Coming Out As Gay In The Workplace - Equality vs. Reality

In late 2007 Millivres Prowler Group (Publisher of Gay Times, Pink Paper and DIVA) in partnership with Out Now Consulting commenced the UK’s most comprehensive independent survey of lesbian and gay lifestyles, experiences.
and social attitudes, for which the research is concluded this month.

This survey included the first UK insight into Equality and Diversity in the work place for gay men and lesbians. This new research asks gay and lesbian workers what life is really like for them.

Most notably it appears that choosing an employer with Equality and Diversity policies is now an important part of the employer selection process for gay men and lesbians. 61.4% of the respondents said this was very important and a further 26% said it was quite important to them.

The sample were also asked if their employer belonged to Stonewall’s Diversity Champions program. 8% said yes, but a concerning 49% said they didn’t know.

Kim Watson, Media Director of MPG, explained why this result is concerning. “Given the importance placed by this sample on an employer having robust Diversity policies, this result suggests strongly that although Stonewall have great take up by employers and good industry awareness for their index, the wider gay and lesbian community are not as aware as they could or should be of who is a Diversity Champion.”

With regards the actual treatment of gay men and lesbians in the workplace the survey also revealed that 29% reported that treatment was unfair ranging from smaller issues to being treated very badly because of their sexuality.

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now says the research shows that more “ground level” attitudinal change in the UK work place is needed.

“There is still a worrying gap between corporate policies and real life in the workplace, as experienced on a daily basis by many UK gay men and lesbians," says Johnson. “Corporate policies are highly important and scoring well on an Equality questionnaire is one way to benchmark where things are, but UK employers need to do much more to make sure the existence of policies actually translates down into real day-to-day equality at work for gays and lesbians.”

Notes to editors:

Publication of this information must be credited as the Out Now Consulting 2008 Gay Times, The Pink Paper and Diva Reader Survey, for copyright reasons.

The report by Out Now Consulting, was undertaken following independent research with 1224 readers and web users of Gay Times, The Pink Paper and DIVA between October 2007 and January 2008. The gender profile of this sample is Male 61% Female 38.5%, Intersexed 0.5%.

The Pink Paper is the UK’s only national news paper aimed specifically at gay and bisexual men and women it has an ABC of 40,000 and is published fortnightly. It is the only publication in this sector with a specific print and online recruitment section. The Pink Paper was first published in 1987. Gay Times and DIVA are Europe’s best selling gay and lesbian glossy news stand magazines. They are published monthly. Gay Times was launched in 1984 and DIVA in 1994. Millivres Prowler Group was founded in 1974.

Out Now Consulting have been the leading source for gay market knowledge and leading global gay & lesbian marketing agency since 1992.

For further information about this survey please contact:

Ian Johnson, Out Now Consulting
Tel: +44-(0)20-8123 5288
Cell: +44-(0)7906 553 990
e-mail info@outnowconsulting.com
http://www.OutNowconsulting.com
http://www.GayMarketNews.com

Kim Watson (Media Director), Millivres Prowler Ltd.
Tel: 020 7424 7460
e-mail kim@millivres.co.uk
http://www.millivres.co.uk

Out Now
Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands
Ian Johnson, CEO
info@outnowconsulting.com
http://www.OutNowConsulting.com
http://www.GayMarketNews.com

Out Now is a specialist gay marketing agency. Services include advertising, communications, training, strategy and research. Out Now - Leading gay marketing since 1992.

This release was published on openPR.