Public bodies will have no duty to tackle homophobic discrimination.
London – UK – 21 May 2004
Lesbians and gay men are being excluded from new government proposals to promote equality and combat discrimination.
Labour’s new equalities White Paper, Fairness For All, set out plans to require all public bodies to promote equal opportunities for women and disabled people, in the same way they are already required to combat race discrimination against ethnic minorities.
But the White Paper places no duty on public bodies to promote equality for lesbians and gay men. It also places no duty on them to tackle age discrimination and discrimination against people because of their religious beliefs or lack of them.
The queer rights group OutRage! has condemned the government’s proposals as “divisive and discriminatory”.
“Labour is creating a hierarchy of oppression, where women, black and disabled people are deemed more worthy of protection than lesbians and gay men”, said Out Rage! spokesperson, Peter Tatchell.
“This is the latest of more than 15 instances where Tony Blair’s government has blocked measures for queer equality. Yet again Labour is treating us as second class citizens”.
“Public bodies, such as local councils, will remain free to take no action to protect the gay community from discrimination, harassment and violence”.
“While action to combat race, gender and disability discrimination will be a legal requirement for all public bodies, action against homophobia will remain a mere option. Why the double standards?”
“We urge people to lobby their MPs and the Home Secretary to dump this discrimination.
“Use your vote in the forthcoming local, London and European elections to punish parties that back homophobia discrimination. Vote for parties that support lesbian and gay human rights”, said Mr Tatchell.
Note: The existing statutory requirement for public bodies to promote race equality was legislated in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The government has three times refused requests by OutRage! to extend this legislation to “tackle discrimination against women, gay people, Muslims and all other disadvantaged and vulnerable minorities”.
The government’s failure to require public bodies to promote action against homophobic discrimination is set out in the White Paper: Public sector duties, page 72, paragraphs 7.56 to 7.58.