Years of struggle have brought some progress in improving the rights and lives of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people but there's still some way to go. JULIA BRANDRETH investigates how we remain unequal. Section 28
The infamous Section 28 prohibits local authorities in England and Wales from "promoting" homosexuality. It labels gay family relationships as "pretend".
Section 28 never applied directly to schools.
The Education and Skills Act 2000 removed local authority responsibility for sex education, making Section 28 redundant legislation. However, Section 28 continues to cause problems. Teachers are confused about whether they can help pupils who face homophobic bullying. Many still believe that Section 28 makes it unlawful to discuss any lesbian or gay issue.
Young lesbians and gay men are still growing up without any support from schools and colleges, homophobic bullying is widespread and lesbian and gay teachers feel vulnerable.
A survey of 300 secondary schools found that 82 percent of teachers are aware of verbal incidents, and 26 per cent aware of physical incidents of homophobic bullyin Only 6 per cent of schools had anti-bullying policies specifically designed to combat homophobic behavior.
Homophobic bullying can affect any young person who doesn't behave in ways that are traditionally associated with being 'masculine' or "feminine'.
It causes an increase in truancy rates, selfharm and suicide by young people.
The battle to repeal Section 28 is moving to the House of Lords and activists are determined to ensure that it finally goes. Laws that discriminate against gay men
The Sexual Offences Bill 2003 has started its passage through Parliament. The Bill would repeal Victorian laws in England and Wales that discriminate against gay sex -laws that were used to prosecute Oscar Wilde over a century ago!
Gay rights group Stonewall has been campaigning to 'de-register' those gay men whose names have been unjustly placed on the sex offenders' register for consensual acts. Partnership rights
Campaigners are pressing for partnership egistration as a way of ending the situation
event of the death of one partner. Workplace rights end of 2003. is required to provide genuine protection. topic that has been in the news recently. provision of goods and services. lesbian and gay couples
hes, oftem have their homes threatened or lost to inheritance tax and have no status as next of kin in the
The European Union passed the Employment Framework Directive in 1999, requiring governments to introduce legisla- to same sex partners. tion to make it unlawful for employers to However, discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation. The deadline for implementation is the
New Labour have certainly not rushed to comply and campaigning groups believe that government proposals fall far short of what
Lesbian and Gay Employment Rights (LAGER) highlights the broad scope for religious organisations to exclude people on the grounds of their sexual orientation - a
Current phrasing of the legislation suggests it could be used not only by religious organisations but also by any employer claiming to have a particular religious belief!
LAGER would like to see measures introduced to outlaw sexual orientation discrimination in relation to volunteers and to the
Under the directive, occupational pension schemes that give benefits to unmar ried opposite sex partners would be direct discrimination if these were not also offered
an occupational pension ships scheme • For a high profile, broad campaign to ensure compliance with sexual orientation legislation • For pension rights for LGBT people and against schemes that discriminate against same sex couples • Highlighting the continued persecution of LGBT asylum seekers in over 70 countries around the world
• Highlighting the threat of the BNP and urging all union members to vote in elections • Against homophobic bullying.