February 2011 is UCL Diversity Month

There’s a full programme of free events to celebrate diversity and examine the challenges some groups face in education, work and society more generally. The theme of the programme this year is Making connections, challenging assumptions. Examples of events include: Film screenings every Wednesday 18:30 in the AV Hill LT. Films to include: You live and burn (69′), (Finland – Iiris Härmä, Finland 2007); The Last Summer of La Boyita (93′) (El ultimo verano de La Boyita: Julia Solomonoff, Argentina 2009); Diary of a Times Square Thief (60′) (USA (New York), The Netherlands (Amsterdam) – Klaas Bense, The Netherlands 2008);To the Marriage of True Minds (12′), (Andrew Steggall UK 2009); Eddie and Thea (61′) (Gréta Olafsdóttir and Susan Muska 2009) (Documentary). On 1 February: 13:00-14:00: ‘Pinkstinks: the end of childhood. Why the obsession with femininity is bad for little girls’ by Abi Moore of Pinkstinks, which is a campaign and social enterprise that challenges the culture of pink which invades every aspect of girls’ lives. This talk will look at the boundaries taught to young girls and will discuss the damaging messages about what it is to be a girl. 2 February 18:00-19:30 “White Lies: racism, class and educational inequality”, Professor Gillborn, Institute of Education. The lecture will review how an image of white people as the new race victims has been created and look beneath this facade to explore the continuing significance of racism as a daily reality in education, from primary schools to universities. It will be followed by a panel discussion including Hugh Muir (Guardian Journalist) and Gloria Hyatt MBE (pioneer of the country’s first school independent school for black and minority ethnic students.)  10 February 18:00-19:00 Queer in the time of terro, by Dr. Rahul Rao, School of Oriental and African Studies. This talk will look at recent Western activist initiatives responding to the apparent persecution of homosexuals in Iran. Dr. Rao will look at some of the ways in which LGBT rights activism has become entangled in the security preoccupations and panics of the ongoing ‘war on terror’ and will consider some of the dilemmas of LGBT activists in the Middle East, as well as LGBT activists of colour in the West, in responding to these entanglements. 22 February 18:00-19:30 Leading the way and opening doors Members of Age Concern’s Opening Doors Central London Project will be speaking about their experiences of being gay or lesbian in far less liberal times – examining how society has changed over the decades as a direct result of tireless campaigning for LGBT equality. Full programme and to register here.

Article highlights issues surrounding coming out at work

In spite of equal opportunities legislation and initiatives, it is still common for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) individuals to feel uncomfortable being open about their sexuality in the workplace. A recent article in the Guardian cites a Stonewall study that reported ‘one in five LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people have been homophobically bullied at work’. The article goes on to share the workplace experiences of different LGBT individuals as well tips on how to be open about your sexuality in the workplace. For the full article, please visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/nov/13/coming-out-at-work-gay

Investment Banking Careers Event for LGBT Students

The Inside & Out Event is specifically designed to help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender undergraduates learn more about careers in the investment banking industry.

Who will be there?

Participating banks include:

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch
• Barclays Capital
• Citi
• Credit Suisse
• Deutsche Bank
• Goldman Sachs
• JP Morgan
• Morgan Stanley
• RBS
• UBS
• Nomura

When will it be and how do I sign up?

Date: Wednesday 17^th November, 4.45pm-9.30pm

Where: Central London

The event is free to attend and transport costs will be reimbursed. If you are interested in attending, you must first register by sending your CV to alice.west@staffordlong.co.uk. Further information can be found on the Inside and Out website: http://www.insideandout-banking.co.uk/

Office Angels joins Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme

Commercial recruiter Office Angels has joined the likes of IBM, Diageo and Rugby Football League on Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme which promotes and develops good practice for employers.

The programme, run by the gay equality charity, promotes a good working environment for existing and potential employees and aims to ensure equal treatment for those who are lesbian, gay and bisexual.

David Clubb, managing director of Office Angels, says: “By supporting and developing our lesbian, gay and bisexual staff through the Diversity Champions programme we’re sending out a powerful message both to our existing and potential staff and to gay people who are considering us as an agency.

Full article here

On EHRC “Beyond tolerance” report

Gay men in particular (40 per cent) felt that there are some jobs they had not considered, or would not consider because of their sexual orientation. A third of lesbians (32 per cent) felt the same way, as did 13 per cent of bisexual men and one in 10 bisexual women.

 Ellison and Gunstone, 2009
- p. 20

Beyond tolerance: making sexual orientation a public matter

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/research/beyond_tolerance.pdf

Employers should benefit in terms of productivity if they take proactive steps in creating an atmosphere where people can be who they are without fear of prejudice…        - p.22

Half of teachers who say they are aware
of homophobic bullying in school say the
overwhelming majority of incidents are
never officially reported or dealt with. - p.24