More than five million people - almost one in six adult Britons - have seen gay or lesbian colleagues being physically or verbally bullied at work as a direct result of their sexuality.

 

The findings, based on research commissioned by Stonewall, the gay rights group, reveal workplace homophobia to be widespread. Published this week, the YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people provides a snapshot of attitudes towards lesbians and gay men in Britain and the extent of prejudice against them.

 

British people are largely tolerant of gay people with nine out of 10 support ing laws to protect them. But Stonewall said the poll does highlight significant pockets of prejudice, especially in the workplace.

Alan Wardle, Stonewall's director of public affairs, said: "We need strong messages from managers that homophobia will not be tolerated."

 

Other messages are coming through the courts. Rob Whitfield, 31, a management consultant from Southwark, recently won more than £35,000 in damages after a bullying campaign at a waste disposal firm, Cleanaway, where it was suggested he would "earn more money working as a rent boy".

 

The research also showed significant geographical differences in attitudes, with 83 per cent of Londoners in favour of tackling anti-gay prejudice, compared with 65 per cent in the east of England.

 

trouble is... people are people and you cant TELL people that they have to accept as 'normal' something that some people dont. however im dead against bullying, as far as im concerned, any persons sexuality is their own private affair, and is nobody elses business.

It is up to the employers to deal with, I once fired a guy for homophobic remarks that he was making towards a gay colleague and that is the best way to stamp out this kind of behaviour, it is up to employers to deal with

a lot of the minority groups are still under attack, unfortunetley.

 

as a previous post stated, it's up to the employers to deal with it and show that such behaviour is not tolerable in the work place.

 

there is a lack of respect for peoples beliefs/culture/lifestyle. THAT is the problem in todays society. i don't think we're ever going to solve this kind of BS either. it's sad.

 

 

It is sad. It's not right that people should be treated differently because they lead a different lifestyle or come from a different culture and have different beliefs. There are a lot of things I don't agree with in the world but I would never be openly abusive to somebody or make them feel discriminated against and it's about time something was done about it in the workplace. Like you say though I doubt it will ever completly stop. -_-

Wish we had someone in office here that could ATLEAST tolerate homosexuals. If it were up to Bush he would probably just ship us all out to an island or some $h!t :rolleyes:

Seems I work for a progressive organisation - we have a LGBT Steering Group (of which I am a member), a conference, tolerance, I am allowed to go to meetings in work time, and work pay for my travel to the conference. Looks like I am lucky!

trouble is... people are people and you cant TELL people that they have to accept as 'normal' something that some people dont.

 

but Rob, that's making excuses... and excusing people's bigotry.

 

In 2007, there IS no excuse for bigotry.

 

Racism was much the norm until the 70s, some would say still these days, but much, much less so. In the 70s, if you were racist - most people wouldn't bat an eye. Look at TV programmes from back then. These days - no way, it just doesn't happen. In the media (most of it, anyway) and in public - racism simply isn't tolerated anymore, whether the racists think their viewpoint is 'right' or not.

 

Same with anti Semitism.... some people, due to their religion, feel it is right to hate Jews. However, this attitude is simply not tolerated in 2007.

 

And any religion that preaches that homosexuals are in some way lesser human beings than heterosexuals - like the Muslim faith - have NO place whatsoever in this modern UK society.

The Laws cant make people change their own private opinions though

everyone is entitled to them

However, bullying of any form is disgusting.

And its alright thinking that people views today should be different to those of the past.

But, People grow up taking their parents and grandparents views on board, untill eventually they are the childs views too.

its inevitable.

So we will never be rid of Homophobia

sad. but true

Wish we had someone in office here that could ATLEAST tolerate homosexuals. If it were up to Bush he would probably just ship us all out to an island or some $h!t :rolleyes:

 

 

I agree.. It's sad really.

Us gay people didnt chose to be gay.. I don't mind it at all, so why should others right?

They should kill people as Bush anyways...

a lot of the minority groups are still under attack, unfortunetley.

 

as a previous post stated, it's up to the employers to deal with it and show that such behaviour is not tolerable in the work place.

 

there is a lack of respect for peoples beliefs/culture/lifestyle. THAT is the problem in todays society. i don't think we're ever going to solve this kind of BS either. it's sad.

Itll always exist, unless the majority of the workforce was to become the gay and lesbians, and the straight workers the minority, but i dont think thatll be happening any time soon!