse for discrimination. It’s your responsibility to make sure that your organisation has everything in place to become an inclusive employer and diversity champion. By 2011 only 18% of the country’s workforce will be a white, heterosexual male without a disability making it more important than ever to understand the implications of the new legislation. The Goods and Services (Sexual Orientation) Act 2007 has now become legislation. This makes it an offence to discriminate against anybody in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the grounds of sexual orientation.
r An employment tribunal has ruled that the retaile Nexts’ failure to deal with a complaint of homophobic harassment amounted to unfair dismissal. A lesbian woman won her case after persistent taunting and abuse at the hands of co-workers led her to quit her job at the Next store in St Helens, Merseyside. Marlene Bielack told the tribunal that Katrina and Neil Davies made it clear that they were disgusted by r her lifestyle and questioned whether she and her partne could elack son.Bi old year seven were fit to raise their receive up to £124,000 in compensation for loss of earnings and hurt feelings.
Next, St Helens
A transsexual wh o out of her job as a tru claimed she was hounded cker after she began her transition from her for me at her employment trib r male gender has triumphed un from Wallasey in Wirra al. Vikki-Marie Gaynor, 37, l, is waiting to hear the sum of compensatio exact n she will be reward ed following her successful claim s of sexual discrimina tion against Exel Europe, part recruitment agency Blu of delivery giant DHL, and e Arrow. The ex-soldier, who got her HGV licence the Royal Corps of Tra thr nsport, claims that pre ough friendly members of vio usly staff at the depot in Kir kby, Merseyside, began a campaign of harassm ent against her, including du makeup in a toilet. Ha mping her belongings and ving resigned from he r position in March 2007, Gayn or has now set up a business offering schools and employers workshops and information about tra nsexuality.
L Exel Europe, DH
The legislation outlaws discrimination in a range of important areas; from hospitals to schools in the public sector, hotels and banking in the private sector and the varied services provided by the voluntary sector. It is important for you as an employer to be aware of how this legislation will affect your organisation and what you can do to prevent any lawsuits being taken against you. It’s also an opportunity for you to champion good diversity practice as standard and to make you more attractive as an employer, and to potential volunteers within our diverse community.
A group of transsexuals and gay men who were refused service from a Blackpool Pizza Hut last summer because they were wearing high heels and mini skirts are now suing the company for up to £3000. The nine gay men and transsexuals were halfway through their Saturday night out in Blackpool when they asked for a table at the town centre Pizza Hut and were told that they had ‘run out of pizza’. Michael Kemp, 48, Paul Barnabas, 47 and his partner Iain Buck are claiming up to £3000 compensation from the worldwide chain, saying they were discriminated against because of their sexuality. This encounter came last summer shortly after it became illegal for shops, bars or restaurants to refuse to serve anyone because of their sexuality. Pizza Hut commented ‘We find discrimination of any kind completely unacceptable and are taking this allegation extremely seriously. Unfortunately we are unable to comment further as this matter has been passed to our solicitors.’
pool Pizza Hut, Black
Page 2: Leading The Way Page 3: An introduction to the legislation Page 4: Do’s and Dont’s