Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and bullying

In 2014, researchers at Manchester Business School and Plymouth University found that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) employees are twice as likely to experience bullying in the workplace as their heterosexual colleagues. The researchers interviewed more than 1,200 workers, finding one in 10 of those who described themselves as LGB had been discriminated against in the past year, compared to one in 20 heterosexuals.

The ups and downs of LGBs’ workplace experiences: Discrimination, bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees in Britain, used personal experiences and witness observations to illustrate how LGB people encounter bullying and discrimination and what effects these have upon individual psychological and mental health. The research findings also included the following:

• one in five (19.2%) bisexuals report the highest levels of bullying with a third reporting regular bullying;

• one in six (16.9%) lesbians report bullying at work with approximately a third reporting regular bullying; and

• gay men report more than double the levels of bullying compared to heterosexuals.

At the NASUWT’s annual LGBT consultation conference in February 2015, organised to discuss the challenges facing LGBT teachers, 60% of delegates reported that they had experienced bullying and harassment related to their sexuality during their careers (see page 8 for more details).

A number of unions have produced guidance on supporting trans workers including the GMB, Unite and UNISON (see page 45).

The Scottish TUC (STUC) guide, Supporting trans workers — a guide for trade unionists, explains that trans members can be particularly vulnerable to abuse, harassment and bullying in the workplace (see page 45).