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Sexual orientation in the workplace

June 2005

Foreword
Many of us take the sexuality of our patients and colleagues for granted by assuming their heterosexuality. However approximately one in twenty of the population identifies as lesbian, gay or bisexual. For far too long, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation has been unseen and unchallenged and both patients and professionals have suffered as a result.

Although lesbian, gay and bisexual doctors are now legally protected from discrimination in the workplace, under the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003, there has been a lack of awareness and understanding amongst employers and other employees which has resulted in many lesbian, gay and bisexual doctors, fearing that if their sexuality is known in the workplace they will be discriminated against.

The British Medical Association is committed to ensuring that its members are able to practise in a safe and non-discriminatory environment. This guidance is intended to provide doctors, managers, human resources professionals, and other healthcare related staff with essential information for combating discrimination based on sexual orientation. It explains the current legislation and includes methods for devising and implementing an equality and diversity strategy which includes sexual orientation. In addition, this guide highlights the need for employers to tackle negative and misleading stereotypes, challenge homophobic attitudes and encourage inclusive forms of communication.

The promotion of equality and diversity in the workplace is vital in order to create a supportive environment where individuals can feel ‘safe’ to be open about their sexual orientation. This report supports that aim by providing guidance for doctors as both colleagues and employers, and in their interaction with patients.

The homophobic experiences, feelings of isolation and fear of discrimination amongst lesbian and gay doctors were starkly highlighted in the BMA’s report Career barriers in medicine: doctors’ experiences (2004). Such experiences are unacceptable in today’s society and the BMA is committed to combating discrimination in all its forms. This document provides both tools and information to tackle sexual orientation discrimination and deliver an environment that values and appreciates sexual diversity and difference.

I want to see a health service in which every doctor can achieve their aspirations and full potential.

Mr James Johnson
Chair, BMA Council

Introduction
In December 2003 Equality Employment (Sexual Orientation) Regulations were enacted across Great Britain meaning that lesbian, gay and bisexual employees are now legally protected from discrimination in the workplace. As the UK’s largest employer the NHS has a responsibility to ensure that it is up to date with the implications of this legislation for employers and employees.

The British Medical Association (BMA) is committed to ensuring that its members are able to practise in a safe and non-discriminatory environment. It has produced this guidance, with the help of organisations including the Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists (GLADD), to provide doctors, managers, human resources professionals, and other healthcare related staff, with essential information for combating discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This guidance sets out the current legislation on sexual orientation together with methods and ideas for devising and implementing an equality and diversity strategy for doctors as colleagues and employers. It also provides guidelines for doctors in their interaction with patients. As the BMA publication Career barriers in medicine: doctors’ experiences (2004) [Go to reference 1] shows, sexual orientation can stand as a barrier or perceived barrier to career progression. This document includes recommendations for overcoming medical career barriers due to discrimination and provides specific approaches for integrating tolerance and acceptance of sexual orientation into common practice and medical school curricula.

Contact information for organisations addressing issues of sexual orientation and discrimination is provided at the end of this publication. BMA members who feel they have witnessed or been the recipient of any form of discrimination should contact askBMA immediately on 0870 60 60 828.

This report is also available from:
BMA science and education department
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JP
email: info.science@bma.org.uk