(...that's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transperson people, if you're wondering)

 

Furious business leaders last night condemned an "intrusive" questionnaire that requires them to reveal how many gays and transsexuals they employ.

 

The so-called "supplier diversity development questionnaire" is sent to all bidders for contracts with the London Development Agency.

 

It asks about the racial origin of a firm's employees, then about their sexual orientation.

The questions include: "Is your organisation mostly owned or led by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transperson) people?" and "What is the percentage of LGBT staff in your workforce?"

 

The LDA receives £400million of Government funding each year and its board is appointed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

It says it needs the data to monitor progress towards its goal of "maximising the diversity of its supplier base".

But the director of a company bidding for a contract to refurbish a London fire station said: "I was dumbstruck when I saw the questionnaire.

 

"I looked at my dignified and proper middle-aged secretary and thought, I'm not going to ask her if she is a lesbian, let alone a transperson. The questions are intimate, intrusive and irrelevant."

The businessman, who asked to remain anonymous, added: "It says the information will not be used to determine who wins the contract.

 

"But what if one firm isn't diverse and another has three transpersons on the payroll? It will be easy for the LDA to tick its equality box by using that firm.

 

"I employ builders, plumbers and engineers because they are good at their jobs – not because of their sexual preferences."

Simon Briault of the Federation of Small Businesses said: "Tendering for work in the public sector is complicated enough without these strange and unnecessary questions."

 

And Philip McCabe of the Forum of Private Business said: "Managers should be making sure employees can do their jobs properly, not enquiring into their sexual orientation."

 

The LDA has faced fierce criticism amid allegations that it gave hundreds of thousands of pounds to projects linked to Mr Livingstone's race and equality adviser Lee Jasper and his associates.

 

An LDA spokesman said: "The LGBT community experiences discrimination and we seek this information as there are concerns about fair and equal access to business opportunities."

 

Source : Mail on Sunday

 

 

Ah, I see why they'd do this. They want to make sure firms are being fair and not discriminating etc. and tbh there's no other way to do it is there? I don't approve though.

Someone should be employed because they are the best candidate for the job and their sexuality should have no bearing on whether they should be employed. It's their ability to do the job that is important. My sexuality is of no business to my bosses.

It is kinda dumb ... of course I want equality for LGBT people, but surely it's just as insulting to be employed just because you're gay and making up numbers to hit a target than it is to be refused employment based on your sexuality?!

Someone should be employed because they are the best candidate for the job and their sexuality should have no bearing on whether they should be employed. It's their ability to do the job that is important. My sexuality is of no business to my bosses.

 

exactly!.... end of.

I've been seeing a lot of these application forms that have been asking people to define their sexuality... Erm, sorry, but exactly WHAT FUKKIN BUSINESS IS IT OF THEIRS to ask people what their sexuality is.....? <_< I always tick the "would rather not say" box (shame there aint a "none of your bloody business" box.... :lol: )...