The Court of Appeal ruled that a heterosexual man who had been driven out of his job by colleagues' gay taunts was the victim of sexual harassment, and that it was irrelevant whether he was in fact gay or not.
Source: English v Thomas Sanderson Ltd, Court of Appeal 19 December 2008
Links: Text of judgement | Telegraph report | Guardian report | FT report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that gay and bisexual women often thought that their gender was more of a barrier to success at work than their sexual orientation. Many gay and bisexual women feared gender discrimination and, as a result, were more likely to hide their sexual orientation. For those who had felt able to come out at work, the personal and professional benefits had been considerable.
Source: Nathanael Miles, The Double-glazed Glass Ceiling: Lesbians in the workplace, Stonewall (020 7881 9440)
Links: Report | Stonewall press release | People Management report
Date: 2008-Nov
A report provided an early evaluation of some of the measures of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. The report focused on the three measures of the Act that were implemented during the evaluation period: making common assault an arrestable offence; making it an arrestable, criminal offence to breach a non-molestation order; and extending the civil law on domestic violence (to ensure that cohabiting same-sex couples had the same access to non-molestation and occupation orders as opposite sex couples, and that non-molestation orders were available to couples who had never cohabited). The impact by December 2007 of these measures had been 'limited and in some respects unclear'.
Source: Marianne Hester, Nicole Westmarland, Julia Pearce and Emma Williamson, Early Evaluation of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, Research Report 14/08, Ministry of Justice (020 7210 8500)
Links: Report | Bristol University press release
Date: 2008-Aug
A survey of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people found a positive link between workplace climate and their productivity and performance. Respondents who felt able to be 'out' at work, and well supported by their employers, reported that they were significantly more effective and motivated, and built better working relationships with colleagues.
Source: April Guasp and Jean Balfour, Peak Performance: Gay people and productivity, Stonewall (020 7881 9440)
Links: Report | Stonewall press release
Date: 2008-Jul
A report said that many people of religious faith held significantly more moderate views on homosexuality than was often claimed on their behalf by religious leaders.
Source: Ruth Hunt and Gill Valentine, Love Thy Neighbour: What people of faith really think about homosexuality, Stonewall (020 7881 9440)
Links: Report | Stonewall press release | Ekklesia report
Date: 2008-Jul
A survey found that 1 in 5 lesbian and gay people had been the victim of a homophobic hate crime or incident in the previous three years.
Source: Sam Dick, Homophobic Hate Crime: The Gay British Crime Survey 2008, Stonewall (020 7881 9440)
Links: Report | Stonewall press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
A new book examined hate crime as a social problem, using a victim-centred approach. Many offenders were ordinary people who offended in the context of their everyday lives.
Source: Paul Iganski, 'Hate Crime' and the City, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jun
A survey of the health of lesbian and bisexual women found 'deeply disturbing' levels of self-harm, substance abuse, and exclusion from routine testing for cervical cancer. Health services were failing to identify specific healthcare needs among the lesbian population, and failing to address specific mental health needs experienced as a result of discrimination.
Source: Ruth Hunt and Julie Fish, Prescription for Change: Lesbian and bisexual women's health check 2008, Stonewall (020 7881 9440)
Links: Report | Stonewall press release
Date: 2008-Jun
A themed section of a journal examined methodological aspects of research into the lives of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transsexual people.
Source: Sociological Research Online, Volume 13 Issue 1-2
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2008-Apr
A series of briefings was published to support health and social care professionals in their everyday work with lesbian/gay/bisexual/transsexual people, by providing fundamental awareness and evidence of LGBT needs in relation to health.
Source: Julie Fish, Reducing Health Inequalities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People: Briefings for health and social care staff, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Introduction | Briefings
Date: 2008-Mar
A working group recommended ways of tackling negative and discriminatory attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Scotland.
Source: LGBT Hearts and Minds Agenda Group, Challenging Prejudice: Changing attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Feb
The Scottish Government announced that it would support proposals put forward by an MSP to extend the law on hate crime to include disabled people and those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered communities.
Source: Press release 15 January 2008, Scottish Government (0131 556 8400)
Links: SG press release | EHRC press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jan