Brighton and Hove City Council tops Stonewall index for gay-friendliness

Brighton and Hove City Council was today named the 15th most gay-friendly organisation in Britain – and the best local authority in the UK .

Stonewall listed the council on its annual indicator.

South East Coast Ambulance Service was listed at number 35.

Also in the top 100 was West Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue.

Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, said. ‘Every employer in the Top 100 has performed impressively. These results are significant as it’s just ten years since we won vital legal protections for gay people in the workplace.

“Britain's 1.7 million gay staff and 150,000 gay university students can now confidently use the index to select a welcoming employer, or look further, safe in the knowledge that they are protected from discrimination.”

The index is based on a range of key indicators which include a confidential survey of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees, with nearly 9,000 participants. This consistently revealed that the satisfaction levels of gay staff were highest at the top-ranking organisations in the index.

Comments(28)

nocando says...
6:28pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Oh for heavens sake. What on earth do peoples' sexual preferences have to do with the workplace? If my boss asked for details of my bedroom habits so he could rubber stamp his approval I'd be seriously **** off at him for even asking.
The world has gone mad hasn't it?

george smith says...
6:50pm Wed 16 Jan 13

nocando wrote:
Oh for heavens sake. What on earth do peoples' sexual preferences have to do with the workplace? If my boss asked for details of my bedroom habits so he could rubber stamp his approval I'd be seriously **** off at him for even asking.
The world has gone mad hasn't it?
You are right, hope they are not in receipt of public funding to carry out such nonsense

upsidedowntuctuc says...
7:14pm Wed 16 Jan 13

As long as they are not car drivers Kitkat and Davey Crock of s..t wont discriminate them

imnotpc says...
8:27pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Gay friendliness?? words fail me lol You couldn't make it up hahahaha

greeg2 says...
9:19pm Wed 16 Jan 13

It's great that the fire brigade will be wearing lipstick when they're rescuing people and putting out fires.But how does that help?There's a degree of ludicrosity and stupidity to this,who gives an eff!

funkyyoyo says...
9:24pm Wed 16 Jan 13

best local authority in the uk!!!! dont make me laugh!!!

BornInBrighton1968 says...
9:26pm Wed 16 Jan 13

'Brussels' Lucas wasn't very Gay-friendly when she was sharing a platform with Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi at the 'National Assembly For The Protection Of The Hijab' meeting back in London in 2004; Al-Qaradawi has called for Gay men to be thrown from the top of buildings, and Lesbians to be gang-raped, and set on fire.

see and speak sense says...
9:48pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Equal ops??
The fact that LGBTIQ doesn't even include heterosexual appears to be ok????
""stonewall".. The meaning basically is ignore how anyone's else feels... Green administration / green council equality matters... A complete joke!!!!

Lightbulb48 says...
9:50pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Vigilia wrote:
and how do they fare on the heterosexual-friendl

y scale which is, after all, the overwhelming majority?
Of course heterosexuals are the majority. That doesn't mean we should discriminate the minority.
And society, generally, is hetero-friendly. It's not often I hear people complain that their workplace is heterophobic; however, I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis. Therefore, research and polls like this are necessary. Stop being so hard done by - you're not.

sussexram40 says...
9:51pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Far as I know, its commonplace in the public sector to be asked to fill out questionnaires about your sexuality in order they can monitor how 'diverse' they are. If you refuse you get problems because its sometimes interpreted that such a refusal means you dont support their diversity and equality policys and aims. What do you do when your job is at stake? Tell them to mind their own business and stick it, and risk your job. or comply?

greeg2 says...
9:56pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Lightbulb48 wrote:
Vigilia wrote: and how do they fare on the heterosexual-friendl y scale which is, after all, the overwhelming majority?
Of course heterosexuals are the majority. That doesn't mean we should discriminate the minority. And society, generally, is hetero-friendly. It's not often I hear people complain that their workplace is heterophobic; however, I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis. Therefore, research and polls like this are necessary. Stop being so hard done by - you're not.
"I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis"Oh really,I don't believe you.Not unless all your work colleagues are gay,they're not are they?

Vigilia says...
11:03pm Wed 16 Jan 13

greeg2 wrote:
Lightbulb48 wrote:
Vigilia wrote: and how do they fare on the heterosexual-friendl y scale which is, after all, the overwhelming majority?
Of course heterosexuals are the majority. That doesn't mean we should discriminate the minority. And society, generally, is hetero-friendly. It's not often I hear people complain that their workplace is heterophobic; however, I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis. Therefore, research and polls like this are necessary. Stop being so hard done by - you're not.
"I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis"Oh really,I don't believe you.Not unless all your work colleagues are gay,they're not are they?
Those you know who experience homophobic discrimination in their workplaces must be employed by very unpleasant organisations.
I am not hard done by, I simply want to know why such tiny minority groups attracts so much national attention.
Has it ever occurred to you that here in Brighton and Hove an homosexual man can never be punched on the nose for being thoroughly unpleasant and offensive without it being an "homophobic attack."
Nobody is remotely interested in the sexual preferences of their work colleagues, unless it affects their decision-making.
Homosexuals should simply be part of society, unless of course they choose to differentiate themselves as seems to happen here.

martyt says...
12:37am Thu 17 Jan 13

Vigilia wrote:
and how do they fare on the heterosexual-friendl

y scale which is, after all, the overwhelming majority?
there had to be one ,it would appear that the rest of us don t count as the council down here are not to friendly with the heterosexuals living/visiting brighton ,to be honest in the 20 years i employed folk i never asked them about there bedroom habits , i always judged folk on there interview and the references they had

martyt says...
12:42am Thu 17 Jan 13

Vigilia wrote:
greeg2 wrote:
Lightbulb48 wrote:
Vigilia wrote: and how do they fare on the heterosexual-friendl y scale which is, after all, the overwhelming majority?
Of course heterosexuals are the majority. That doesn't mean we should discriminate the minority. And society, generally, is hetero-friendly. It's not often I hear people complain that their workplace is heterophobic; however, I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis. Therefore, research and polls like this are necessary. Stop being so hard done by - you're not.
"I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis"Oh really,I don't believe you.Not unless all your work colleagues are gay,they're not are they?
Those you know who experience homophobic discrimination in their workplaces must be employed by very unpleasant organisations.
I am not hard done by, I simply want to know why such tiny minority groups attracts so much national attention.
Has it ever occurred to you that here in Brighton and Hove an homosexual man can never be punched on the nose for being thoroughly unpleasant and offensive without it being an "homophobic attack."
Nobody is remotely interested in the sexual preferences of their work colleagues, unless it affects their decision-making.
Homosexuals should simply be part of society, unless of course they choose to differentiate themselves as seems to happen here.
well said !

Angryoldman says...
7:10am Thu 17 Jan 13

Stonewall should have had a section for the most homophobic comments in a newspaper.
Brighton Argus would have won that as well. It would at least draw with readers of the hate filled Daily Fail.
Such hate spewed by homophobes at what should be a positive story. What is frightening is the sheer number of them.
Just goes to show that there these surveys are not worth the paper they are written on and should be ignored. And Brighton is NOT ‘gay friendly’.
Only the pink pound is welcome and eagerly accepted in so called gay friendly Brighton.

leahlou says...
7:11am Thu 17 Jan 13

nocando wrote:
Oh for heavens sake. What on earth do peoples' sexual preferences have to do with the workplace? If my boss asked for details of my bedroom habits so he could rubber stamp his approval I'd be seriously **** off at him for even asking.
The world has gone mad hasn't it?
maybe it's more about prejudices and preconceptions affecting whether people are promoted or respected in the workplace rather than being directly asked if you are gay by your boss

leahlou says...
7:13am Thu 17 Jan 13

this is good news for brighton and I think it's hilarious how many derps will use an article like this to randomly slag off the green party. Can't we celebrate when brighton gets things right

Angryoldman says...
7:24am Thu 17 Jan 13

greeg2 wrote:
It's great that the fire brigade will be wearing lipstick when they're rescuing people and putting out fires.But how does that help?There's a degree of ludicrosity and stupidity to this,who gives an eff!
Homophobe!

Nick Brighton says...
7:40am Thu 17 Jan 13

If you look on Stonewall's web site, you'll see that many national and international companies are listed on the gay-friendly employers index. The private company I work for takes its position in that index very seriously. It's not a question of preferential treatment for the LBGT community. The Stonewall index is an attempt to measure of whether employers treat their LBGT and straight employees equally. Nothing more.

Andy R says...
8:49am Thu 17 Jan 13

Vigilia wrote:
greeg2 wrote:
Lightbulb48 wrote:
Vigilia wrote: and how do they fare on the heterosexual-friendl y scale which is, after all, the overwhelming majority?
Of course heterosexuals are the majority. That doesn't mean we should discriminate the minority. And society, generally, is hetero-friendly. It's not often I hear people complain that their workplace is heterophobic; however, I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis. Therefore, research and polls like this are necessary. Stop being so hard done by - you're not.
"I hear people discussing homophobic discrimination in the workplace on a regular basis"Oh really,I don't believe you.Not unless all your work colleagues are gay,they're not are they?
Those you know who experience homophobic discrimination in their workplaces must be employed by very unpleasant organisations. I am not hard done by, I simply want to know why such tiny minority groups attracts so much national attention. Has it ever occurred to you that here in Brighton and Hove an homosexual man can never be punched on the nose for being thoroughly unpleasant and offensive without it being an "homophobic attack." Nobody is remotely interested in the sexual preferences of their work colleagues, unless it affects their decision-making. Homosexuals should simply be part of society, unless of course they choose to differentiate themselves as seems to happen here.
What are you even talking about? No-one can be legally punched on the nose for being "thoroughly unpleasant".

Jeez....the nonsense that gets written on here is sometimes quite mindboggling.

Thanks to "Nick Brighton" (with whom I don't always agree) for applying some common sense and perspective.

localboy78 says...
9:08am Thu 17 Jan 13

The best local authority in the UK!?!?!? WHAT!?!?! I suspect this has been mis-reported and that it means the best local authority in the UK for gay people to work for.

There is no way Brighton and Hove is the best local authority in the UK - no way, impossible. I've lived under some fantastic authorities such as Kensington & Chelsea, Poole, and the absolute best of all - Westminster.

How anyone can say BHCC is better than the likes of Westminster City Council is beyond me!!!

Morpheus says...
9:22am Thu 17 Jan 13

No job satisfaction, poor pay, but gay friendly makes it all worthwhile. At number 15 they have a lot of improvements to make, but that sums up the council.

Maxwell's Ghost says...
10:12am Thu 17 Jan 13

I wouldn't call the council friendly when one of the members of the lead party voted against gay marriage.
Then another councillor Tweeted that a faith school was a cult.
I am shocked by the behaviour of councillors in this city who would probably be suspended from work if their behaviour were replicated in the workplace.

BornInBrighton1968 says...
11:46am Thu 17 Jan 13

leahlou wrote:
this is good news for brighton and I think it's hilarious how many derps will use an article like this to randomly slag off the green party. Can't we celebrate when brighton gets things right
Brussels' Lucas wasn't very Gay-friendly when she was sharing a platform with Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi at the 'National Assembly For The Protection Of The Hijab' meeting back in London in 2004; Al-Qaradawi has called for Gay men to be thrown from the top of buildings, and Lesbians to be gang-raped, and set on fire.

Dr Lucas goes very, very quiet when reminded of this...

imnotpc says...
8:16pm Thu 17 Jan 13

i think every 'male' that works in mcdonalds flipping burgers has to now wear false eyelashes,pink lipstick,high heels and of course have the obligatory lisp lol otherwise they don't get the job hahahahahaha its only fair

greeg2 says...
9:16pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Angryoldman wrote:
greeg2 wrote:
It's great that the fire brigade will be wearing lipstick when they're rescuing people and putting out fires.But how does that help?There's a degree of ludicrosity and stupidity to this,who gives an eff!
Homophobe!
Maybe your pro gay,but not everyone is.

greeg2 says...
9:17pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Angryoldman wrote:
greeg2 wrote:
It's great that the fire brigade will be wearing lipstick when they're rescuing people and putting out fires.But how does that help?There's a degree of ludicrosity and stupidity to this,who gives an eff!
Homophobe!
Maybe you're pro gay,but not everyone is.

imnotpc says...
11:33pm Thu 17 Jan 13

greeg2 wrote:
Angryoldman wrote:
greeg2 wrote:
It's great that the fire brigade will be wearing lipstick when they're rescuing people and putting out fires.But how does that help?There's a degree of ludicrosity and stupidity to this,who gives an eff!
Homophobe!
Maybe you're pro gay,but not everyone is.
lol firemen in lipstick hahahahahahaha only in brighton...

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