Working With Diversity, Northern Ireland Section 75 Equality Scheme Advice

Health and Social Care

The LGBT Community often has specialised needs when it comes to healthcare, issues of well-being and with regards to social services both in terms of access and treatment.

Issues

Training of health workers, mental health professionals and social workers concerning:

Mental Health Issues / pathologising of sexual orientation.

Hospital visitation rights for same sex partners.

Information on LGBT services and organisations made freely available and distributed in hospitals, GP Surgeries, GUM Clinics, Public libraries etc.

Maintenance of confidentiality.

Revisal of the current ban on blood donations from gay men.

Sexual health education which does not forget the special needs of lesbians.

Reproductive rights, access to IVF.

Availability of condoms and dental dams in public buildings.

Treatment of LGBT patients in nursing homes.

Benefit entitlements, social security issues.

Consideration of LGBT people's social, psychological and spiritual welfare.

End to recording of sexual orientation of patient on patient's medical records, e.g. by G.P's for non medical reasons. This practice can lead to discrimination of LGBT people by insurance companies.

(Source : CoSO Equality and Sexual Orientation. 'A Guide to Involving and Consulting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Community' June 2003)

EMPLOYMENT AND THE WORKPLACE

Major Concerns are:

Job security and safety in the workplace.
Long-term unemployment.
Leaving school early – as a result: having less qualifications and job skills.
Cycles of short-term unemployment.
Harassment and violence.
Examples of issues where changes to policy could improve the employment prospects of LGBT people.
Advertisement of positions in the LGBT Community press and with LGBT Community organisations.
Access to counselling in the workplace.
Clear channels to deal with homophobic harassment.
Maintenance of a non-threatening work environment.
Availability of information on LGBT organisations especially within the trade unions.
Adult education and training.
Clear statement of equality of opportunity in job advertisements.

YOUTH AND EDUCATION.

The suicide rate amongst LGBT children and young people is the highest in its age category.

The experience of the LGBT child or young person is one of alienation and isolation.

The lack of positive LGBT role models in the educational institutions, the workforce, neighbourhoods and clergy

Examples of issues where changes in policy could affect the lives of LGBT youth.

Education free from discrimination.

Strong stance against homophobic bullying.

Peer support for children under the age of sixteen.

Support and job security for LGBT educators.

Awareness training for all those working with children and young people, both in terms of education and social welfare, for example Education Welfare Officers and social workers.

Positive sex education including safer sex education, and education and understanding of LGBT relationships.

Confidentiality for LGBT youth and educators.

Recognition of diversity in education, pupils parents and teachers.

Right to education for LGBT people who may miss out due to bullying, lack of opportunity, or socio-economic marginalization.

Availability of positive LGBT role models for pupils and teachers.

Sources and advice and support for teachers with regard to dealing with the needs of LGBT children and young people and the particular situations which arise with regard to those needs, for example coming out.

Removal of exemptions for private and religious schools.

Creation of an atmosphere where children and young people are free to express their opinions.

Information on LGBT youth organisations in schools, libraries, etc.

Education for older people around the experience of LGBT people.

These lists should not be considered exhaustive.

(Source: Coalition on Sexual Orientation. Equality and Sexual Orientation. A Guide to Involving and Consulting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Community. June 2003)

ACCESS TO SERVICES

LGBT people can be marginalized by society.
Can face obstacles to accessing particular services for example:
Access to legal services
Access to leisure centres, cinemas, pubs etc.
Equal treatment of same sex partners and heterosexual couples in discounting etc.
Fair treatment in restaurants, pubs and discos.
Financial services, Insurance.
Consideration of the needs of LGBT people in establishing and executing pensions.
Extension of the equality of opportunity protection to the private sector.
Access to facilities, local council support and local council funds.
Monitoring of homophobic harassment by service providers.
Removal of barriers between LGBT Community and services.
Location of services in LGBT neighbourhoods, clubs, etc.
Advertisement of services in the LGBT Community press and with LGBT Community organisations.
These lists should not be considered as exhaustive.

(Source : Coalition on Sexual Orientation. Equality and Sexual Orientation. A Guide to Involving and Consulting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Community. June 2003)