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24.11.04
Liberal Democrats in Haringey have demanded action to tackle widespread
prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered residents and
council staff. They are seeking implementation of all the recommendations
made in an independent review of Haringey Council's policies and practices
towards sexual minorities.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on LGBT issues, Councillor Ron Aitken,
expressed concern at the full findings of a consultant's report received in
August, which he says has not been circulated widely enough to councillors
and staff.
The report was delivered to members of the Sexual Equalities
Review body, on which Cllr Aitken sat and chaired several of the meetings,
together with LGBT voluntary organisations in Haringey. Among the many
worrying findings in the report, Haringey staff expressed the view that they
had no confidence in either reporting complaints of homophobic incidents or
in how those complaints would be dealt with.
Cllr Ron Aitken comments:
"I was shocked at the high levels of homophobia found by the consultants in
their survey and the interviews they undertook with Haringey staff and
residents.
"The Council suffers from widespread and entrenched institutional homophobia
and this must be tackled as a top priority through a third party reporting
scheme, such as that pioneered by the Metropolitan Police. We also need
measures to root out bullying by homophobic managers and staff."
Note:
Among the key findings of the consultant's report were:
"The Council's responses in practice, to identifying and meetings the needs
of the LGBT might best be described as indifferent or ambivalent and
reluctant". (p8)
"Half of staff respondents had experienced some form of harassment within
the workplace and where the harassment was directly related to the
individuals known or perceived sexual orientation". (p7)
An attempt to interview all Lead Cabinet Members about LGBT issues had to be
abandoned due to lack of response. (p19)
Residents expressed concerns that their confidentiality regarding sexuality
might be breached. (p35)
Residents expressed the view that the Council was not genuinely committed to
sexual equality. (p34)
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