ISSUES
ISSUEs: Workplace Issues | Education Issues | Goods and Services | Partnership Rights | Coming OutWorkplace Issues
Directgov: Visit this site for Information about how the law protects you from discrimination and harassment because of your sexual orientation, and what you can do if you're treated unfairly.http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ResolvingWorkplaceDisputes/DiscriminationAtWork/DG_10026540
Acas: otherwise known as the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service these pages look at diversity in the workplace and provide signposts to sources of support for people experiencing bullying or harassment in the workplace as a result of their sexuality or gender identity. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1824
Stonewall: also offers Information about equality and discrimination in the workplace. Includes a briefing for employees and an employers' toolkit detailing how discrimination in the workplace should be tackled http://www.stonewall.org.uk/workplace/
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Education Issues
EACH: is a national charity established in 2001 to challenge homophobia through education, support and training. It provides support to individuals affected by homophobia and training to organisations committed to realising an equal and safe environment for all regardless of sex, faith, sexuality, age, ethnicity or ability http://www.eachaction.org.uk/
Schools Out: Working towards equality in education for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. this site offers news, policy and law, research, conference reports, help and advice on all matters relating to education and schools http://www.schools-out.org.uk/
Education for All: this is the joint campaign developed by Stonewall and LGBT Youth Scotland. The aim of Education for All is to ensure that all young lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people can fulfil their potential http://www.stonewall.org.uk/education_for_all/default.asp
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Goods and Services
HMSO: to look at an online copy of the 2006 Equality Act visit the following link http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060003_en_1
Stonewall: also offers information on the Sexual Orientation Regulations 2007. and these pages cover a range FAQs along with a booklet called "colour of your money" which is a guide to how the "Goods, Services and Facilities legislation" actually works in plain English. http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/discrimination_in_goods_and_services/default.asp
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Partnership Rights
Government Equalities Office: this site offers you general information and those most needed questions and answers about Civil Partnerships in the UK.
http://www.equalities.gov.uk/what_we_do/sexual_orientation.aspx
Stonewall: Provide you with a guide to civil partnership including how how a civil partnership can be dissolved http://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/get_hitched_a_guide_to_civil_partnership_english.pdf
Pew Forum: These interesting pages give a brief history and an overview of the politics and changing public reaction to, same-sex marriage across the world.
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=235
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Coming Out
Telling someone about your sexual orientation or as it’s often called ‘coming out’ can be very daunting but it may be something you feel ready for now or simply want more information. Some top tips are;
- Talk it over with someone you really trust, friends are sometimes the easiest route, but it could be a member of the family; do you know anyone who has already come out in your workplace or contact a confidential help line for support, advice or information
- Check out coming out advice pages on the web – many include local sources of help or personal stories from individuals who have been through similar experiences
- Remember don’t feel forced into coming out; if your job involves children, sadly there are still a number of people with bigoted views on LGBT people. Consider how your boss might react and if you have a trade union rep it might be good to seek their advice
- Don't be too put off by an initial bad reaction. Many people react badly when they are faced with something that is unexpected or has shocked them. Give them time to think about what you have said
- Choose the way you Come Out. If you are worried that a family member or a friend will be hostile, writing to them might give them time to consider their feelings
- If you’re telling your wife or husband that you’re gay or lesbian it’s bound to be a delicate issue; expect them to feel let down, rejected and possibly very angry. Try to respect these feelings, but remember that you won’t be the first couple to experience this
- If you have children, consider their age and what they are likely to understand, what it is going to be like for them being the child of a gay parent and what effect might this have on them at school. You might want to think about letting their teacher know, just in case they are bullied. You might want to wait until they are ready to ask you and simply answer their questions as they come up.
Take each step at a time and talk all these things through, follow your own timetable. But never feel guilty, never blame yourself for someone else’s bad reactions, we can’t control who we are and so we don't need to apologise for it.
Here are some signposts to help.
"Sorted" AKA "info for young people who fancy people of the same sex" is a great little booklet produced by Health First and covers information relating to coming out . http://www.healthfirst.org.uk/documents/sorted_04.pdf
One of the best books on this issue is an American paperback called “Outing yourself – How to come out as a lesbian or gay to your family, friends and co-workers” by Michelangelo Signorile – ISBN 0 684 82617 8 - PPF has a copy of this book and if you would like to borrow it please contact us.
If you're a LGBT individual needing urgent help, anywhere in the UK, call the London gay and lesbian switchboard: 020 7837 7324 daily from 10am - 11pm, or http://www.llgs.org.uk/.
Cornwall Lesbian Line - Thursdays 20.30 - 22.30 01736 754225
Southwest Confidential Helpline -Intercom Trust -Mon- Friday (Office Hours) 0845 6020 818
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (FFLAG) Support for parents/families of lesbians, gay and bisexual people www.fflag.org.uk
Relate www.relate.org.uk
Straight Spouse Network www.ssnetwk.org/index.shtml an international support network for heterosexual spouses and partners, current or former, of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender mates worldwide.
Lesbian and gay foundation - www.lgf.org.uk/get-support/coming-out/
The Gender Trust - UK Charity Helping with Gender Identity Issues www.gendertrust.org.uk
The Beaumont Society - the largest and longest established transgendered support group in the UK. - http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
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