Sexual orientation equality
The LGBT community make a significant
cultural, social, and economic contribution to Tower Hamlets, and
although there is no hard data on the numbers of LGBT people, it is
estimated that one in ten people in London are lesbian gay or
bisexual. We recognise that LGBT people are particularly vulnerable
to prejudice and discrimination.
Tower Hamlets Council is committed to promoting LGBT equality
and challenging discrimination and prejudice on the basis of sexual
orientation to ensure that everyone can take part in the social,
cultural and economic wealth of the borough. The Council is proud
to have been highly rated 7th place in the Stonewall
Workplace Equality Index 2009 of top 100 ‘gay friendly’
employers, placing it amongst the top five local authorities in the
country and leading London Borough.
The
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations
2003 (PDF 58k) provide protection against
discrimination in employment or vocational training because of
someone’s sexuality.
From April 2007 the Sexual Orientation
Regulations 2007 have also made it illegal to discriminate on
grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities
and services.
Whilst there is no legislative duty on local
authorities to promote sexual orientation equality in the same way
as gender disability and race, LGBT equality is equally recognised
as a key priority in the Council’s Diversity and Equality
Action Plan and mainstreamed as a core part of our
work.
Contact us:
Scrutiny and Equality
Chief Executive’s Directorate
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 5347