Lambeth Teacher with Lambeth NUT

TUC PETITION: A LAW TO PROVIDE EQUAL PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION ON GROUNDS OF SEXUALITY

This circular provides details of the next stage of the TUC campaign, ‘Straight Up!: The campaign for Lesbian and Gay anti-discrimination legislation’. Divisions and local associations are asked to circulate the petition through their own communication arrangements.

Background

The TUC publication, ‘Straight Up! Why the law should protect lesbian and gay workers’, was launched on 19 April 2000. The campaign aims to secure from the Government a commitment to introduce anti-discrimination legislation on grounds of sexual orientation. This legislation should provide the same protection against discrimination as is currently provided on grounds of sex and race by the Sex Discrimination Act and the Race Relations Act.

Despite high levels of homophobia and harassment, demonstrated by TUC research, victims have no protection under UK law. A recent opinion poll commissioned by the TUC showed that a large majority of people believe it is wrong for lesbians and gay men to be subject to discrimination. This survey also uncovered high levels of support for extending pension and other work-related benefits to the long-term partners of lesbians and gay men in the same way that heterosexual couples currently benefit.

The objective of the campaign is to secure legislation to establish the principle of equal treatment for lesbians, gays and bisexuals, by:

· outlawing direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of actual or supposed sexuality, lifestyle and/or relationships in paid or unpaid employment training and education;

· outlawing direct and indirect discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services, the disposal or management of premises and in all dealings between the citizen, the state and public authorities;

· prohibiting harassment in employment, training and education, and the provision of goods, facilities and services, on the grounds of sexuality, lifestyle and/or relationships;

· providing effective protection against victimisation of anyone claiming their rights under this law;

· ensuring that the “burden of proof” in cases should meet the requirements of the EC Council Directive on Burden of Proof;

· providing an effective means for individuals to secure their rights under this law (that is, through a body with powers equivalent to those of other discrimination Commissions); and

· enabling complaints under this law to be brought before an Employment Tribunal, with the same time limits and procedures as apply to other discrimination cases and with the same range of remedies.

ACTION FOR DIVISIONS AND LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS

Representatives of divisions and local associations are requested to take copies of the petition along to local Pride events during July, if they are attending.

Completed petitions should be returned to: Peter Purton, TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS, no later that 5 September 2001.

Yours sincerely,