The Equality Bill unveiled in today’s Queen’s Speech could be a brilliant chance to drag the debate on sexuality into the 21st century and we need to make sure that our politicians of whatever party label work to make it so.
The proposals include a duty to promote equality for local authorities – that’s the local council to you and me. In the past this has not applied on LGBT matters but has been the case in other equality areas such as disability and race, so councils have not simply had to make sure they are not actively discriminating in recruitment or service delivery but work to monitor and address gaps.
If the politicians get it right the door will not just be firmly shut on such nonsense as the old Manchester City Council stance that everyone is either gay or straight, but they will at last need to consciously engage with the bisexual community to ensure we are as included in their work as gay and straight people.
It could be a real turning point. Get your letter-writing pens ready and check up on who your MP is!
