SCHOOLS & WORK

Over coming weeks, Stonewall is also distributing their Spell it Out DVD guide to almost every school in London – telling teachers how to best handle certain issues around pupils being gay; or thinking they might be; or having gay parents. It will also be analysing results from a large survey into young people’s experiences at school; and will be busy producing a whole set of guides on tackling homophobia in schools - the first time the DfES has ever funded such materials.

Stonewall has also just published an LGBT employment rights guide geared to small businesses, which collectively power about half the UK’s economy, involving 4-5 million workers. Gay People, Your Business is compact, so any busy small biz boss can read it in ten minutes; and follow its few clear and simple guidelines. LGB students and recent grads should also keep ‘em peeled for Stonewall’s 2nd recruitment guide, Starting Out, to be distributed through Student Unions and uni careers services.

POLITICS & LONDON 2012

“But one thing is true,” he confides. “The amount of time we’ve invested in the Conservative Party over the last three years has been worthwhile on many occasions. For instance, Tory Peers put pressure on the Government in the House of Lords over protections against discrimination on goods and services.”

Chips in parliamentary supremo Wardle, pressed on Tory leader Cameron’s anti-gay voting record: “We were all pleased, I’m sure, to hear Cameron mentioning gay issues positively in his major conference speeches – from same-sex couples to the issue of homophobic music lyrics. Regardless of past voting records, it is more important what politicians are saying now. Yes, he was there; and now he is here.”

Of greater import to Summerskill is the as yet seemingly non-inclusive nature of London’s unfolding 2012 Olympic plans: “The Olympic bid was made on the basis that London is a diverse city made up of many communities, all of whom would participate and all of whom would benefit. Apart from wooing LGB volunteers – which, in isolation, might come across as merely harnessing cheap labour - we’ve seen very little attempt to engage LGB people so far, in anything from future athletes programmes, to businesses operating in the Olympic village, to advertising for senior organisational jobs. And, behind it all, there is a team of predominantly white men led by Lord Coe, who himself has a long track-record of opposing equality for LGBs. And it’s not just LGBs who are currently being left out.”

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

On setting legal restrictions on anti-gay incitements to hatred, not least to the degree of urging murder, states Summerskill: “It’s not about constraining freedom of speech, or prosecuting someone just for making anti-gay remarks. However, one cannot completely separate the power of words and someone, say, being slain on Clapham Common. We think restrictions on anti-gay incitements should be on a par with those already in place covering race and religion. We are not asking for more.”

“The reality is,” he continues, ever the pragmatist, “that we’re unlikely to get a Bill introduced specifically to do that. However, with this Government in office and with John Reid as Home Secretary, there is a reasonably good chance that there will be at least one Criminal Justice Bill along some time soon; and we can use that as an opportunity to lobby for a relevant amendment.”

Likewise, Stonewall is merely asking for parity around the legal duty placed on public bodies, not just to punish inequalities, but to actively promote LGB equality - to bring laws in line with existing duties around race, gender and disability. Brays Ben: “Our view is that it would be right to have an equal requirement to promote equality across the board. And we’ve been having discussions with Ruth Kelly and others. We are actively campaigning on it.”

Although not a specifically LGB issue, and hence not a campaigning issue for Stonewall, Summerskill is broadly supportive of moves by others to decriminalise consensual SM sex: “Our fundamental position on this is libertarian. What goes on between consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes, and has no wider repercussions, is their own business.”

Stonewall is reluctant to criticise Government policy over the handling of asylum applications from LGBs fleeing homophobic persecution abroad; but does question the decisions of some immigration officers and panels on the ground, and has “spoken to immigration ministers about that”.

BIG BEN'S FUTURE?

To find out more about Stonewall’s work; or to help it campaign or raise funds through donations, dinners and walks check out www.stonewall.org.uk

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