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BDA welcomes GLADD guidelines

GLADD is delighted that the British Dental Association has recently accepted and welcomed the GLADD Guidelines Dignity at work for lesbian and gay doctors and dentists, medical and dental students

Amarjit Gill (left), Chair of the BDA Equality and Diversity Committee, receives the GLADD Guidelines from Jerry Walsh and another GLADD Dental Member

Jerry Walsh, GLADD's dental co-chair, commented afterwards that he was delighted that the success of the GLADD guidelines within the medical profession was starting to have a beneficial effect on the dental profession.

September 2005

BMA launches Sexual orientation in the workplace guidelines

GLADD is delighted that the BMA has launched the above guidelines today to coincide with the start of Pride Fortnight.

Commenting on the guidelines, Dr Rachel Hogg, GLADD Co-Chair, said We are delighted that the BMA has produced these guidelines which should make a significant contribution to ensuring that the NHS deals more appropriately with lesbian, gay and bisexual doctors and dentists.

The guidelines can be downloaded from the BMA web site

20 June 2005

GLADD celebrates our tenth birthday

GLADD was delighted to celebrate our tenth birthday in style at the Lowry Gallery in Salford Quays. Dr Jolyon Oxley, Co-Chair of GLADD, gave a presentation on GLADD's successful work over the last ten years as well as a glimpse at which issues may be important in the future. You can download a copy of Jolyon's presentation as from this site.

Survey of NHS Trusts shows widespread ignorance of Equality and Diversity Law

GLADD has carried out a survey of 100 NHS Trust websites looking for easy access information on Trust policies on Equality and Diversity (E&D).

GLADD looked specifically for information regarding the 2003 legislation which provides employment protection for staff on the grounds of their sexual orientation.
GLADD found:

  • Only 31% of trusts surveyed had an easy to find link to some E&D information on their web sites.
  • 16% provided some information about equality and diversity but it had to be searched for by using the search terms ‘Equality’, ‘Diversity’ and ‘Equal Opportunities’.
  • Thus only 47% of trust websites had readily identifiable information about E&D and 53% had no information.
  • 27% of trust websites included ‘sexual orientation’ within their documentation, whereas 42% of trusts included ‘race’ in their documentation.
  • 20% of trusts gave easy access to a more detailed E&D policy rather than a simple statement of intent.
  • Only one trust web site contained any reference to the December 2003 legislation on employment and sexual orientation.

Dr Dan Saunders, author of the GLADD survey, said 'We are very disappointed though not surprised by these findings. Employment law changed 14 months ago and it’s clear that many Trusts have responded very slowly, if at all. A recent survey of our members shows that most feel that being ‘out’ at work is very important. A significant number have experienced homophobia at work and some felt their sexual orientation had impeded their careers. Only 1% were out to their seniors. Trusts need to provide a supportive culture for all their staff and to ensure that their policies, practices and literature are up to date and compliant with the law.’

Dr Jolyon Oxley, GLADD co-chair, said ‘Now that NHS Employers has taken responsibility for HR policies and practice we are hoping for rapid improvement. But they have a long way to go. There has already been one successful Employment Tribunal on the grounds of sexual orientation and more may well follow. It will be a tragedy if lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) staff continue to be discriminated against. It’s not only unjust but is such a waste of precious resources. The NHS stands little chance of getting it right for LGB patients if it
cannot meet the needs of its LGB staff and protect them against discrimination, bullying and harassment.’

Our full report can be downloaded as a

February 2005

Lesbian and gay doctors and dentists should not routinely be required to reveal their sexual orientation to their patients

A meeting of GLADD members was recently held where we discussed whether lesbian and gay doctors/dentists should routinely be required to reveal their sexual orientation to their patients during consultation and/or physical examination. It was felt, very strongly, that the risks of doing so greatly outweighed the benefits to either patients or doctors/dentists. Furthermore it is recommended that a great deal of high quality research needs to be carried out investigating sexuality (and asexuality) and the doctor/dentist-patient relationship before it would be acceptable, or even possible, to issue more definitive guidance in this difficult 'grey' area.

A copy of the report from the meeting can be downloaded as a

January 2005

Article in Doctor illustrates concerns of gay, lesbian and bisexual doctors

We are delighted that Doctor has kindly allowed us to reproduce this article which illustrates the current concerns of many lesbian, gay and bisexual doctors, with a particular emphasis on general practice.

The article is available for download in format.

January 2005