Union factsheets to combat homophobia

A new guide for union reps on how to combat homophobia in the workplace has been published by the TUC.

LGBT equality at work provides guidance on issues ranging from challenging unacceptable behaviour and language to ensuring that LGBT workers who are posted to hostile countries — there are 77 countries where being homosexual is illegal — are fully protected by their employers.

The British social attitudes survey recently revealed that, despite steady progress in the social acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, a significant minority of the British population remains prejudiced.

Public services union UNISON marked Bi Visibility Day last month by launching a new factsheet on why bisexuality is a trade union issue.

The union said that research published earlier this year showed that bisexual people experience even higher levels of discrimination at work than gay men.

TUC guide can be downloaded from: www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-22599-f0.cfm

UNISON’s factsheet can be downloaded from: www.unison.org.uk/documents/2704