Studies find high levels of anti-gay harassment

Two new studies have indicated that unions may need to step up their role in combating anti-gay harassment and bullying in the workplace.

An investigation by the Wales TUC has revealed that around one-third of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) workers face regular harassment in the workplace.

Mike Smith, chair of the Wales TUC LGBT committee, said the research would "help us build a more detailed picture of key issues for LGB workers and enable trade unions to strategically target campaigning to eradicate homophobic harassment in the workplace across all sectors in Wales."

Meanwhile a report by Stonewall, the campaigning organisation for LGB people, found that "anti-gay bullying at work is widespread".

Living together - British attitudes to lesbian and gay people polled over 2,000 adults and found that 13% - almost four million people across the national workforce - have witnessed verbal bullying of LGB people at work. And physical bullying had been seen by 4% of workers - over 1.2 million people.

However, both reports provide grounds for optimism. For example, around 80% of both male and female respondents to the Wales TUC survey felt their colleagues/line manager would be supportive following homophobic harassment.

And the Stonewall survey found that the vast majority of people (93%) support laws to protect gay people from discrimination and harassment at work.

The Stonewall report can be downloaded from www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/living_together_final_web.pdf

The Wales TUC report had not been posted on the TUC website as Workplace Report went to press.